Linking Culture and the Environment

108 WWF Arctic Tourism Guidelines Initiative
others into the programme. This is likely to continue to be of importance in
generating wide operator acceptance for any sustainable tourism effort in the
Arctic. For any initiative to be successful in a diverse region, it is necessary to
expand beyond the group of operators who already know about the programme
and who are already committed to the principles.
Community interest and involvement were contentious in some projects
and in others were the key to their success. Implementing bodies must continue
to focus on making this relationship work, perhaps by emphasizing the
great potential that exists with strong interaction of operators and particular
communities. Points raised in an unpublished evaluation document (Johnston
and Twynam, 1999) presented to WWF after the Husum meeting included
the following, again which may have broader relevance:
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Tourist surveys (in pilot projects) show a high level of interest in conservation-oriented
activities. This might reflect the particular nature of this
segment of tourists, rather than being representative of all Arctic tourists.
It cannot be assumed that since these tourists were supportive (of the
initiative) that all tourists across the Arctic and in all activities will likewise
be supportive. Decisions cannot be made on the results of these
pilot projects alone. We need to know more about tourists and determine
how they fit into the programme in order to establish what should happen
with tourist codes.
When asked, tourists provided recommendations for improvements to
operations within the context of the codes. Clients are an important
source of practical advice for operators and could act as an excellent
evaluation source if needed by an implementing body.
Some operators identified difficulties in developing a framework for
actions and evaluating operational changes. It is likely that many of the
small operators will require guidance and support in key areas in order
to integrate the programme into their operations.
Johnston and Twynam (1999) also made specific recommendations about the
principles and codes of conduct. They recommended that the implementing
bodies:
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change the order of the principles and code items so that conservation
issues and requests for money do not come first;
prepare national codes that incorporate specific legislation and regulations
to accompany the Arctic-wide code;
prepare a sub-Arctic code that reflects differences in the scale of tourism,
activities and the environmental and cultural situations in the
sub-Arctic;
prepare material which reflects and incorporates the views and needs of
local and indigenous peoples;
reduce the content of the tourist code so that it can be read and absorbed
more easily by visitors.
Johnston and Twynam (1999) provided some general recommendations for
WWF and other implementing bodies. They recommended that such bodies: