Tourism and the WiCoP Forum

From May 1999 to December 2004 a web-based discussion forum on Wise Coastal Practices for Sustainable Human Development (WiCOP Forum) was operated as part of the work programme of UNESCO’s Coastal Regions and Small Islands (CSI) platform. In its early stages, the Forum organizers in Paris asked leaders of UNESCO-sponsored field projects to send in examples of wise practices and to analyse them using a check-list of criteria. These were then posted on the Web to trigger discussion. Gradually the organizers extended the Forum to wise practices from other initiatives, besides UNESCO's. A team of moderators maintained the site -- editing the contributions before they are posted on the Forum site, and in addition sending the new postings over 20,000 individuals connected with the Forum (at the time of its closure in late 2004). (In some parts of the world with poor Internet connection, large files and attachments overload the local server, or cost too much to download at slow speeds and inflated telephone charges, so e-mail is the only option.) To stimulate dialogue through the Forum, rather than person to person, the moderators decided not to include contributors’ e-mail addresses. The downside of this is that the Forum did not fully function as a network, as people were not able to contact one another directly. But there were been other, unexpected spin-offs, with contributions turning out to be valuable case studies for learning and teaching purposes. In its four-and-a-half years of operation, the Forum addressed a large range of issues related to wise coastal practices, with many perspectives being flagged by individual contributors. Some examples of contributions related to tourism in coastal regions, in both continental and insular settings, are given below. Who is responsible for tourism's negative impacts on the environment? (+français) Mali Voi Holding developers and governments accountable. Hari Baral Directing tourism investment / Caribbean islands. Leisa Perch The pressures of tourism: when is 'enough' really enough? (+français)(+español) Arno S. Schmid Uncontrolled tourism development in the Gulf of Mexico. Peter Wiese Clarification sought on the 'self destruct theory of tourism'. Dennis Pantin Tourism as a tool to conserve humanity's cultural and natural heritage / Pacific islands Mali Voi Conservation and Tourism: we will be honoured to accept. Sibylle Riedmiller Coral reef conservation without tourism development / Chumbe Island-Tanzania. Michael J. Risk Conservation needs tourism development / Chumbe Island-Tanzania Andrew Jones, Rodney Salm, Paul Siegel Cultural tourism: restoring an historic city / Essaouira-Morocco (+ français) Abdelaziz El Mouatez The self-destruct theory of tourism / Cancún-Mexico (+français) (+español) Peter Wiese - replying to Dennis Pantin Environmental impact of urban and industrial development-a case history: Cancún(+français)(+español) Peter Wiese Protecting pristine sites from over-development: is purchasing an option? (+español) Miguel Olvera Novoa and Angela Speed The social impacts of tourism / Cancún-Mexico and Maputaland. (+Français & Español) Jules Siegel, Yogani Govender. Viewing tourism as a cultural experience: Maputaland and Cancún-Mexico. (+Español) Roger Charlier, Peter Wiese, Jules Siegel Sustainable tourism through the preparation of a tourism master plan / Philippines Melissa Macasaet and Martin Felstead - responding to Bruce Potter Sustainable tourism in a Biosphere Reserve, Puerto Galera, Philippines Miguel Fortes Mass market versus up-scale tourism / St. Croix-U.S. Virgin Islands and Anguilla Bruce Potter - replying to Peter Wiese Planning for sustainable tourism development / Karelia-Finland and Russia Maisa Siirala