Walia Special Edition on the Bale Mountains (2011) - Zoologische ...
Walia Special Edition on the Bale Mountains (2011) - Zoologische ...
Walia Special Edition on the Bale Mountains (2011) - Zoologische ...
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Promoting community associati<strong>on</strong> trading schemes<br />
Promoting community associati<strong>on</strong> trading schemes whereby associati<strong>on</strong>s are set up by <strong>the</strong><br />
communities to sell tourism informati<strong>on</strong> such as trekking maps and curios such as BMNP t-shirts<br />
and caps to tourists could be an ideal way in which community benefits (particular for marginalised<br />
groups) from <strong>the</strong> park are fur<strong>the</strong>r enhanced. By facilitating producti<strong>on</strong> and providing premises to<br />
<strong>the</strong>se local associati<strong>on</strong>s, <strong>the</strong> park could generate funds through c<strong>on</strong>cessi<strong>on</strong> fees. Although it is clear<br />
income generated to <strong>the</strong> park from this scheme would be low, <strong>the</strong> community benefits derived from<br />
such a scheme (particularly for marginalised groups) and <strong>the</strong> cost savings and benefits in marketing<br />
and PR for <strong>the</strong> park are unquesti<strong>on</strong>able.<br />
Developing niche based tourism<br />
The development of specialist tourism such as avi-tourism and/or mountain bike tourism has great<br />
potential in <strong>the</strong> BMNP. Community benefits would be enhanced through training and hence creating<br />
opportunities for specialist guides from <strong>the</strong> communities, developing small business opportunities<br />
(for example mountain bike repair or bike hiring) and o<strong>the</strong>r benefits associated with increases in<br />
tourist numbers. The park would benefit from <strong>the</strong> income generated from park entrance fees and<br />
o<strong>the</strong>r associated fees as well as promoting <strong>the</strong> park through niche based tourism markets. A number<br />
of enquires to date have been made regarding specialist birding and mountain biking opportunities.<br />
Entry fees diversificati<strong>on</strong> and more effective collecti<strong>on</strong><br />
It is thought that a large amount (up to 50%) of income potential is lost every year in gate fees, due<br />
to inadequate staffing. This is largely attributed to <strong>the</strong> inadequate number and locati<strong>on</strong> of gate fee<br />
collectors at park entrance points. It is suggested that in additi<strong>on</strong> to <strong>the</strong> park Hq, gate fees should<br />
also be collected at Angesu check point. Similarly while <strong>the</strong>re is <strong>on</strong>e gate fee collector located at<br />
<strong>the</strong> HQ presently, this is insufficient and a sec<strong>on</strong>d <strong>on</strong>e is necessary to be able to man <strong>the</strong> gate for <strong>the</strong><br />
required times needed to capture all revenue. Thus, this strategy proposes employing an additi<strong>on</strong>al<br />
three gate fee collectors resulting in a total of four full time gate fee collectors at <strong>the</strong> park.<br />
Taking current very low (and underestimated) number of tourists, current entrance fees and<br />
<strong>the</strong> salary costs of four gate fee collectors, it can be seen that such a strategy would be highly<br />
profitable and in fact would exceed government budget allocati<strong>on</strong>s (excluding salaries) received<br />
in 2008. Hence annual income from entrance fees could provide a very significant part of <strong>the</strong> park<br />
budget for management programmes with even relatively few tourists; i.e. less than 1000 visiting<br />
<strong>the</strong> park p.a.<br />
Privitisati<strong>on</strong> of dinsho lodge and o<strong>the</strong>r lodge c<strong>on</strong>cessi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
Dinsho lodge is <strong>the</strong> <strong>on</strong>ly lodge currently available in <strong>the</strong> park. It is currently owned and managed<br />
by <strong>the</strong> park authorities. This means that valuable human and financial resources are being spent <strong>on</strong><br />
running <strong>the</strong> lodge which has shown to be a n<strong>on</strong> profitable activity for <strong>the</strong> park. Managing <strong>the</strong> lodge<br />
uses up 13% of <strong>the</strong> park’s staffing availability, approximately 19% of <strong>the</strong> parks total budget and runs<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Walia</str<strong>on</strong>g>-<str<strong>on</strong>g>Special</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Editi<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bale</strong> <strong>Mountains</strong> 292