SUSTAINABLE TOURISM WITH ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE STANDARDS SAVING THE BAY – IUCN STEPS certification improving the quality of Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba as a World Heritage tour destination through implementing standards for environmental and social performance

WHY DEVELOP IUCN STEPS STANDARD? Standards can help improve tourism in Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba:  Global standards, adaptable to the local context of Vietnam  Voluntary commitments tied to improved regulation  Incentive measure to improve performance  Credible, independently assured evaluation, certification  G lobal recognition for tour operators, their staff and products

World Heritage Convention, CBD Strategic Plan , Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), World Tourism Organisation. - The Global Sustainable Tourism Council provides global criteria that can be adapted to local context. - IUCN STEPS can draw on experience of over 50 registered GSTC standards, worldwide. GLOBAL TOURISM STANDARDS CONTEXT IUCN STEPS for Ha Long Cat Ba / Vietnam can be accredited by the GSTC.

OVERVIEW – IUCN STEPS IN VIETNAM IUCN STEPS will: Require doing something Be easy to understand Correspond to the well-known triple bottom-line: - Economic sustainability - Sociocultural sustainability - Environmental sustainability. Provide three levels of recognition: - registration, - compliance (candidates), - certification

IUCN has diverse experience with Standards development  GSTC contributor  ISEAL subscriber  IUCN Green List  Conservation Outlook (WH)  Galapagos, Maldives  Industry Standards  FSC, RSPO, MSC labels IUCN AND STANDARDS

GALAPAGOS - SMARTVOYAGER  Galapagos Natural World Heritage tourism, direct & indirect impacts  Standard introduced to sustainably manage boat tourism  Ecuador Government legislation guided by Standard development  Smart Voyager scheme managed by an Ecuadorian NGO  Evaluation linked to Rainforest Alliance certification  Scheme accredited by GSTC ‘Gold Standard’ in 2011  UNESCO recommend adoption across South America (WH)

MALDIVES – RESORT REEFS  IUCN development of Standard and certification for atoll resorts  Government supportive, but poor regulation / compliance to date  Resorts supportive, but fear additional costs and responsibilities  Pilot with pioneer resorts, manage their own ‘resort reef’  IUCN label has helped promotion / marketing  Significant demand from tourists and operators  GSTC Standard adapted to develop sustainability standard with Resort Reef Certification (led by Pierre-Yves Cousteau at IUCN)

HAWAI’I – BOATING COMPETENCE  Voluntary standard for dive and boat tour operators  Over 30 companies made commitment in 2009  One local organisation provides evaluation (coral)  Established 2009  Focus on commitment  Performance not backed up by regulation  No certification

Environmental sustainability Socio-cultural sustainability Accreditation of IUCN STEPS Environment ImpactSocial Impact 9 THE GLOBAL SUSTAINABLE TOURISM COUNCIL Criteria and Principles Economic sustainability

destinations GSTC core Criteria Criteria hotels and tour operators transportation GSTC AND TOURISM SECTORS

Sustainability Management Social & Economic Cultural Heritage Environmental Performance GSTC 4 GLOBAL PILLARS, 37 CRITERIA

Additional ‘context criteria’ Indicators / Means of Verification 37 Criteria Global GSTC Criteria - Operators Performance Pillars 1. Sustainability Management 2. Social & Economic 3. Cultural Heritage 4. Environmental Performance Adaptable STEPS for VIETNAM Indicators adapted to local context - to take account of key local differences in jurisdiction GLOBAL CRITERIA, LOCAL CONTEXT

THREE TIERS OF IUCN STEPS SUCCESS REGISTER Basic data submitted Commit to Standard Prepare candidacy application COMPLIANCE Must demonstrate minimum standards Stakeholder input Meet Regulation Basis for Licensing full STEPS nomination ACHIEVE STEPS Demonstrate positive impact Evaluated to meet all STEPS criteria 3 rd Party Certified IUCN-STEPS endorse successful operator 1. STEPS COMMITMENT2. STEPS CANDIDATE3. STEPS CERTIFIED

REVIEW Reviewer of IUCN-STEPS process Appointed and accredited by 3 rd Party institution Partnership model with local STEPS action group (2 nd Party) Assure all aspects of IUCN STEPS Role provides security and credibility that all STEPS-certified operations achieve on MERIT IUCN STEPS ASSURANCE PROCEDURE

A TOUR OPERATOR PERSPECTIVE ? The IUCN STEPS will be designed with all stakeholders to: - Encourage better monitoring of key performance indicators - better demonstrate compliance with licensing regulation - include stakeholders in active promotion of good performance - provide benefits such as reputation and credibility, economic and marketing opportunities - Recognize and reward staff for ‘beyond call of duty’ efforts The IUCN STEPS will be designed with all stakeholders to: - Encourage better monitoring of key performance indicators - better demonstrate compliance with licensing regulation - include stakeholders in active promotion of good performance - provide benefits such as reputation and credibility, economic and marketing opportunities - Recognize and reward staff for ‘beyond call of duty’ efforts

Guidance on compliance with regulation Supportive policies to encourage and incentivize compliance Actively encourage STEPS certified companies, raise awareness through official promotions of Ha Long – Cat Ba tourism product Ensure that Destinations also begin to develop Standards and future certification programme also It is critical that the World Heritage Area management play active role in supporting and promoting Standard and certified operators ROLE OF GOVERNMENT AND WORLD HERITAGE AREA MANAGEMENT

EXAMPLE IUCN STEPS SCENARIO FOR HA LONG BAY operators register in achieve candidate Status by submit full nomination in 2016 For 2017, many companies are registered 3 to 5 extra candidates in operators submit full nominations in 2017 …? GSTC accreditation 2016

GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS LOGISTICS AND PLANNING TRACKING PROGRESS MANAGING CONTENT, DATA TRANSPARENCY & ACCOUNTABILITY LOCAL-GLOBAL CONNECTIVITY ENGLISH - VIETNAMESE Operational early 2016? CUSTOM MANAGEMENT SYSTEM COMMUNICATIONS: DATA AND CONTENT MANAGEMENT IUCN IS SEEKING SUPPORT TO DEVELOP STATE-OF-THE-ART CMS SYSTEM

SPONSORSHIP AND FINANCING  IUCN developing and promoting STEPS brand in 2015  Sponsors  Visibility  Promotion  Investment  Finance for performance

IUCN STEPS CONTACTS: Bui Thi Thu Hien and IUCN team: IUCN Viet Nam Office IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) 1st Floor, Building 2A, Van Phuc Diplomatic Compound 298 Kim Ma Str., Ba Dinh District Hanoi city, Viet Nam IPO Box 60 Tel: ++(844) /6 (Ext: 111); Fax: ++(844) Mobile: IUCN Sustainable Tourism with Environmental Performance Standards (STEPS) for Ha Long Cat Ba *Globally accredited by GSTC* Certification, Success, Sustainability

STEPS EVALUATION PROCESS IUCN STEPS Committee Verifies TECHNICAL evaluation is sound; and compliance with ASSURANCE PROCESS Takes final decision on awarding ‘STEPS’ certificate Accredited Independent STEPS Reviewer Rapid set of approval / rejection of all candidacy evaluations. Gives feedback on evaluation for each full STEPS nomination based on compliance with ASSURANCE Local STEPS Action Group Technical evaluation of all candidate and full nominations against the Standard, with decision by vote on each area: Candidate evaluations made, rapid review in sets, approved / referred Full STEPS certificate evaluations referred, via review, to Committee for verification