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Helen Sykes
www.marineecologyfiji.com www.waitabu.org
Business planning for community-managed
ecotourism-based income generation,
at Waitabu Marine Park, Fiji Islands
Waitabu village, Taveuni Island,
Republic of Fiji
Waitabu, a traditional Fijian village, is on Taveuni, the third largest island in
the Fijian Archipelago.
Waitabu village
Waitabu has 25 houses and 129 inhabitants, living in a
collectively owned traditional village unit.
They are financially dependant on farming cash crops
such as Dalo (Taro), and Yagona (Kava) roots crops, and
on subsistence fishing for the protein in their diet.
Socio-economics
2007: Fiji Locally Managed Marine Areas (FLMMA) network
socioeconomic survey:
Material wealth status of the community was average,
with an average income per household of F$120 / month
(highly variable as monthly income depends on sales of farm products)
Most people rely heavily on farming for subsistence and commercial livelihood.
1989: Bouma Heritage Park
1989: Cash offered by logging company to cut hardwood in Bouma District
 Assessment for protecting Fijis tropical forest by
Fiji Native Lands Trust Board, &
New Zealand Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society.
 Locals opted to preserve the forests rather than award a
logging contract: Tourism instead of toothpicks.
 The Bouma Environmental Tourism Project:
Long-term commitment by
New Zealand Overseas Development Agency (NZODA) (now NZAID)
with National Trust of Fiji  the Bouma National Heritage Park
Objectives:
1. Protect the Vanua (the four communities) Bouma,
forest and ecosystems, including the marine areas of Bouma
2. To create sustainable livelihoods for the four villages
3. To preserve natural and cultural traditions where possible
4. To have projects managed by and for the local communities
www.boumafiji.com
1998: Sacred Water
1989: First Bouma Heritage Park projects:
Korovou Waterfall Park
Lavena Coastal Walk
1998: Additional projects:
Waitabu Marine Park
Vidawa Rainforest Hike
All projects involve conservation of natural
resources, supported by direct tourism income,
managed by communities as cooperatives.
Development and training through
Tourism Recreation Conservation Consultants
(TRC) of New Zealand https://www.trctourism.com
and Resort Support of Fiji
https://www.resortsupportfiji.com
Waitabu Marine Park has now had 20 years of marine protection, and annual biological
monitoring of the area, and 17 years of snorkel tourism run by the community
In Fijian Wai-tabu means Sacred or Forbidden Water
www.waitabu.org
Waitabu Marine Park
Marine Protected Area (MPA):
Shallow fringing reef area
900 m long by 300 m wide,
from beach to 100m off the reef slope,
including a deepwater channel and
a sea grass bed.
April 1998: Tabu declared at village level,
openended with no fixed term
Agreement by other villages in community
 recognition at Tikina District level
Agreement by other districts
 recognition at Provincial Council level
Park Business Structure
Registered as a Co-operative business, in the same way as many community group
fishing or farming projects
Has to have:
 10 or more members who are above the age of 18 years
 objects and operations of the proposed co-operative
 a list of members and a record of probable share capital contribution
 by-laws
 registration as a business entity
 a register of members
 feasibility study report or business plan giving all budget plan estimates and cash
flow forecast of the proposal
See Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism http://www.mitt.gov.fj/index.php/divisions/department-of-cooperatives-businesses
The Waitabu project has a committee consisting of:
 Chairman
 Treasurer
 Representatives from each of the 3 Mataqali
Park Management
The committee meets quarterly, and appoints two officers
(sometimes the same person) who are paid per visitor:
Receptionist
 Maintaining the office
 Answering the phone
 Taking bookings.
 Informing the Project Manager when guests are coming.
Project Manager
 Organising Snorkel Guides
 Organising Boat Captain and Fuel
 Organising Refreshments
 Organising maintenance and repair
Snorkel Guides, Boat Captain, and Refreshment Providers are also paid per visitor.
Boat and office donation
Office
provided in 2006
by NZAID through
National Trust of
Fiji, opened by NZ
High Commissioner
Boat donated in 2005 by Fiji Water and Quiksilver clothing, through Reef Check
Tourism started after 3 years
For the first 3 years the reef was left undisturbed to recover from many years
of subsistence fishing.
After 3 years of marine protection (2001), snorkelling tourism was started,
involving all mataqali within the community.
Local youths receive annual
training as snorkel guides and in
First Aid, and take part in annual
biological monitoring.
Ecological Improvements
Results:
 Increased fish populations within the MPA after 3 years
 Increased invertebrate populations after 5 years
 Increased coral and decreased algal cover still on-going
Main Markets
 Regular visitors from
resorts on Taveuni
Island
 Occasional visits from
education-based groups
such as overseas
universities
 Occasional visits from
small nature-based
cruise ships
 Homestays for
researchers and tourists
Tourism product
Half day trip including ride to MPA on traditional Fijian Bamboo Bilibili,
snorkelling in MPA, tea and entertainment in village originally F$50
Proceeds divided up immediately to:
Management, Snorkel Guides, Tea ladies, Boat captain
Balance to project funds
Split into traditional community commitments and
fund for childrens school fees.
Visitor numbers
From 2011 to 2017 the Marine Park received 3,044 visitors
The park hosts an average of 17 visitors per month, or 207 per year
No visitors in late 2002/ early 2003 due to a community conflict over boat use.
In most months, regular tourist visitor numbers were between 0 and 20 per month.
The highest number was 44 in July 2013
In other months, visitor numbers were increased by small nature-based cruise ships
with up to 90 visitors, or student groups of 12  30 students.
Trends in visitor numbers
 Busiest months are July and October, when student groups and cruise ships
visit. (Variation is high in October because cruise ships do not visit every year)
 Visitor numbers peaked in 2008/2009/ 2014 due to cruise ship visits.
Otherwise the trend has not grown as a business should.
 Note that 2002, 2016 and 2017 had the same numbers, showing no overall
improvement. These were years without student groups or cruise ships.
Income
Between 2001 and 2017 the park earned an estimated gross total of F$130,408
Monthly average gross income is F$786, or F$9,256 per year
Earnings are much boosted by cruise ship visits, which can bring F$10,000 in a single day.
Regular visitor earnings dropped in 2007 when a reduced rate backpacker trip was
introduced, which failed to increase visitor numbers, but reduced earnings per head.
This was only just stopped in 2018.
Earnings in 2008 were raised by addition of T shirt sales and a donation box.
Challenges and Obstacles
Lack of understanding of business practices:
 Not restocking retail products
 Dependence on donations rather than re-investment, particularly
of snorkel equipment and boat maintenance
Lack of marketing
 Reluctance to co-market or pay commissions
 No internet presence
 Difficulty in maintaining reliable communications
Poor profit margin
 Recent imposition of FNPF and Taxation on such a small business
 Lack of quality control preventing raising of fees and diminishing
resort confidence
Community politics
 Jealousies if one person gets paid too much
 Domination by one family or mataqali
Good ideas that have not succeeded
Reduced rate trip for backpackers
Reduced income without raising visitor numbers
Camping
A campground was added, but was
mostly only used by scientific
monitoring teams.
There have been fewer than 20
camping tourists, and these raised
concerns about cultural impacts.
After 5 years tents broke, and not replaced. Ground destroyed in Cyclone Winston.
Website
2 websites have been created, but without regular email and phone contacts
are not useful to create bookings
www.waitabu.org
Future tourism avenues
Student groups, in homestays. More profitable, more easily organised within
the village milieu, and also more culturally sensitive.
Special interest nature-tourism groups to do all 4 of the Bouma Heritage
Park trips as a package.
These will take a great deal of training and discussion amongst the community,
but should be more profitable and sustainable.
In all enterprises it is necessary to concentrate on
mechanisms to ensure that all income generation
opportunities are fairly shared between families and clans
Community perceptions
of the importance of the MPA
Community dependence
Livelihood from harvested marine resources is minimal.
Villagers are more reliant on agriculture for cash income
The important benefits and services derived from the MPA
Food security,
Monetary (Tourism)
Future reserve for natural resources (Fish for the Childrens Future)
Tourists / visitors to the MPA
Important as a source of supplemental income
The highest priority threat to the MPA
Poaching
Environmental knowledge
Moderate amongst villagers
Good amongst snorkel guides
Environmental attitudes
towards long-term commitment
and participation in the MPA
Positive in all community members
(FLMMA) network
socioeconomic survey 2007
Participation in biological monitoring
Raises awareness of the functions of the MPA
Establishes feelings of ownership of project
Reinforces commitment to the project
Long term project
MPA is now permanent in peoples minds.
Children have grown up with the concept
of marine protection for the past 20 years.
Some of them are now snorkel guides in the park.
Income generation through tourism
Supplementary cash income
reinforces ownership and
importance of protected area,
but it is important not to raise
unrealistic expectations and
to manage conflicts.
Reinforcement of conservation
Conclusions
Marine Conservation is very close to the hearts of Fijian people.
who often depend on subsistence fishing for protein, if not for cash income.
Involvement in MPA activities and work  stronger ownership and connectedness
to the project than may be achieved if work is entirely done by an outside agency.
Tourism activities in rural communities take a great deal of work and support,
and are unlikely to contribute a large amount of income generation in early years.
Tourism can be used
to supplement income,
raise awareness and education on
environmental issues,
and reinforce the value of an MPA.
The trick is not just how to start a project,
it is how to create long-term
sustainability.
Community involvement and income
generation can help to achieve this.
Please come and see us!
Support marine conservation by visiting
Waitabu Marine Park www.waitabu.org

More Related Content

Waitabu Marine Park Business Planning Realities

  • 1. Helen Sykes www.marineecologyfiji.com www.waitabu.org Business planning for community-managed ecotourism-based income generation, at Waitabu Marine Park, Fiji Islands
  • 2. Waitabu village, Taveuni Island, Republic of Fiji Waitabu, a traditional Fijian village, is on Taveuni, the third largest island in the Fijian Archipelago.
  • 3. Waitabu village Waitabu has 25 houses and 129 inhabitants, living in a collectively owned traditional village unit. They are financially dependant on farming cash crops such as Dalo (Taro), and Yagona (Kava) roots crops, and on subsistence fishing for the protein in their diet.
  • 4. Socio-economics 2007: Fiji Locally Managed Marine Areas (FLMMA) network socioeconomic survey: Material wealth status of the community was average, with an average income per household of F$120 / month (highly variable as monthly income depends on sales of farm products) Most people rely heavily on farming for subsistence and commercial livelihood.
  • 5. 1989: Bouma Heritage Park 1989: Cash offered by logging company to cut hardwood in Bouma District Assessment for protecting Fijis tropical forest by Fiji Native Lands Trust Board, & New Zealand Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society. Locals opted to preserve the forests rather than award a logging contract: Tourism instead of toothpicks. The Bouma Environmental Tourism Project: Long-term commitment by New Zealand Overseas Development Agency (NZODA) (now NZAID) with National Trust of Fiji the Bouma National Heritage Park Objectives: 1. Protect the Vanua (the four communities) Bouma, forest and ecosystems, including the marine areas of Bouma 2. To create sustainable livelihoods for the four villages 3. To preserve natural and cultural traditions where possible 4. To have projects managed by and for the local communities www.boumafiji.com
  • 6. 1998: Sacred Water 1989: First Bouma Heritage Park projects: Korovou Waterfall Park Lavena Coastal Walk 1998: Additional projects: Waitabu Marine Park Vidawa Rainforest Hike All projects involve conservation of natural resources, supported by direct tourism income, managed by communities as cooperatives. Development and training through Tourism Recreation Conservation Consultants (TRC) of New Zealand https://www.trctourism.com and Resort Support of Fiji https://www.resortsupportfiji.com Waitabu Marine Park has now had 20 years of marine protection, and annual biological monitoring of the area, and 17 years of snorkel tourism run by the community In Fijian Wai-tabu means Sacred or Forbidden Water www.waitabu.org
  • 7. Waitabu Marine Park Marine Protected Area (MPA): Shallow fringing reef area 900 m long by 300 m wide, from beach to 100m off the reef slope, including a deepwater channel and a sea grass bed. April 1998: Tabu declared at village level, openended with no fixed term Agreement by other villages in community recognition at Tikina District level Agreement by other districts recognition at Provincial Council level
  • 8. Park Business Structure Registered as a Co-operative business, in the same way as many community group fishing or farming projects Has to have: 10 or more members who are above the age of 18 years objects and operations of the proposed co-operative a list of members and a record of probable share capital contribution by-laws registration as a business entity a register of members feasibility study report or business plan giving all budget plan estimates and cash flow forecast of the proposal See Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism http://www.mitt.gov.fj/index.php/divisions/department-of-cooperatives-businesses The Waitabu project has a committee consisting of: Chairman Treasurer Representatives from each of the 3 Mataqali
  • 9. Park Management The committee meets quarterly, and appoints two officers (sometimes the same person) who are paid per visitor: Receptionist Maintaining the office Answering the phone Taking bookings. Informing the Project Manager when guests are coming. Project Manager Organising Snorkel Guides Organising Boat Captain and Fuel Organising Refreshments Organising maintenance and repair Snorkel Guides, Boat Captain, and Refreshment Providers are also paid per visitor.
  • 10. Boat and office donation Office provided in 2006 by NZAID through National Trust of Fiji, opened by NZ High Commissioner Boat donated in 2005 by Fiji Water and Quiksilver clothing, through Reef Check
  • 11. Tourism started after 3 years For the first 3 years the reef was left undisturbed to recover from many years of subsistence fishing. After 3 years of marine protection (2001), snorkelling tourism was started, involving all mataqali within the community. Local youths receive annual training as snorkel guides and in First Aid, and take part in annual biological monitoring.
  • 12. Ecological Improvements Results: Increased fish populations within the MPA after 3 years Increased invertebrate populations after 5 years Increased coral and decreased algal cover still on-going
  • 13. Main Markets Regular visitors from resorts on Taveuni Island Occasional visits from education-based groups such as overseas universities Occasional visits from small nature-based cruise ships Homestays for researchers and tourists
  • 14. Tourism product Half day trip including ride to MPA on traditional Fijian Bamboo Bilibili, snorkelling in MPA, tea and entertainment in village originally F$50 Proceeds divided up immediately to: Management, Snorkel Guides, Tea ladies, Boat captain Balance to project funds Split into traditional community commitments and fund for childrens school fees.
  • 15. Visitor numbers From 2011 to 2017 the Marine Park received 3,044 visitors The park hosts an average of 17 visitors per month, or 207 per year No visitors in late 2002/ early 2003 due to a community conflict over boat use. In most months, regular tourist visitor numbers were between 0 and 20 per month. The highest number was 44 in July 2013 In other months, visitor numbers were increased by small nature-based cruise ships with up to 90 visitors, or student groups of 12 30 students.
  • 16. Trends in visitor numbers Busiest months are July and October, when student groups and cruise ships visit. (Variation is high in October because cruise ships do not visit every year) Visitor numbers peaked in 2008/2009/ 2014 due to cruise ship visits. Otherwise the trend has not grown as a business should. Note that 2002, 2016 and 2017 had the same numbers, showing no overall improvement. These were years without student groups or cruise ships.
  • 17. Income Between 2001 and 2017 the park earned an estimated gross total of F$130,408 Monthly average gross income is F$786, or F$9,256 per year Earnings are much boosted by cruise ship visits, which can bring F$10,000 in a single day. Regular visitor earnings dropped in 2007 when a reduced rate backpacker trip was introduced, which failed to increase visitor numbers, but reduced earnings per head. This was only just stopped in 2018. Earnings in 2008 were raised by addition of T shirt sales and a donation box.
  • 18. Challenges and Obstacles Lack of understanding of business practices: Not restocking retail products Dependence on donations rather than re-investment, particularly of snorkel equipment and boat maintenance Lack of marketing Reluctance to co-market or pay commissions No internet presence Difficulty in maintaining reliable communications Poor profit margin Recent imposition of FNPF and Taxation on such a small business Lack of quality control preventing raising of fees and diminishing resort confidence Community politics Jealousies if one person gets paid too much Domination by one family or mataqali
  • 19. Good ideas that have not succeeded Reduced rate trip for backpackers Reduced income without raising visitor numbers Camping A campground was added, but was mostly only used by scientific monitoring teams. There have been fewer than 20 camping tourists, and these raised concerns about cultural impacts. After 5 years tents broke, and not replaced. Ground destroyed in Cyclone Winston. Website 2 websites have been created, but without regular email and phone contacts are not useful to create bookings www.waitabu.org
  • 20. Future tourism avenues Student groups, in homestays. More profitable, more easily organised within the village milieu, and also more culturally sensitive. Special interest nature-tourism groups to do all 4 of the Bouma Heritage Park trips as a package. These will take a great deal of training and discussion amongst the community, but should be more profitable and sustainable. In all enterprises it is necessary to concentrate on mechanisms to ensure that all income generation opportunities are fairly shared between families and clans
  • 21. Community perceptions of the importance of the MPA Community dependence Livelihood from harvested marine resources is minimal. Villagers are more reliant on agriculture for cash income The important benefits and services derived from the MPA Food security, Monetary (Tourism) Future reserve for natural resources (Fish for the Childrens Future) Tourists / visitors to the MPA Important as a source of supplemental income The highest priority threat to the MPA Poaching Environmental knowledge Moderate amongst villagers Good amongst snorkel guides Environmental attitudes towards long-term commitment and participation in the MPA Positive in all community members (FLMMA) network socioeconomic survey 2007
  • 22. Participation in biological monitoring Raises awareness of the functions of the MPA Establishes feelings of ownership of project Reinforces commitment to the project Long term project MPA is now permanent in peoples minds. Children have grown up with the concept of marine protection for the past 20 years. Some of them are now snorkel guides in the park. Income generation through tourism Supplementary cash income reinforces ownership and importance of protected area, but it is important not to raise unrealistic expectations and to manage conflicts. Reinforcement of conservation
  • 23. Conclusions Marine Conservation is very close to the hearts of Fijian people. who often depend on subsistence fishing for protein, if not for cash income. Involvement in MPA activities and work stronger ownership and connectedness to the project than may be achieved if work is entirely done by an outside agency. Tourism activities in rural communities take a great deal of work and support, and are unlikely to contribute a large amount of income generation in early years. Tourism can be used to supplement income, raise awareness and education on environmental issues, and reinforce the value of an MPA. The trick is not just how to start a project, it is how to create long-term sustainability. Community involvement and income generation can help to achieve this.
  • 24. Please come and see us! Support marine conservation by visiting Waitabu Marine Park www.waitabu.org