Tourism Management in Protected Areas: Guiding Concessions and Environmental Interpretation in New Zealand's Conservation Estate

<p>New Zealand stands out in the global conservation scene and in the nature-based tourism industry with one third of its land area comprising the Conservation Estate (the conjunct of all public protected areas). New Zealand's Department of Conservation (DoC) is responsible for the conservation and management of the Estate, including the concession system that regulates all commercial activities on the Conservation Estate. Typically, DoC does not provide guiding services, with guided activities in the Conservation Estate almost entirely provided by tour operators that hold guiding concessions. Environmental interpretation is one of the main roles of tour guides, and DoC expects guiding concessionaires to deliver quality interpretation in order to provide quality visitor experiences; to educate tourists about natural and cultural values; to minimize the impacts of tourists; and to promote conservation advocacy. However, knowledge relating to tour operators' interpretation management and to guiding concession management is limited. This thesis seeks to understand how the concession system deals with aspects of interpretation, by investigating DoC managers' and tour operators' perceptions about the benefits and importance of interpretation; their actions and challenges to develop and monitor the interpretation capabilities of tour operators; and their perceptions on the concession system and their relationship. A mixed method approach was employed in order to gain an understanding of the situation at the national level (through an email survey), as well as at a regional level in the Nelson-Marlborough Conservancy (mostly through interviews and some observations). The national survey and the case study provided breadth and depth to the investigation. This research found that DoC managers and tour operators regarded interpretation as important or very important, but both perceived it as less important to the other party. For most tour operators interpretation was a major part of their guiding services, whereas for most DoC managers it was a minor part of their concessions related work. Some DoC managers argued that the Department should put more emphasis and resources into interpretation support to tour operators, since they are providing an important service that has been transferred from the government to the private sector. Most tour operators and DoC managers demonstrated good understanding about interpretation, particularly about its purposes and benefits. However, few participants demonstrated understanding about the principles of, and techniques for effective interpretation. This research also found that tour operators and DoC managers were undertaking a wide range of actions, and facing many challenges and constraints to develop, support, and monitor the interpretation capabilities of the operators. Some of the key implications for interpretation management of guiding concessionaires arising from this thesis are: the need for DoC to hold annual meetings with tour operators in order to support their interpretation practices, and to review regulations and minimum impact behaviour in protected areas; the need for DOC and the tourism industry to discuss the insertion of conditions and standards related to tour guide's qualification in concessions contracts; and the need to promote DoC's Interpretation Handbook and Standards.</p>

Tourism Management in Protected Areas: Guiding Concessions and Environmental Interpretation in New Zealand's Conservation Estate

<p>New Zealand stands out in the global conservation scene and in the nature-based tourism industry with one third of its land area comprising the Conservation Estate (the conjunct of all public protected areas). New Zealand's Department of Conservation (DoC) is responsible for the conservation and management of the Estate, including the concession system that regulates all commercial activities on the Conservation Estate. Typically, DoC does not provide guiding services, with guided activities in the Conservation Estate almost entirely provided by tour operators that hold guiding concessions. Environmental interpretation is one of the main roles of tour guides, and DoC expects guiding concessionaires to deliver quality interpretation in order to provide quality visitor experiences; to educate tourists about natural and cultural values; to minimize the impacts of tourists; and to promote conservation advocacy. However, knowledge relating to tour operators' interpretation management and to guiding concession management is limited. This thesis seeks to understand how the concession system deals with aspects of interpretation, by investigating DoC managers' and tour operators' perceptions about the benefits and importance of interpretation; their actions and challenges to develop and monitor the interpretation capabilities of tour operators; and their perceptions on the concession system and their relationship. A mixed method approach was employed in order to gain an understanding of the situation at the national level (through an email survey), as well as at a regional level in the Nelson-Marlborough Conservancy (mostly through interviews and some observations). The national survey and the case study provided breadth and depth to the investigation. This research found that DoC managers and tour operators regarded interpretation as important or very important, but both perceived it as less important to the other party. For most tour operators interpretation was a major part of their guiding services, whereas for most DoC managers it was a minor part of their concessions related work. Some DoC managers argued that the Department should put more emphasis and resources into interpretation support to tour operators, since they are providing an important service that has been transferred from the government to the private sector. Most tour operators and DoC managers demonstrated good understanding about interpretation, particularly about its purposes and benefits. However, few participants demonstrated understanding about the principles of, and techniques for effective interpretation. This research also found that tour operators and DoC managers were undertaking a wide range of actions, and facing many challenges and constraints to develop, support, and monitor the interpretation capabilities of the operators. Some of the key implications for interpretation management of guiding concessionaires arising from this thesis are: the need for DoC to hold annual meetings with tour operators in order to support their interpretation practices, and to review regulations and minimum impact behaviour in protected areas; the need for DOC and the tourism industry to discuss the insertion of conditions and standards related to tour guide's qualification in concessions contracts; and the need to promote DoC's Interpretation Handbook and Standards.</p>

Model Penerapan Konsesi Pelabuhan di Indonesia: Studi Kasus Terminal Teluk Lamong

Indonesia merupakan negara kepulauan yang pembanguanan pelabuhan merupakan salah satu cara untuk mendukung pertumbuhan ekonomi di wilayah Indonesia. Selain itu pelabuhan berfungsi sebagai infrastruktur konektivitas logistik yang dapat menunjang arus pergerakan barang. Syarat untuk dapat melakukan kegiatan kepelabuhanan dengan melakukan konsesi telah diatur Undang-Undang. Menurut Badan Pemeriksa Keuangan (BPK) untuk saat ini kinerja pengelolaan konsesi pelabuhan belum efektif. Selain itu, juga terbit Peraturan Menteri tentang hasil pemeriksaan kinerja atas efektivitas pengelolaan konsesi pelabuhan di Terminal Teluk Lamong. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk memberikan lama dan tarif konsesi yang efektif dan saling menguntungkan antara pihak-pihak yang terlibat. Analisis yang digunakan yaitu dengan menggunakan metode IRR, NPV, BCR kemudian menggunakan analisis sensitivitas. Dari penelitian ini didapatkan hasil IRR sebesar 13,2%, NPV Rp 577.402.711.679,-, nilai BCR diatas 1 ketika pada tahun ke 32. Untuk lama konsesi Terminal Teluk Lamong selama 32 tahun dan tarif konsesi sebesar 3 % dari pendapatan Terminal Teluk Lamong.Model for Port Concession Implementation in Indonesia: Case Study in Teluk Lamong Terminal; Indonesia is an archipelago country where port development is one way to support economic growth in Indonesia's territory. In addition, the port serves as a logistics connectivity infrastructure that can support the flow of goods movement. The requirements to be able to carry out port activities by conducting concessions have been regulated. According to the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK), the performance of port concession management is not yet effective. In addition, a Ministerial Regulation was issued regarding the results of performance checks on the effectiveness of port concession management at the Teluk Lamong Terminal. This study aims to provide effective and mutually beneficial concession rates between the parties involved. The analysis used is by using the IRR, NPV, BCR methods then using sensitivity analysis. From this research, the IRR results were 13.2%, NPV Rp. 577,402,711,679, -, the BCR value was above 1 when in the 32nd year. Then for the duration of the concession period of the Lamong Bay Terminal is 32 years and the concession rate is 3% of Teluk Terminal revenue Lamong.