Academic literature on the topic 'Tourism Environmental aspects Cook Islands'

International visitor surveys (IVS) are traditionally designed to provide destinations with marketing data and intelligence. The New Zealand Tourism Research Institute has been developing new approaches to IVS implementation and data collection in the Pacific Islands that can provide a much richer source of information [1]. The research outlined here is the first to utilise an IVS to explore the positioning of cuisine in the culinary identity of a destination – specifically, the cuisine of the Cook Islands. The Cook Islands is known primarily for its sun, sea and sand features, rather than its culinary attributes. Drawing on data mining of the Cook Islands IVS (2012–2016) and a web audit of destination websites and menus, this paper considers the positioning of food and food-related activities within the Pacific nation’s tourism experience. National tourism organisations are increasingly seeking competitive advantage by utilising their local cuisines as tourist attractions. Research suggests that distinctive local cuisines can act as both a tourism attraction, and as a means of shaping the identity of a destination [2, 3]. In addition to providing an important source of marketable images, local cuisine can also provide a unique experience for tourists. This reinforces the competitiveness and sustainability of the destination [2]. The cuisine of the Cook Islands has come up repeatedly in recommendations for how the country can grow its tourism revenue. Recommendations have been made to improve the food product on offer, develop a distinctive Cook Islands cuisine based on fresh, local produce, and to promote a Cook Islands cuisine experience [4, 5], and to use these to market the Cook Islands as a destination for local food tourism experiences [4]. Despite these recommendations, Cook Island cuisine features less prominently than stereotypical sun, sea, and sand marketing images, and little is known about tourists’ perceptions of and satisfaction with food and food-related activities [6]. Our research addresses this gap by mining IVS data to gain a deeper understanding of tourists’ experiences and perceptions of food in the Cook Islands and assessing whether local food can be positioned as means of creating a unique destination identity. Two methods were used to develop a picture of where food sits in the Cook Islands tourist experience: one focussed on tourist feedback; and the other focused on how food is portrayed in relevant online media. Analysis of all food-related data collected as part of the national IVS between 1 April 2012 and 30 June 2016 was conducted (N = 10,950). A web audit also focused on how food is positioned as part of the Cook Islands tourism product. After identifying the quantitative food-related questions in the IVS, satisfaction with these activities was analysed. Qualitative comments related to food experiences were also examined. The results suggest that participation in food-related activities is generally a positive feature of the visitor experience. The web-audit revealed, however, that food is not a salient feature in the majority of Cook Islands-related websites, and when food did feature, it tended to be oriented towards international cuisine with a ‘touch of the Pacific’ rather than specifically Cook Islands cuisine. This reinforced findings from the IVS data mining that Cook Islands food is presented as a generic tropical ‘seafood and fruit’ cuisine that, largely, lacks the defining and differentiating features of authentic Cook Island cuisine. High participation rates in food-related activities and overall positive evaluations by visitors emerged from the IVS data, yet a dearth of images and information on the country’s food suggests that the Cook Islands is not exploiting its cuisine and food experiences to their full potential. As a direct result of this secondary analysis of IVS data, which highlighted the importance of and potential for food-related activities, the Cook Islands Government is now actively addressing this gap by developing a range of food-related resources and information that can better link tourism to local cuisine. In addition to developing a greater presence of local food in online resources, the Cook Islands Tourism Corporation has also taken on board the messages from the IVS to drive the development of Takurua [7] – an initiative to develop and document local, traditional cuisine and share it with the world. This approach is part of a broader ongoing effort to differentiate the Cook Islands from other South Pacific destinations through its unique cultural attributes. Data mining and secondary analysis of IVS data has not been restricted to the identification of food-related opportunities. Secondary analysis of IVS data in the Pacific has also been used to investigate the impact of other niche markets such as events [8] and to gauge the impact of environmental incidents, for example Cyclone Pam in Vanuatu [9] and algal bloom in the Cook Islands [10], thus reinforcing that IVS data are a rich source of information and are indeed more than just numbers. Corresponding author Tracy Berno can be contacted at tracy.berno@aut.ac.nz References (1) New Zealand Tourism Research Institute (NZTRI). Cook Islands Resources and Outputs; NZTRI: Auckland. http://www.nztri.org.nz/cook-islands-resources (accessed Jun 10, 2019). (2) Lin, Y.; Pearson, T.; Cai, L. Food as a Form of Destination Identity: A Tourism Destination Brand Perspective. Tourism and Hospitality Research 2011, 11, 30–48. https://doi.org/10.1057/thr.2010.22 (3) Okumus, F.; Kock, G.; Scantlebury, M. M.; Okumus, B. Using Local Cuisines when Promoting Small Caribbean Island Destinations. Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing 2013, 30 (4), 410–429. (4) Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO). Linking Farmers to Markets: Realizing Opportunities for Locally Produced Food on Domestic and Tourist Markets in Cook Islands. FAO Sub-regional Office of the Pacific Islands: Apia, Samoa, 2014. (5) United Nations. “Navigating Stormy Seas through Changing winds”: Developing an Economy whilst Preserving a National Identity and the Modern Challenges of a Small Island Developing State. The Cook Islands National Report for the 2014 Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) Conference and post 2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/1074217Cook%20Is%20_%20Final%20NATIONAL%20SIDS%20Report.pdf (accessed Jun 10, 2019). (6) Boyera, S. Tourism-led Agribusiness in the South Pacific Countries; Technical Centre for Agriculture and Rural Cooperation (CTA): Brussels, 2016. (7) Cook Islands Tourism Corporation (CITC). Takurua: Food and Feasts of the Cook Islands; CITC: Avarua, Cook Islands, 2018. (8) Thorburn, E.; Milne, S.; Histen, S.; Sun, M.; Jonkers, I. Do Events Attract Higher Yield, Culturally Immersive Visitors to the Cook Islands? In CAUTHE 2016: The Changing Landscape of Tourism and Hospitality: The Impact of Emerging Markets and Emerging Destinations; Scerri, M., Ker Hui, L., Eds.; Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School: Sydney, 2016; pp 1065–1073. (9) Sun, M.; Milne, S. The Impact of Cyclones on Tourist Demand: Pam and Vanuatu. In CAUTHE 2017: Time for Big Ideas? Re-thinking the Field for Tomorrow; Lee, C., Filep, S., Albrecht, J. N., Coetzee, W. JL, Eds.; Department of Tourism, University of Otago: Dunedin, 2017; pp 731–734. (10) Thorburn, E.; Krause, C.; Milne, S. The Impacts of Algal Blooms on Visitor Experience: Muri Lagoon, Cook Islands. In CAUTHE 2017: Time for Big Ideas? Re-thinking the Field For Tomorrow; Lee, C., Filep, S., Albrecht, J. N., Coetzee, W. JL, Eds., Department of Tourism, University of Otago: Dunedin, 2017; pp 582–587.

Background Arthropod-borne diseases pose a significant and increasing risk to global health. Given its rapid dissemination, causing large-scale outbreaks with severe human infections and economic loss, the Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is one of the most important arboviruses worldwide. Despite its significance, the real global impact of CHIKV remains underestimated as outbreak data are often incomplete and based solely on syndromic surveillance. During 2011–2016, the South Pacific Region was severely affected by several CHIKV-epidemics, yet the area is still underrepresented in arboviral research. Methods 465 outpatient serum samples collected between 08/2016 and 04/2017 on three islands of the island states Vanuatu (Espiritu Santo) and the Cook Islands (Rarotonga, Aitutaki) were tested for anti-CHIKV specific antibodies using Enzyme-linked immunosorbent Assays. Results A total of 30% (Cook Islands) and 8% (Vanuatu) of specimens were found positive for anti-CHIKV specific antibodies with major variations in national and intranational immunity levels. Seroprevalence throughout all age groups was relatively constant. Four potential outbreak-protective factors were identified by comparing the different study settings: presence of Ae. albopictus (in absence of ECSA E1-A226V-mutation CHIKV), as well as low levels of human population densities, residents’ travel activity and tourism. Conclusion This is the first seroprevalence study focussing on an arboviral disease in the Cook Islands and Vanuatu. It highlights the impact of the 2014/2015 CHIKV epidemic on the Cook Islands population and shows that a notable part of the Vanuatu test population was exposed to CHIKV although no outbreaks were reported. Our findings supplement the knowledge concerning CHIKV epidemics in the South Pacific Region and contribute to a better understanding of virus dissemination, including outbreak modifying factors. This study may support preventive and rapid response measures in affected areas, travel-related risk assessment and infection identification in returning travellers. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Aachen: 051/16_09/05/2016 Cook Islands Ref.: #16-16 Vanuatu Ref.: MOH/DG 10/1/1-GKT/lr.

This study aims to determine the suistability and carrying capacity of marine tourism in Mangkian island of the Anambas Islands Marine Tourism Park. The survey was conducted in Mangkian Island, Batu Belah Village, East Siantan District, July to September 2017. Environmental parameters of coral cover (life form), and some aquatic biota strongly support marine tourism activities in this area. The results showed that The level of suitability of maritime tourism is at IKW value for coastal tourism category is very suitable, category diving tour accordingly, and snorkeling tour category according to conditional. The carrying capacity of the area in every tourism activity that is beach tourism 101 people / day, dive tourism 123 people / day and snorkeling tourism is recommended need rehabilitation first. Public perceptions on the management and development of marine tourism, especially in the ecological, economic and socio-cultural aspects of local communities.

Geographically, the Untung Jawa island is located at the Seribu Islands region, a maritime tourism spot at the<br />north of Jakarta. The development of new infrastructures in the island would benefit to not only for tourism,<br />but also the activities environmental sustainability in the area. A sustainable tourism development must touch<br />three important aspects: First, economic, social and environment which are inter-related to each other. If not<br />carried out in a balanced way, then it could possibly damage the infrastructures around the tourism area, such<br />as breakwaters, piers and the whole environment. In conclusion, it is important to map the characteristics of<br />the infrastructure damage around the Untung Jawa Island, as well as the urgency to update the information<br />about the ecology of the islands without forgetting the government’s role to develop the island by considering<br />the characteristics of the infrastructure, local and ecological potential. <br /> <br /><br />

Cimei Island is a second-class outlying island. In recent years, due to the lack of coastal fishery resources and restrictions on traffic and climate, the traditional fishery and tourism industries that residents rely on for a living have faced challenges. This research is based on the Barbados Programme of Action, from the perspective of environmental conservation, industrial economy, and social development in sustainable development, and from the perspective of local stakeholders, to construct a sustainable tourism action approach and development mechanism in Cimei Island. A qualitative research method was adopted. Various sources of data, including focus discussions and in-depth interviews with local stakeholders, textual materials, and field observations, were collected and analyzed. The results are as follows: (1) Cimei faces great threats in social, economic, and environmental aspects, which has led to Cimei Islands’ promotion of permanent development. (2) The current development of Cimei cannot effectively drive industrial development or the transformation of fishing villages. However, residents are worried that overdevelopment will impact the ecological environment and lifestyle on the Islands. (3) Cimei’s sustainable tourism development approach should be to first take inventory of the ecological environment and cultural resources, plan related environmental laws and regulations, and finally, use sustainable tourism to drive industrial development to carry out island development.

Air transport infrastructure development is crucial for economic and social growth. Regional airports connecting remote, tourist destinations such as islands provide important services and boost global and local commerce networks. Airport authorities intend to maximize expansion while limiting environmental impacts. Regional airports may achieve efficient environmental management by applying sustainable practices and developing long-term strategies. The purpose of this paper is the development of an in-depth comparison and assessment of the environmental sustainability performance of a number of regional airports in terms of the environmental impacts that are caused by their operations and their demand patterns. The evaluation methodology is based on the identification of evidence about the incorporation of key environmental management performance aspects in the environmental reports of the top five regional tourist airports in the Mediterranean islands. The most important finding was that airports, despite requiring an efficient and forward-thinking environmental management plan in order to address the environmental impact that they have, do not prioritize their environmental performance management issues. The conventional wisdom is to provide a framework for evaluating tourist airports’ performance toward environmental mitigation efforts, promote best practices, and benchmark sustainability for regions heavily dependent on tourism.

Since the mid-20th century, tourism has become a strategic activity for the economy of the Balearic Islands, causing profound social, territorial, and environmental transformations. This fact challenges local society, which must be aware of its environment to better face the future challenges posed by this economic activity. With this goal, the official curriculum has been analyzed, making it possible to ascertain the approach with which this subject is taught by the administration and what objectives are set. Furthermore, a review was carried out of the contents of geography textbooks in the third year of ESO and the second year of the Baccalaureate, which corresponds to the educational stages in which tourism aspects appear. The results obtained represent a fundamental strategic diagnosis to improve the teaching and learning of this key activity for the Balearic Islands, giving it more importance and adapting its approach to the current times.

The COVID-19 pandemic has ravaged the global tourism industry, leaving millions of people unemployed without certainty when tourism bounces back. Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are amongst the worst hit by the novel coronavirus. The unprecedented crisis has severely aggravated the SIDS economic growth due to relying on foreign tourists heavily. In the absence of international tourism, small island residents have been grappling with alternative income sources. Despite its notorious impacts, many scholars look at this global pandemic as a discernible opportunity to reverse mass tourism in the SIDS. Therefore, this paper aims to elaborate on the current condition of small islands communities amid COVID-19, their coping strategies, and their reflection of the future tourism industry in the SIDS. Furthermore, this paper also aims to discuss a prevailing policy to contain health emergency and economic collapse in the SIDS. Based on the critical literature review, many SIDS were already faced complex predicaments before the pandemic, such as high vulnerability to the climate crisis, lack of natural resources, extreme poverty, and reliance on external debts. International support is crucial to avoid the worst-case scenario for SIDS, including those which depend on the tourism industry. As a part of the recovery phase, this paper underscores the urgency of a more sustainable tourism practice for future development in the SIDS. That comprises strategic issues ranging from environmental-based tourism with a focus on socio-cultural aspects, and economic diversification to small island community resilience.

Community-Based Tourism is seen for having a huge impact on rural communities in the Philippines and many countries. It is generally known for its pro-poor implications that deliver socio-cultural, ecological, and economic benefits to steer a community if directed with strong policies. CBT has a great potential on elevating the said aspects of a locality for community development. Hence, the proponent attempted to comprehensively determine the perceptions of key actors in CBT with quantitative approaches to shed light on its costs and benefits in the communities of Romblon Province in the Philippines. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was utilized as the main research design to impute relationships on latent variables. In the second and final phase of the research project, the proponents will develop a holistic strategy for a provincial CBT model through a thorough review and analysis of public policies in the past 10 years. Data Mining on LGUs and Communities through SEM (survey method), Econometrics (LGU Data Analytics), and Key-Informant Interviews (face-to-face interview) will be the main approaches of the study.

Abstract Komodo National Park is one of the favorite destinations for both domestic and international marine tourism. Marine tourism activities have caused environmental changes and impact on fisheries and marine resources. Macroalgae were also affected by the environmental changes, so management of macroalgae was required. Ecological data of macroalgae can be used as baseline data for coastal area management. The study aimed to determine the life form, species composition, spatial distribution, and ecological aspects of macroalgae assemblages in Komodo National Park waters. The study was conducted in September 2013, in eight locations, namely Setuga, Komodo Karang Makasar, Padar Kecil, Padar, Papagarang, Mangaitan, and Muntia island. Macroalgae samples were collected by the quadratic transect method. The data analyzed were Sorensen’s similarities. A total of 42 species of macroalgae were recorded, consisting of three Phylum: Chlorophyta (19 species), Ochrophyta (8 species), and Rhodophyta (15 species). Epilithic was the dominant life form of macroalgae. In general, macroalgae can be stably attached to hard substrates. The highest macroalgae diversity was found on Mangaitan Island (22 species). Halimeda and Amphiroa were macroalgae that can be found in almost all locations. Setuga Island had similar macroalgae with both Mangaitan and Muntia islands. The differences in the number of macroalgae species were influenced by environmental pressure, topography, and substrate profile. Management of macroalgae resources was needed to maintain the sustainability of the macroalgae ecosystem.

AbstractTransport and tourism are rising economic sectors based on their mutual growth on reliable technological tools, affordable energy sources in relatively peaceful decades. This growing trend, faced along years of sudden slowdown caused mainly by the financial and health crisis; one of the most severe and recent episodes was the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic outbreak is representing a global turning point for both international markets of tourism and transport which can be addressed with innovative solutions looking to retake the growing trends. In such a changing framework CIVITAS DESTINATIONS European project addressed the main challenges of tourism and resident mobility at local (rural, urban area, large city) and regional levels, focusing on six European islands (Malta, Cyprus, Elba, Crete, Gran Canaria, Madeira) aiming to implement and evaluate 83 different sustainable mobility measures. The project proves to have a cumulative relevant impact on environmental indicators such as CO2 emission avoided, fossil fuel saved and energy saved. Additionally, the project findings focus on the quality of life and economic development to grant long-run environmental and financial sustainability of tourism and transport at the local and regional levels. The main aspects observed were related to public participation and governance models in touristic mobility integrated with the residents’ needs, touristic mobility the island, role of technologies to focus on final user needs, growing trends of elder and disabled people, new integrated and innovative business in tourism and mobility markets, health at the core of future trends.

The Sundarbans is the mangrove forests of the Gangetic delta spread across parts of Bangladesh and India, with the majority lying in the former country. Over the past two decades, the people of the islands have been faced with growing restrictions on their access to the forests. They now look towards tourism as an alternative source of livelihood. Tourism is rapidly developing in the region since the beginning of the 21st century, and the area is popular among national and international tourists. However, the ill-effects of mainstream tourism on the local population are also visible here. This chapter traces the different phases of a community-based tourism initiative by the people of Kumirmari, an island in the Sunderbans. This alternative model of tourism aims to combine aspects of community involvement, ownership, governance, benefits, and empowerment, and support the local people in accessing their community and livelihood rights.

This chapter provides insights on youth visitation to KILIM Geopark in relation to tourism activities, hospitality services expectation, and three visitation characteristics. Within a two-month data gathering period, 142 respondents from youths aged 18 to 30 of various nationalities were collected. As geopark tourism activity is a relatively new trend of the nature-based tourism industry, it is assumed the populace will look forward to a distinctively novel tourism experience, and thus, views tourism from a new perspective. Additionally, the populace is determined as the targeted group given the widely known tradition of this group's road trip patterns and engagement. When analyzing the data by means of one-way ANOVA, T-test, Correlation, Regression, and Correspondence analyses, interesting results were observed with regard to visitation characteristics, environmental attitudes, and attractions management aspects. Considering the results presented, practical and sensible solutions are discussed in relation to how youths perceived KILIM Geopark.

The paper applied a content analysis method to examine how myths and legends have been employed by the promotional organization in portraying New Zealand on the official tourism website. The assessment of the website uncovered six main legends which have been presented in the promotion of New Zealand to potential tourists. These traditional tales have been incorporated into the website chiefly as part of Maori heritage attributes in which purakau (the Maori term for legends) represents among crucial aspects in understanding their worldviews and cultural identities. Legends narrating fishing voyages involving demi gods offers a mythological explanation of the origin of the geological formation of islands of New Zealand were presented more than once on the website. Among the legends presented to readers on the websites encompass stories of Tane Mahuta, which depicts the tale of the sky father, the earth mother, and the creation of the world of light that humans live in today. Another unique legend, Paikea the whale rider, is featured as part of the description of a whale-watching attraction in Kaikoura, Christchurch. The overall analysis uncovered that legendary tales are incorporated into the website as the part historical origin of Maori people and in the promotion of several tourist attractions in New Zealand. From a tourism perspective, the representation of these tales enhances the appeal of destinations and make them stand out to visitors. The inclusion of the purakau offers tourists a deeper understanding of the cultural heritage of this country. Furthermore, Maori worldviews on the creation of the universe and formation of the natural environment are transpired. It is noticeable through these legends that Maori people strongly respect their ancestors and highly appreciated natural resources. Finally, the emphasis on environmental conservation and sustainability as ingrained in the tales further supported the overall promotional tagline of 100% Pure New Zealand and the inclusion of Tiaki Promise a commitment to care for New Zealand, for now, and for future generations on the official tourism website.

The exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of Japan has a very wide area due to a lot of islands in Japanese Archipelago. As the worldwide supply and demand of natural resources and foods are being tight, the technology for the effective use of the EEZ will become the key for the sustainable development of Japan. From this background, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan (MLIT) started an R&D project of floating offshore platform technologies in 2007[1]. In this project an integrated design support tool is developed for evaluating the economical and safety aspects of the offshore platforms. This tool contains the function to estimate an environmental impact of seafloor resource development. We postulated the process of seafloor resource development as follows. The ores mined on seabed are sent up to the platforms as a mixture of the ore particles and water, then the waste water containing inorganic suspended particles is discharged into sea. The particles exhausted in the sea are transported by the advection and diffusion, and sink gradually on seafloor. We developed an analytical code simulating the distribution of discharged particle in both sea and sediments by a simple technique. Mass Consistent Flow Model is used to save the time in the calculation of ocean flow. In addition, the ecosystem model in sediment is developed to estimate the ecological impact of seafloor resource development. It includes benthic organism, zooplankton, bacteria, and particulate organic matter as the components. The ecological impact was assessed based on the recovery period of the biomass. In this paper, the outline of this environmental impact analysis tool and results of the trial calculation for seafloor resource mining are shown.