1. Sustainable Tourism Planning and Development Laboratory BEST Educational Network Think Tank VII June 22, 2007 The Practical Application of Sustainable Tourism Development Principles Creating Innovative Place-making Tourism Strategies Sustainable Tourism Development Lab Sustainable Tourism Planning and Development Laboratory Blackstone Valley, Rhode Island Presenting the

2. Sustainable Tourism Planning and Development Laboratory Blackstone Valley, Rhode Island Dr. Robert Billington, Natalie Carter, MS Lilly Kayamba, MBA Sustainable Tourism Development Lab

3. Sustainable Tourism Planning and Development Laboratory Goal The goal of the Laboratory is to use the Blackstone Valley to educate community leaders in the application of practiced sustainable, place-making, tourism development principles. The Laboratory bases it’s work on the principles of: National Geographic Society’s Center for Sustainable Destinations Business Enterprises for Sustainable Tourism Education Network United Nations World Tourism Organization Global Sustainable Research Center The Blackstone Valley Experience Sustainable Tourism Development Lab The Tourism Laboratory’s purpose

4. Sustainable Tourism Planning and Development Laboratory Background  It is a project of the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council Inc of Rhode Island, USA.  The Blackstone Valley Tourism Council, Inc. created the Laboratory after twenty-two years of experience in tourism planning and development projects and programs.  This Laboratory is where the principles of sustainable community development through tourism is explored, practiced, and applied to other communities.  Based in the Blackstone Valley, it works assisting communities with their on-site planning and destination management on a national level and international level. Sustainable Tourism Development Lab

5. Sustainable Tourism Planning and Development Laboratory  The Laboratory presents a learning initiative that prepares decision makers to thoughtfully develop and regenerate their communities using sustainable tourism principles.  This has been done through a series of robust summits, conferences, and programs that link the Laboratory's work to the thirst of tourism development knowledge. Sustainable Tourism Development Lab

6. Sustainable Tourism Planning and Development Laboratory UNWTO Ulysses Prize  In 2006, the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council was presented the Ulysses Prize from the UNWTO  The Tourism Council was recognized for its innovation in Tourism destination Management through its contribution for facilitating positive change.  It is against this background that the Laboratory is confident to impart knowledge, practices, and experiences on how to create sustainable destinations. iIiiIi Sustainable Tourism Development Lab

7. Sustainable Tourism Planning and Development Laboratory UNWTO.Sbest Certification The Tourism Council was certified in tourism governance In September 2006 by the UNWTO. The UNWTO.Sbest Audit of our agency focused on:  Destination and Society at large  Principle Stakeholders  Strategic Corporate Management  Program Development  Human Resources  Financial Resources  Infrastructure  Program Implementation Sustainable Tourism Development Lab

8. Sustainable Tourism Planning and Development Laboratory A Perceived Need  There is a growing need in communities to create thoughtful tourism planning and development strategies.  Through an educational platform the Laboratory focuses its work on creative and innovative sustainable tourism development practices.  The goal of Laboratory is to prepare current and future leaders with knowledge necessary to build and shape a successful, sustainable visitor destination. Sustainable Tourism Development Lab

9. Sustainable Tourism Planning and Development Laboratory Learning Collaboratively In 2006, STPDL began implementing tourism-learning programs for individuals, organizations and government using a café-style learning medium applied by New Commons of Providence, Rhode Island. The interactive conferences and summits that the Laboratory has hosted and presented are:  Blackstone Alert Disaster Mitigation Forum  Volunteer Tourism Conference  The Sustainable Tourism Summit  The Green Tourism Symposium Sustainable Tourism Development Lab

10. Sustainable Tourism Planning and Development Laboratory Blackstone Alert  Bring together local, state and federal officials to discuss strategies to avoid chaos and damages to public, private and commercial resources.  Create a multi-state, multi-community strategy to analyze flood consideration along the Blackstone River Valley.  Be a convener for the Blackstone Valley communities so that they can determine sustainable development and disaster mitigation polices that are locally driven. Sustainable Tourism Development Lab

11. Sustainable Tourism Planning and Development Laboratory Volunteer Tourism  Enhance the visitor experience with Volunteer Tourism  Add value to existing products by using Volunteer Tourism as a tool  Identify new markets through Volunteer Tourism  Understand the benefits of Volunteer Tourism to sustainable tourism Sustainable Tourism Development Lab

12. Sustainable Tourism Planning and Development Laboratory The Sustainable Tourism Summit  Define the discussion of 21 st Century tourism development  Create a sustainable approach to tourism  Prepare for the future dynamic challenges that tourism will present  Ensure actions that regenerate and restore the community of place  Enhance the livability of destination for all stakeholders  Discuss the importance of place-making rather than place-taking  Deliver the ultimate visitor experience  Develop an understanding of what Geotourism can mean to a community Sustainable Tourism Development Lab

13. Sustainable Tourism Planning and Development Laboratory The Green Tourism Symposium  Focus on the emerging needs and critical environmental aspects of tourism development  Establish a common language and understanding among the stakeholders  Identify issues impacting destinations  Access information and practices  Discover market trends Sustainable Tourism Development Lab

14. Sustainable Tourism Planning and Development Laboratory Outcomes  A Blackstone Alert website with twenty resource links was created and is being hosted by the Tourism Council.  A domestic Volunteer Tourism itinerary for the United States was produced as a result of the conference.  A GeoTourism Charter was adopted by Rhode Island as a result of, STPDL hosting the Sustainable Tourism Summit.  A green guide map is in the process of being produced after holding the Green Tourism Symposium. Sustainable Tourism Development Lab

15. Sustainable Tourism Planning and Development Laboratory Subjects at the Laboratory General Background Analysis Perform initial analysis of geographic boundaries, assessing history, culture, climate, natural resources and existing economic patterns to determine potential for tourism development. Infrastructure Analysis and Recommendations This component focuses on evaluating methods to bring audience to the destination and move them within the area. Planned and approved programs, as well as constraints on infrastructure needed for tourism will be evaluated. Visitor Attractions and Activities, and their Improvement Determine primary and secondary attractions (natural, historical, cultural) all required improvements and conservations objectives. Positive and negative impacts on attracting visitors will be considered. Sustainable Tourism Development Lab

16. Sustainable Tourism Planning and Development Laboratory Sustainable Tourism Development Lab Visitor Facilities and Services and their improvement Survey existing and planned accommodations, including tour and travel operations, restaurants, banking and money exchange, handicraft, specialty and convenience shopping, medical facilities and services, post offices safety and visitor information services. Recommended extent and forms of Tourism Determine most appropriate volume and character of tourism, based on an evaluation of visitor attractions and activities, visitor satisfaction objectives, carrying capacity of the area. Market Analysis and Projections Analyze visitor arrival patterns and trends in the target area and surrounding areas, as well as the impacts of existing or potential competing visitor destinations.Establish market targets by number of visitors, type/country/region or origin, socioeconomic group, interest groupings, length of stay. Targets project the number, type and quality level of accommodations, facilities, services and infrastructure required.

17. Sustainable Tourism Planning and Development Laboratory Sustainable Tourism Development Lab Institutional Consideration and Recommendations Review/evaluate existing organizational structures and legislations related tourism; develop recommendations required for the effective management of tourism, including capitol resources and development incentives. Marketing and Promotion Recommendations Develop marketing objectives and strategy, with specific promotion programs, cost estimates and possible sources of funding. Evaluate roles of public and private sectors in promotion: recommendation overseas and local promotion representation. Plan Implementation and Monitoring Bring together all the components and create a development action agenda, including demonstration projects, with cost estimates, funding sources and identification of responsible parties.This will specify implementation procedures, including the respective roles of government and other agencies and the private sector, standards for the design and development of visitor facilities, requirements of zoning and other land use constraints, use of incentives or disincentives to encourage development according to the plan, and techniques and procedures to monitor the plan.

18. Sustainable Tourism Planning and Development Laboratory The learning experience is different The Café learning style  In a café learning set-up topics are proposed to groups for focused discussion with one wild card, points are recorded on a table cloth, the facilitator helps groups apply the café practices.  Participants rotate around tables with one host remaining to coordinate topic discussion.  The thoughts on the tablecloth are fashioned in a dynamic picture that are then clustered into nuggets for each topic.  Nuggets are used to formulate conclusions or plans of action. Sustainable Tourism Development Lab

19. Sustainable Tourism Planning and Development Laboratory \ Sustainable Tourism Development Lab Recommended Tourism Development Policy and Structure Using the data previously researched, develop time-phased development plan, including types and location of visitor attractions, designated tourism development regions or areas (tourism zones) and transportation linkages. Recommend tour patterns and programs, with visitor excursion routes or circuits. Economic Analysis and Recommendations Calculate present and projected economic impact of tourism by the standard measurements of contribution to GNP, GDP, or the regional economy, gross and net foreign exchange earnings, extent and types of national or regional economic leakage, income generated, the multiplier effect, direct, indirect and induced employment generated and contribution to government revenues. Environmental Considerations Identify environmental problems generated by tourism and recommend ways to lessen them immediately and in the future. Develop environmental protection/conversation policies and programs.

20. Sustainable Tourism Planning and Development Laboratory Conclusion  Collaboration, Participation and Inclusion of stakeholders at all levels of the development process is key to sustainable tourism.  The Laboratory’s purpose is to share the practical application of sustainable geotourism principles with those seeking to develop resilient destinations.  Offering practical geotourism solutions and educating our communities today, will ensure a more secure and sustainable quality of life for future generations. Sustainable Tourism Development Lab

21. Sustainable Tourism Planning and Development Laboratory Ongoing Projects  Riverfront Access  Historic Building restoration  The Blackstone Valley Partnership  Connected Communities  Main Street Regeneration Initiative Sustainable Tourism Development Lab

22. Sustainable Tourism Planning and Development Laboratory Sustainable Tourism Development Lab Questions? Thank you Sustainabletourismlab.org