JEDDAH, 16 January — The National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development (NCWCD) has announced that it will be organizing a symposium on eco-tourism in the Kingdom in March, in cooperation with the
Supreme Commission for Tourism, to help draw a national tourism strategy to ensure the protection of natural areas.
Planned for March 24-28 at King Fahd Cultural Center in Riyadh, the conference aims at promoting sustainable nature-based tourism by bringing together government officials with eco-tourism and leading wildlife professionals, environmental educationalists and conservationists, said NCWCD Secretary-General, Dr. Abdul Aziz H. Abuzinada.
"The aim is to develop a national strategy for eco-tourism in Saudi Arabia. We will seek to benefit from the experience of other countries active in this area in the Middle East as well as other regions characterized by arid conditions such as the United States, Australia and South Africa. The help of businessmen and others involved in conservation activities in the Kingdom will also be sought," he said in a statement.
Eco-tourism can be defined as low-impact and small-scale travel to natural areas that helps to the process of conserving their environmental features and in the process adds to the well-being of local people.
It is a small but distinct category of nature-based tourism, which can include wildlife travel into uninhabited areas and adventure travel in challenging environments.
The government, under the guidance of the Supreme Commission for Tourism headed by Prince Sultan, second deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, has recently committed the country to an expansion of tourism, including nature-based tourism, religious tourism for pilgrims and plans to attract general tourism to the region.
"What is essential for successful, sustainable eco-tourism is a national strategy that will guide its development. This must be based on a structure of enforceable legislation with observed codes of conduct, regulation and design. It should be based on adequate and long-term capital development, clear planning and management policies, good community and public relations, and well-trained personnel," Dr. Abuzinada said.
The symposium will discuss successful strategies and policies for establishing sustainable nature-based tourism, sustainable eco-tourism in arid terrestrial and marine regions, developing and communicating wilderness ethics and skills, effective environmental education and awareness through nature-based tourism and recreation and strengthening the economies of rural communities.
