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4: How would you identify and choose the stakeholders who should be involved in the formulation of a tourism policy for a region? Is there anyone whom you feel should be excluded from the process?

For starters, I would look at my native population of my area and make sure they’re in on my decision making to what we would do to the environment. I’ll so this mainly due to most of them still reside there, which means they have a vested interest to keep their country beautiful and productive. With that said, all my representative working on a solution would live and have strong ties and family to the area as well. I would also attempt to include businesses, to help with input in having a say in the tourism policy, since they can profit from it as well. Manufacturing business would be excluded simply because many times they can care less about the environment.

8: What are the most important interfaces of tourism policy; that is, which other sectors of the economy and society need to be aware of tourism policy or might have a significant impact on the success of tourism policy?

One word, “Economy”, the host economy need to be aware of and make provisions for tourism, but some of the major ones include: government and taxation services; the financing sector; the transportation sector; the environmental sector; the manufacturing and industry sector; the security sector; the technology sector; and, the human resources and labor administrations.

12: Why is a vision especially important for policy formulation? How long into the future should a vision attempt to define an ideal future?

It has been said, that a photo is worth a thousand words. I think we can say the same thing about having a vision. It’s very important, and many times it can even be crucial, I also feel that it’s very important because Policies and Procedures are the strategic link between the Company's Vision and its day-to-day operations. But why is that so important? It's because well written policies & procedures allow employees to understand their roles and responsibilities within predefined limits. Basically, policies & procedures allow management to guide operations without constant management intervention. So it’s very important. As noted in our book a vision can range from anywhere to five to over fifty years, as well as separated into several implementation levels, starting with the preamble, followed by the core vision, and the elements of the vision. It should also be noted that vision of change can really affect many. So the questions become who profits from the change.

13: Implementation of policy recommendations is often a problem. What do you see as the major barriers to the implementation of policy? Why do they exist? How might these barriers be overcome?

Let me begin by saying that the need for Tourism policy is actually very important. Since each country's tourism policy list provisions for who may enter the country and how long there stay can last. When it comes to the US a foreigner's stay can last for up to 6 months, if working or a student here. However in Ireland it is only 3 months. In the 1920's through the 1980's traveling to Europe was the "it" vacation since they money exchange was so cheap. However now that the Euro has surpassed the American dollar traveling there is no longer in expensive, and now Europeans seem to be traveling here. So yes, there are several barriers to policy implementation, some of them societal, some of them political especially when implementing effective tourism policy, the local government needs to be supportive and open to such actions. Also, since substantial funding is needed, you could also bump into many obstacles in those areas mainly because some of these issues is that different people and organizations might not see the importance of tourism and protecting the environment the way the tourist industry sees it and that can really be a problem…but a good way to overcome this will be to make everyone aware of the popularity that really comes with tourist attractions.

16: How do government policies on passports and visas impact tourism?

I would begin by saying tourism policy is important from many perspectives. Policies insure safety and security as well as a standard for living. We live in a global competitive environment. It is important to stay competitive and proactive in the world of tourism since it is the main financial factor for many countries. Policies bring stability and reassurance to tourist knowing their interest is being handled. As a tourist you want your needs meet by bringing in reassurance of stability and safety in the place of interest. You are a source of economy and therefore drive it. Policy making is important in understanding the needs and advantages for both the tourist and location and work together in an agreement of satisfaction. With that said, I feel government policies on passports and visas make it a little more difficult to travel but they also make it safer, and ensure that only reputable people are allowed to travel outside of our country, and to visit our own country for that matter. On the flip side of things, in governments that are too restrictive with their passport and visa protocols tourism might suffer because it might be difficult to enter and exit their country.

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1: A real estate developer, aware of a growing demand for a lakeshore resort condominium, planned for 126 apartments plus a 56-slip marina. Upon submission of his plan, the township planning board informed him that only one apartment and one boat slip would be allowed for each hundred feet of lakeshore. Because he did not own that much lakeshore, plans were redrawn to construct the planned development back from the lakeshore. Access to the lake would be provided via a canal, using one of the lakeshore lots—a “keyhole” plan. This proposal was also rejected. The developer then sued the township board to force approval. What should the court or judge decide?

I fell the court would agree with the official policies regarding the conservation of the region. More than often the court will stand by any policy that aims to prevent the overcrowding and any type of exploitation of natural resources, such as this similar case. It seems to me that after being denied the building permit, the developer should have tried to buy more land instead of trying to find a short-cut which we see didn’t do him any good either when he attempted to artificially removed the boats from the lakeshore inland. I feel one of the biggest problems the planning board have is what may happen when all the boats try to exit through the ‘keyhole’, whether or not they live on that stretch of shore wouldn’t matter, they would be when they try to exit. I think on that along the court would or should deny the motion, and should encourage the developer to rethink his plans and seek another more viable solution. Also, I feel the court would remind him of government set precedents on how many houses and people can live on lineal feet of shoreline. I also think the township planning board would use similar statistics to get their point across.

2: You have accepted a United Nations Development Program assignment in tourism to a small Central American country. Your first task is to make financial calculations concerning the economic feasibility for a resort development. What factors do you consider when beginning this process? Assuming your findings result in a favorable conclusion, what would your next step be?

For starters, I would consider is the political situation in that country, and whether or not the economy and infrastructure can support such business. I would do not only an extensive survey of the area but gather history data and determine what the inflation and other economic factors are, along with development rate, crime, the state of the transportation industry and the telecommunications network. Because at the end of the day my task is simply aimed at ensuring that the local infrastructure can support the resort. I would also put in place a plan “B” and I would do this only after I had research and interpret the environment we have already completed. To me, the first steps in any task are to define the system, gather data, and analyze and interpret the data.

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3: Nathan M. is the local managing director of a tour company specializing in ecotourism. His company operates big-game and bird photo safaris in Tanzania. He has decided that his firm would be more socially responsible if his tours (by minibus) would obtain practically all needs from local sources. Give some examples of how he might do this and describe the benefits that would accrue locally. (When discussing, include both economic and social benefits.)

I feel there may be several things he can do. First of all, and most importantly, he can ensure that the staff he hires for the tours are local residents. I say this, because the local would take pride in their community of course, he would have every right to demand qualified people for this purpose, but with a little effort he should be able to do this. Secondly, he could offer something as simple as refreshments or dining options that are local on his trip. By doing this he would be helping the local restaurant by having the tourists eat something prepared locally, or if no stop is planned, bring along produce and food bought and prepared locally. I’ve found food from the local market is always a big hit during a trip, and afterwards, he can suggest local attractions that tourists can visit, things like local attractions and great gift shop where tourists can purchase locally made handicrafts and goods, which would give back to the community. I feel the key to Nathan success would be involving the local community in the process, he will ensure that this money which the tourists bring with them and invest into the landscape is also invested in the people who live and work there, and can go towards the preservation of the habitats for future generations to see. And if he continues to think along those lines the people and the community would raise in their standard of living.

4: Upon graduation, you have secured a job as tourism specialist with the World Wildlife Fund. Your first assignment is to be a team member charged with helping to formulate plans for some kind of wildlife protection area in Zambia. This country is located in south-central Africa. Their government is considering a new national park and has requested expert assistance from the fund. The president of the fund has made it very clear to the team that such plans must also aim to improve living standards for the local population. These standards, at present, are grievously low. Most local people are subsistence farmers. They occasionally shoot big-game animals that damage their crops, and also for meat. After extensive field study, a particularly attractive area has been found in which the scenery is spectacular, the climate very pleasant, the natural history resources outstanding, and the local people friendly and hospitable. Thus the proposed park seems to have an excellent potential for attracting substantial numbers of ecotourists. Propose some conceptual ideas as to how this challenge can be met successfully.

For starters, I feel there are certain things one shouldn’t do until they can research and interpret the environment while gathering data, and analyze and interpret that data. So the idea may be great. These things must first take place. So, first thing, there will need to be a tourism development program and research and determine the feasibility of such an operation, from a more in-depth approach that will evaluate both the social and economic aspects. After the data has been completed we need to make sure that the proper infrastructure is in place to support the current proposal, and that the laws and regulations allow for the development of the park. We don’t want to be like the real estate developer with the lakeshore resort condominium and get tired up in the court system. After all of those clear, I think we would have the green-light to proceed ahead with ecotourism in mind, and the policies and principles that comes with it. To boost the morale I would try to use as many local resources in the building of the resort as possible, and try to minimize the effect that the resort will have on the environment. I feel doing both of these things, the message we are sending is simple, we want to give back to the community which has so graciously taken in the proposal, by staffing our new establishment with friendly and experienced locals, and taking care of the environment. Not only does this shows we are in this together but it also says, we all have a vested interest in keeping the area safe and clean not only from an employment viewpoint but also because its their own community.