Susan Kennedy
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The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals of 2015: Building upon the Millennium Development Goals of 2000

7/29/2015

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On September 27th, the nations of the world will gather to adopt the 17 proposed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the United Nations to replace, and expand upon, the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of 2000 that were intended to alleviate poverty across the globe. The SDGs and their accompanying 169 targets are critical in that they will outline and affirm the future of international development for the next 15 years. 

While the MDGs have accomplished a great deal over the past 15 years, the new SDGs have evolved as the world has evolved, and include more complex factors affecting the world today, such as climate change. 

However, a key component is largely missing, which is the role of communities and individuals. As a result, “Goal 18” has been proposed by "The People's Knowledge Revolution," which states: Ensure the inclusion of all individuals and all communities in the process of sustainable development, now and in the future. Basically, “Goal 18 honors the fact that people and communities are capable of contributing to development, rather than standing by as passive recipients.”1

As a Sustainable Tourism & Heritage Specialist, with 18 years of experience in both international development and the private sector, the role of local people and communities as stakeholders is invaluable. Without them and their active support, sustainability is next to impossible.

In regards to directives for promoting sustainable tourism, as well as cultural and natural heritage management, it was a relief to see targets directly or indirectly stated in components of four out of the 17 new goals:

Goal 8: Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all
  • Devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism which creates jobs, promotes local culture and products

Goal 11: Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
  • Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage

Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
  • Develop and implement tools to monitor sustainable development impacts for sustainable tourism

Goal 15: Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss
  • Enhance global support to efforts to combat poaching and trafficking of protected species, including by increasing the capacity of local communities to pursue sustainable livelihood opportunities
Furthering this good news and increase in global awareness and concern, the United Nations’ World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) released a press release two weeks ago from the Third International Conference on Financing for Development (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 13-16 July). They are requesting increased financial support for tourism to maximize the sector's contribution to sustainable development across the globe, particularly in Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

The press release states that despite being a high impact economic activity, a major job generator, and key export sector accounting for 6% of total world trade, tourism receives only 0.78% of the total Aid for Trade (AfT) disbursements and a mere 0.097% of the total Official Development Assistance.
“For an increasing number of developing countries tourism means jobs, poverty eradication, community development, and the protection of natural and cultural heritage. Yet, in order to maximize tourism's contribution to the development objectives, it is critical to address the disparity between the sector's capacity to foster development and the low priority it has been given so far in terms of financial support in the development cooperation agenda.” - UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai 
Tourism is identified by half of the world’s LDCs as a priority instrument for poverty reduction, yet the levels of financing for development in tourism remain comparatively low. Furthermore, the crosscutting nature of the tourism industry, and its multiple links to other economic sectors, makes it an effective multiplier in global development strategies. It is also often one of the few competitive options for developing countries to take part in the global economy, as local people and small business owners have very little access to global markets. In 2013 alone, 49 LDC countries received 24 million international overnight visitors and earned USD$18 billion from international tourism.

With combined efforts from United Nations leaders in charge of adopting the new SDGs, and the UNWTO's request for increased funding from international donor agencies, it is hoped that the field of sustainable tourism development receives the long overdue attention it deserves and is provided with the requisite funding worldwide. In that way, the goals of helping people by preserving their cultures, providing jobs and education, as well as preserving the planet through responsible tourism initiatives and conservation of the natural and built environment, can be attained in tandem with the new Sustainable Development Goals. 

For ways to contribute to this topic, join “The World We Want” as well as “Action 2015” and "Goal 18."

Sources used for this article:

1] http://goal18.org/2015/07/24/critical-reflection/

http://goal18.org/

http://media.unwto.org/press-release/2015-07-14/unwto-calls-higher-financing-tourism-development-cooperation

http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/

http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/development-agenda/

https://www.worldwewant2015.org/
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"Developing a hub for tourism in Central Asia" by Susan M. Kennedy for the Invest in Kazakhstan 2015 publication, produced by News Desk Media, London.

6/6/2015

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PictureClick the image to read the article.
Please click on the link to read my latest published article on Kazakhstan's tourism industry titled, "Developing a hub for tourism in Central Asia." The article discusses tourism statistics for Kazakhstan and the country's proposed tourism developments to 2020.

The challenge for the country will be their ability balance sustainable tourism principles and actions with current investments and development plans. The country also competes for visitation with neighboring countries Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

Kazakhstan has lowered restrictions on tourist visas and worked in collaboration with Kyrgyzstan and China to attain UNESCO World Heritage Status for the "Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor" in 2014. However, one of the challenges with their proposed developments, such as multiple ski resorts in pristine natural areas, is that they are in direct contrast to international ecotourism standards and ideals. 

It remains to be seen which direction the country will take to develop its tourism industry. It is hoped that government authorities and investors will think twice about these developments - and tread carefully on the environment so as not to ruin the very destinations they are attempting to promote. 

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Site Preservation, Tourism and Excavations at Areni-1 Cave in Southeastern Armenia

11/11/2013

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Entrance to Areni-1 Cave in Southeastern Armenia.
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Wine-making facility in situ in the rear of Areni-1 Cave.
I recently completed a Site Preservation and Tourism plan for Areni-1 Cave in Southeastern Armenia. Although difficult to photograph, the site is incredible and filled with loads of artifacts including:
  • The world's earliest known leather shoe (3500 BCE)
  • The world's earliest known wine-making facility (4000 BCE)
  • Wine press for stomping grapes, fermentation and storage vessels, drinking cups, withered grape vines, skins, and seeds
  • Perhaps the earliest existence of domesticated grapes
  • Seeds from more than 30 types of fruit including grape seeds and vines of the species Vitis vinifera
  • Earliest known human brain
  • Array of culturally diverse pottery
  • Copper Age artifacts dating as far back as 4000 BCE including knives, picks and beads
  • Dating for metallurgy has gone back 1,000 years because of discoveries made at Areni-1 Cave
  • Baskets, ropes, reeds, textiles, dried fruit and dozens of cereal species
  • Medieval  cloth
Armenia is a beautiful country, with stunning scenery that changes from north to south and loads to see and do. The problem is that very few people know about the country and its treasures - aside from (sadly!) The Kardashians on American TV.

The primary tourist attractions revolve around monastery tourism due to the fact that Armenia was home to the first Christian church in 301AD. The problem I found is that after you’ve seen a few monasteries (there are hundreds), you feel like you’ve seen them all – except for Tatev which is truly spectacular.

The good news is that an ‘Archaeological Renaissance’ of sorts has begun to take place due to over USD $1 million in international funding that has been injected into the field over the past decade – thanks to former U.S. Deputy Ambassador Michael Gfoeller and his Gfoeller Foundation.  The country's Department of Tourism is also excited about the recent archaeological news - particularly about having the world's oldest wine-making facility, as they look to diversify their cultural heritage product offerings. In response, they have begun to offer annual nationwide festivals including the annual Areni Wine Festival due to its rich history in the region.

Armenia is teeming with archaeological sites and artifacts, waiting to be uncovered and analyzed. It could take lifetimes to put the pieces of the past together into a puzzle, which could alter the course of history.

For now, the biggest challenge for Areni-1 Cave is the oftentimes opposing objectives of archaeology (to guard, study and preserve) and tourism (to exploit, market and generate economic revenue). The delicate balance between archaeological sites, which are non-renewable resources, and tourism must be maintained and if not, sites can deteriorate and eventually be destroyed, which will result in a decline in tourism.

Due to Areni-1 Cave’s strategic location along the road to Noravank Monastery, it can easily become a heavily-visited tourist destination. Therefore, it is hoped that the advice and recommendations I provided in the management plan will be heeded for a win-win situation for both the cave and visitors who wish to come and explore it.
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Cruise Liners and Cultural Heritage Sites - Can they get along?

11/8/2013

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In recent news, "Venice to Limit Ship Traffic Through Famed Lagoon," Italian authorities will prevent cruise ships exceeding 96,000 gross tons from sailing through the heart of the city starting next November. The ban comes after environmentalists and others protested the massive ships, a campaign that gained steam after the January 2012 Costa Concordia disaster.
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Windowpanes tremble and walls shake when mega cruise ships arrive in Venice. This already fragile city could be subjected to irreparable damage from the cruise line industry due to its travelers' insatiable appetite for visiting this historic gem. It's now up to authorities to limit it. (Photo: NY Times article)
This issue brings to mind a famous saying I learned while studying Sustainable Tourism at The George Washington University which states, "Tourism is like fire. It can be used to cook your food - or it can burn your house down."

Using this analogy, cruise tourism seems to be starting fires in destinations across the planet. In the USA, the Charleston Communities for Cruise Control is fighting authorities to roll up the cruise tourism welcome mat along with Key West, Florida, whose residents vie for space amongst millions of cruise tourists per year.

Putting these mega liners 'in their place' is a move in the right direction. From 1995-2001, I worked in marketing and advertising as an Account Executive for Holland America Line, Glacier Bay Discovery Cruises, Celebrity Cruises and Renaissance, before leaving the private-sector and moving into the international development field. As a former insider, what I can say about the industry is that it’s not completely their fault. Due to the enormous harbour/port fees these mega ships pay (and whatever backhanded deals they may make), they have basically been able to do what they want willy-nilly for decades without the need to care about the destinations they visit. It's never been asked of them, so they don't see it as their problem. That is, of course, until the collective negative impacts of cruise tourism destroy the very sites they are visiting - in which case, they'll need to start formulating new itineraries.

These cruise companies are doing what every other company in the world does: they are merely satisfying the high tourist demand for cruises. If the demand didn't exist, neither would the ships. And it is up to the authorities at these destinations to clamp down and start saying 'No' if the negative impacts of cruise tourism are tipping the scale in the wrong direction and trumping any positive effects, such as added economic revenue and jobs.

There is also a difference between large cruise ships descending on mass tourism destinations that can more easily cope with their presence vs. mega-liners that get too close to valuable cultural and archaeological heritage sites, whereby the presence of mass tourists can harm the resource by exceeding the site's carrying capacity. Unlike some (but not all) natural heritage sites, where trees and plants can re-grow, cultural heritage sites are irreplaceable, non-renewable resources. Once they're destroyed, they're gone forever. For example, Malta is a heritage destination with numerous archaeological sites that is also suffering from excessive cruise tourism.

This news coming from Italy is exemplary, particularly because of their need for increased economic revenues and job creation. Due to pressure from the community and perhaps the foresight of government officials, they have chosen in favor of saving their heritage city at the expense of reduced revenue. In a small area such as Venice, too many tourists can easily be felt, which diminishes everyone's experience and the town loses its quaint character. Its reputation can also suffer, as people stop coming altogether, especially when land travelers in Italy are advised to skip Venice because it's too crowded with cruise passengers.  (Thankfully, I was there on a rainy day in 1990 when I was one of only a handful of tourists that day.)

Finding a happy medium is the only solution. Mega cruise liners should focus more on the ship experience and traveling the open sea - and less on ports of call. Smaller, more expensive cruise ships with less passengers (i.e. low volume, high value tourists) should be targeted for these more fragile destinations.

Hopefully, the decision in Italy will set a new global standard for pushing back and not allowing the cruise lines to have all the power. The money is undoubtedly tempting in the short-term, but thankfully the Italian government has determined that preserving its precious historic city for the future is a better idea.
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    Welcome to Sustainable Susan's Blog, where my name is written right into sustainability! I am a Sustainable Tourism & Heritage Specialist and these are some of my industry views, rants and raves.

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Susan M. Kennedy
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