Recreational Beach Driving
18 February 2007
"The decision surrounding public recreational beach driving is now final,"
said Marthinus van Schalkwyk, South African Minister of Environmental Affairs
and Tourism, as he released a report on the ecological and socio-economic
impact of the beach driving ban.
The Minister said, "I am now entirely satisfied that the decision to
ban/restrict public recreational vehicles on South African beaches was the
correct one. There is now overwhelming evidence that this is the best decision
for the environment and more broadly sustainable development and tourism
growth. While there may have been an initial negative economic impact, it is
clear that this trend has reversed and the stage is set for further growth. In
fact, there is conclusive proof that several businesses have been successful at
capturing new niche markets, including the lucrative eco-tourism market."
"I would like to emphasise that this policy is here to stay. Future tourism
and investment planning no longer has to contend with any uncertainty regarding
public recreational beach driving in South Africa. We now have clarity
regarding the legislative and regulatory context in which planning frameworks
and investment strategies can be developed to further promote eco-tourism
associated with the Wetland Park, and, indeed, the greater coastal landscape of
the country."
Key findings of the report
A study was conducted in the context of the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park,
with a view to determining the best possible outcomes in terms of sustainable
economic growth and its attendant ecological and social co-benefits.
Further, there was a examination of a number of ecological indicators that
showed the ecological effects associated with continued vehicle use are
negative and the effects associated with the withdrawal or decrease of vehicles
are positive. From an ecological viewpoint and if the precautionary principle
is to be applied, beaches should not be re-opened to public recreational
vehicles.
The tourism chapter concludes that the introduction of the Regulations, at
the time of the beach-driving ban and up until 2003, had an initial negative
impact on tourism in the Wetland Park area. However, the impact was arguably
exacerbated by several other factors: the opening of Mozambique as an
alternative destination (new tar road and easier access), a major drought, high
fuel prices and a weak rand, amongst others. However, the negative economic
impact has been softened by several factors. These include ongoing government
efforts through the Lubombo Spatial Development Initiative and the Wetland
Authority for improvement and upliftment of the area, the World Heritage status
of the Park, game re-introductions, improved Park infrastructure, a change in
the profile of visitors to the area (more foreign visitors and domestic holiday
makers interested in the eco-tourism experience and fewer visitors focused on
beach-driving and fishing) and an adaptation and broadening of tourism products
and services.
Since 2003/04, tourist numbers have shown a recovery and new business
opportunities have continued to arise. Similarly, tourism patterns have changed
with a shortening of the so-called off-season. Changes in the formal tourism
business sector have been most marked in St Lucia Town where, in particular,
the higher end accommodation market has grown. A July 2006 inventory of tourist
accommodation in and around the Wetland Park revealed a 59% increase in
establishments and an 18% increase in beds since 2000.
A crime study showed that the overall trends have not changed since the
introduction of the Regulations governing the use of vehicles in the coastal
zone. No direct causal link could be found linking the frequency of crime
incidents with the introduction of the beach driving ban. It is important to
note that crime hotspots could not be directly correlated with areas where
beach-driving had or had not been permitted prior to the introduction of the
Regulations.
Information on the informal sector showed that the income generated by the
tourism-related informal economy is critical to the survival of numerous poor
families living on the periphery of the park. It appears that informal sector
businesses have not been able to capture adequately the opportunities arising
from the increase in foreign tourists. This is an area that requires
substantive interventions to bridge the gap between the formal and informal
economies and to achieve a broader spread of the new economic opportunities and
benefits. Added to this, it is considered necessary to broaden the
transformation of tourism service providers operating adjacent to the Wetland
Park.
From the different specialist perspectives it is evident that the
beach-driving ban had both positive and negative impacts. It is, however,
difficult to separate the precise effects of the ban from the effects of
several other important factors that have influenced and contributed to the
trends in tourism and the tourism related economy in and around the Wetland
Park. Also a conclusion is reached that many of the perceptions on crime and
socio-economic or tourism impacts advanced by those in favour of ending the
beach-driving ban are not based on fact.
In line with international best practice, all legislation and government
policy that relates or impinges on conservation and natural resource use and
management, makes a fundamental commitment to sustainable development and the
upliftment of people. In terms of sustainability criteria, it is unlikely that
allowing public recreational beach-driving will make a significant contribution
to sustainable development.
In pursuit of its development goals through tourism, government has invested
heavily in the greater area of the Wetland Park and its surrounds, initially
via the Lubombo Spatial Development Initiative and more recently via the
Wetland Authority.
Outcomes are seen in the new tourism mix, which includes the full range of
the lower to higher end tourism market and which properly balances domestic and
international tourism, is more sustainable into the future.
The study is available on (http://www.environment.gov.za).
Enquiries:
Blessing Manale
Chief Director: Communications
Cell: 083 677 1630
Issued by: Ministry of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
18 February 2007
