Tourism and wetlands: Insights from the Ramsar Site Information System

Wetlands offer significant tourism opportunities that can be an important source of income for communities and national economies. The Ramsar Convention supports Contracting Parties and other stakeholders in promoting and developing sustainable wetland tourism. Resolution XI.7 on ‘Tourism, recreation and wetlands’ and the joint Ramsar-UNWTO publication, Destination Wetlands: Supporting Sustainable Tourism, published in 2012, exemplify the Ramsar Convention’s commitment to sustainable tourism development. 

The fourteen case studies presented in Destination Wetlands: Supporting Sustainable Tourism cover different wetland types from around the world and demonstrate sustainable tourism and recreation practices which address multiple objectives associated with wetland conservation, poverty alleviation, economic development and support for local cultures. These case studies also identify the associated risks and potential negative impacts on wetlands that can occur when tourism is not well managed. Sensitive planning and management is vital if tourism developments in wetlands are to be environmentally sustainable and in keeping with the principles agreed by Ramsar Contracting Parties.

Among other resources, the Ramsar Site Information Service (RSIS, https://rsis.ramsar.org), a web-based information portal, provides access to information on tourism and recreation in Wetlands of International Importance, also known as Ramsar Sites. 

Of the 2,263 Ramsar Sites in the database as of March 2017, 1,660 (73%) are reported to provide ecosystem services related to tourism and recreation. Across different regions, the percentage of Ramsar sites reported to provide tourism and recreation services varies from 65% in Latin America and the Caribbean, to 80% in Oceania (see Table 1). 

'Recreational hunting and fishing’ is the most widespread tourism activity (43% of Ramsar Sites), while ‘water-sport activities’ are the least widespread (6% of Ramsar Sites). Europe, Oceania and North America have similar tourism activity profiles, with ‘recreational hunting and fishing’ and ‘picnics, outings and touring’ being the most important activities. However, in Africa ‘recreational hunting and fishing’ is by far the most prevalent activity, and in Asia ‘nature observation and nature-based tourism’ is the most important type of tourism in wetlands. Lastly, in Latin America and the Caribbean, ‘recreational hunting and fishing’, ‘nature observation and nature-based tourism’, ‘picnics, outings and touring’ are roughly equivalent in importance (see Figure 1). 

Ramsar’s commitment to promoting sustainable tourism is strengthened by Resolution VII.8, which encourages indigenous peoples’ and local communities’ participation in wetland management. The Ramsar Wise Use Handbook 7: Participatory Skills provides a further helpful resource for developing and applying participatory skills, which can be highly relevant in managing wetland tourism sustainably.

The resources described above reflect the importance of tourism and recreation in Ramsar Sites and wetlands generally. Recreational, aesthetic and spiritual values are all forms of cultural ecosystem services provided by wetlands. Although the more intangible aspects of cultural ecosystem services are sometimes overlooked, such as their spiritual value, they can be an equally important part of what attracts millions of visitors to wetlands every year. 

By Satchida Rajya Laxmi Rana, previously Project Officer, Culture and Livelihoods, Ramsar Convention Secretariat

Satchida was previously Project Officer for Culture and Livelihoods at the Ramsar Convention Secretariat, supporting the implementation of ‘Celebrating Culture, Livelihoods & Wetlands Partnership’. Prior to joining the Secretariat, Satchida worked with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in Community Based Disaster Management programme that focused on preparedness for response, mitigation activities to reduce the impact of hazards, disaster risk reduction, livelihoods and climate change adaptation for sustainable development. In addition, Satchida has also been involved in knowledge sharing, fundraising, resource mobilization, capacity building, forging strategic partnership, volunteer development, volunteering and community care. Satchida brings along an exceptionally diverse experiences from her work with the IFRC in the humanitarian and in development field; with particular success in managing national and regional teams. Furthermore, she has successfully completed her Master’s Degree in Science, Society and Development as a World Bank Scholar from the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), University of Sussex, U.K. focusing on Agriculture, Health and Environment.