The Brecon Beacons National Park

Activity and Research 5

5. Sustainable tourism in the Brecon Beacons National Park

There is a growing awareness that tourism has a responsibility towards the host community and the environment in which tourism takes place.  

Sustainable tourism is about making sure that helping tourists to enjoy the area they are visiting but at the same time protecting the area for the future.

The most widely used official definition of sustainable tourism is ‘tourism which meets the demands of present tourists and host regions while protecting and enhancing opportunities for the future’.
(World Tourism Organisation).

The Brecon Beacons National Park Authority is responsible for putting together plans for sustainable tourism in the national park.  This is called a strategy.

The National Park Authority is trying to do bring about sustainable tourism by:

• Encouraging and promoting tourism in a way that protects the environment and helps the local community



Sunrise over Llyn y Fan Fawr

to Pen y Fan, Brecon Beacons

• Managing visitors to minimise damage to the environment to the national park but at the same time helping visitors to enjoy their visit
• Helping people enjoy their visit by providing good facilities
• Helping local people to benefit from tourists visiting the National Park
• Developing tourism projects which help protect the environment and help the communities in the National Park.

Sustainable tourism is not about stopping tourists visiting the area but it is about supporting the right sort of tourism, and making sure that the area is not damaged by tourism.  It is also about helping local people to benefit from tourism.

 

Sustainable Tourism Projects in the Brecon Beacons National Park

1. The Brecon Beacons Green Dragons Group – Accommodation Providers

The Brecon Beacons National Park Authority has realised that more and more visitors (especially those from Europe) want to know how environmentally-friendly the accommodation they are intending to stay in is.  The Green Dragon scheme involves a group of accommodation providers in the National Park which are committed to sustainable practices and preserving the local environment.  The Green Dragon scheme provides reassurance to visitors before they book their accommodation.

Organisations involved in the scheme include:

• Youth hostels
• Activity providers
• Campsite/caravan parks
• Self catering providers
• Bed & Breakfast providers

The Green Dragon Group will market themselves as organisations promoting sustainable tourism through specialist magazines.

2. The Brecon Beacons National Park Environmental Charter – Activity providers

The Charter is a commitment from activity centres and other activity providers regarding the sustainable use of areas within the Brecon Beacons National Park.  The Charter group members have made a commitment to:

• Encourage their customers to understand and appreciate he special qualities of the National Park and the ways in can be looked after
• Follow good practice for the sustainable use of he National Park
• Carry out activities in a way which maintains good relationships with other users
• Encourage colleagues clients and students to enjoy and respect the wildlife, landscape and cultural heritage of he National Park
• Recognise that many sites, plants and animals are protected by law and to avoid disturbance
• Understand that all the land is owned by someone and show respect to landowners
• Encourage their customers to show respect for the needs of local residents.

3. Action for Tourism Newsletter – tourism businesses

The newsletter is sent to tourism businesses in the Brecon Beacons to inform them about sustainable tourism issues and projects being undertaken by the National Park Authority.  It includes information on training days available for tourism businesses, details of new projects and other relevant information.

4. Sustainable transport – visitors

A recent scheme introduced by the National Park Authority is the ‘Beacon Bus’.  These are busses which bring visitors from nearby towns and cities into the National Park on peak days and weekends in the summer, encouraging visitors to leave their cars at home.  The busses drop visitors at Brecon from where they can access walks, activities and attractions.

.Activities and Research 5

1. Outline what the term ‘sustainable tourism’ means.
2. Summarise the four measures being taken by the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority to support sustainable tourism.
3. Design a poster aimed at cyclists informing them of how they are supporting sustainable tourism by making use of the Beacon Bus scheme.