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“Tourism in the Mediterranean: Driving Integrated and Sustainable Development, Enhancing Heritage and Cultural Exchanges” Seminar Summary November 7, 2014 Villa Méditerranée, Marseille

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Introduction

Tourism is an important tool for sustainable development in the Mediterranean region and is it essential for job creation: more than 20% of the GDP comes from tourism and it is the first source of employment, particularly among young people and women. Tourism continues to represent an important source of growth and it has the potential to lead to shared prosperity.

This event reflects the collaboration between Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region and the Center for Mediterranean Integration who have convened a wide range of decision makers and stakeholders to draw lessons from the implementation of public policies in tourism development and to exchange perspectives on key themes linked to inclusive development of tourism.

What are the challenges and perspectives for the tourism sector to achieve shared growth in the Mediterranean?

The first session of the event began with a review of tourism on a global level before focusing more specifically on the Mediterranean region. The panelists highlighted the increase in touristic flow which translates, among other things, to increased revenues; currently one tourist out of three travels in/to the Mediterranean region. This high increase of touristic flow in the region accompanies a diversification of tourist products and carries with it both damaging consequences and also creates opportunities. Political instability, insecurity, the preservation of natural resources and risks for local populations were among the numerous difficulties that were identifies. The development of an integrated form of tourism is needed in order to address these risks.

The panelists highlighted that appropriate public policies need to be implemented to respond to these challenges. Tourism can create wealth and jobs but this means that the education systems need to be adapted to the job market demands. In parallel, healthy competition has to be encouraged in the tourism sector and in domestic services to make sure that not only the larger companies benefit from the increasing tourist flow. The diaspora also have a role to play in linking the northern and the southern rim of the Mediterranean.

What instruments for an integrated vision of tourism?

During the second session, the experts highlighted the negative impact that mass tourism has on natural and cultural heritage. In opposition with this type of tourism, the panelists insisted on alternative models demonstrating more sustainability, solidarity and fairness. An integrative approach of touristic development was promoted in order to support local populations, improve their standard of life and reduce poverty. These types of tourism have a positive impact on employment and wealth sharing. The implication of a large number of actors as local authorities, national governments and private sector was notified as a key factor of the development of a fair and sustainable touristic sector. The inclusion and participation of the population in this process was another aspect of the success of these initiatives.

Several projects have been presented as examples of Fairtrade tourism: Maroc Inedit organizes unique circuits in rural areas and in close relation with the local population. This approach aims to raise tourists’ awareness on specific issues, build bridges between cultures and people and foster local economies by reducing intermediaries and promoting family housing. The other initiative is an inhabitant cooperative 2

called Hotel du Nord. It focuses on developing tourism in the northern suburbs of Marseilles and sharing with the “passengers� the history of this neighborhood.

The panelists addressed the relationship between tourism and urban development. The rehabilitation of the architectural heritage like medinas or the development of urban services like transport can be a source of local and economic development in terms of tourism. The case of Djerba (Tunisia) represents a good example of interdependence between tourism and waste management: in Djerba, almost half of the waste comes from hotels. After the local stakeholders have denounced the lack of actions taken by local authorities, a round table has been organized with the municipality and the national authorities in order to define sustainable solutions.

Actions for the preservation of the Mediterranean cultural heritage?

In the context of a growing tourism sector which brings waves of tourists to the Mediterranean region, the relationship that countries have with their heritage requires constant evaluation. Addressing the preservation of natural and cultural heritage in the Mediterranean, panelists underlined the importance of policies to manage individual sites and territories in order to enable heritage to add value to the region.

Managing tourist fluxes and their impact on heritage is a complex process and requires an integrated strategy. This issue has seen a change in discourse, and collaborative approaches are beginning to prevail, increasingly favoring dialogue between local government, tour operators, civil society, heritage organizations and communities. The empowerment of local actors lies at the heart of effective strategies to protect and enhance heritage. The Faro Convention of 2005 called for new development models driven by greater democracy, strengthened citizen participation and better governance based on more open, reactive and transparent institutions. North/South collaboration is one way in which this can be achieved: partnership between Kasserine (Tunisia) and the PACA region has facilitated the transfer of knowledge to empower local actors and citizens with the skills and education to protect and enhance local heritage.

Discussions between the panelists illustrated that the long standing dynamic characterized by the dichotomy between conservation and economic growth is shifting. Although public-private partnerships continue to divide opinion, those which are based on moderation and compromise are proving to be increasingly effective in unlocking the economic value of sites whilst protecting local communities.

However, the involvement of the private sector in the valorization of heritage requires regulatory reform in order to incentivize investment. In some cases, PPPs have proven to have wider benefits, restoring cultural heritage in conflict areas and initiative social projects which benefit local communities.

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Annex Panelists Introduction    

Michel Vauzelle, President of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region, Vice-President of the commission for Foreign Affairs of the French Parliament Martine Vassal, Deputy Mayor in charge of International and European Relations, Marseille Philippe de Fontaine Vive, Vice-President, European Investment Bank Ede Jorge Ijjasz-Vasquez, Senior Director, Social, Urban, Rural & Resilience Global Practice, The World Bank

What are the challenges and perspectives for the tourism sector to achieve shared growth in the Mediterranean?      

Yannick Lemagadure, Marketing Director, Regional Committee on Tourism, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, France Shantayanan Devarajan, Chief Economist for the Middle East and North Africa region, The World Bank Jean-Marc Gravellini, Executive Director in charge of the Operations, French Development Agency (AFD) Hugues Ravenel, Director, Plan Bleu, France Ibrahim Ashmawy, Investment Adviser to the Minister of Tourism, Egypt Delphine Borione, Deputy Secretary General for Social and Civil Affair, Secretariat of the Union for the Mediterranean

What instruments for an integrated vision of tourism?         

Georges Zouain, Director General, Gaia-Heritage, Lebanon Jean-Marie Collombon, President of the organization MARCO POLO, Organization of the International Forum on Fair Tourism Chantal Reliquet, Senior Urban Specialist, Urban, Rural & Social Development Department, The World Bank Mahjoub Bajja, President of the organization Maroc Inédit, Maroc Markus Luecke, Head of Mission, Regional network for integrated waste management in the MENA Region, GIZ (German Agency for International Cooperation) Gilles Beville, President of the organization for a Fair Tourism (ATES) Nathalie Cazals, Development and Projects coordinator at Hotel du Nord-Marseille cooperative, France Laroussi Khemira, Twizza for the heritage, solidarity and development, Tunisia Ayman Abu Alzulof, Director of the Alternative Tourism Group (ATG), West Bank and Gaza

Actions for the preservation of the Mediterranean cultural heritage        

Nada al Hassan, Director, Arab States Unit, World Heritage Center, UNESCO John Perrottet, Senior Industry Specialist, International Finance Corporation Xavier Bailly, Administrator of the Mont-Saint-Michel Abbaye and of the Carrouges castle, France Nabil Sami Itani, Conservation of Historical Cities & Monuments Specialist, Project Management Unit, Cultural Heritage & Urban Development Project, Council of Development and Reconstruction, Lebanon Mourad Abdellaoui, Regional Commissioner of tourism of Kasserine, Tunisia Christian Mourisard, Vice-President of the International Council on Monuments and Sites and Vice-President of the National Federation of Tourism offices, France Hans-Harald Jahn, Head of Division Natural Resources and Agro-industry, Projects Directorate, European Investment Bank Tarik Harroud, PhD in Urban Geography, Researcher at the National Institute for Development and Urban Planning, Morocco

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