draftplanTony2

                                                      Section Two

                                  Summary of Main Issues and Problems

2.0   Summary of Main Issues and Problems

The site analysis identified the main issues and problems affecting visitor management in Wadi Rum and these are summarised below. This summary was used to shape the strategic recommendations presented in Part Three

Visitor numbers have been increasing rapidly and are set to rise even more sharply in the immediate future and, without effective regulation of visitor distribution and activities, the degradation of the site will become extreme.
There are multiple access points into the protected area and this makes visitor use difficult to regulate and coordinate.
Almost one third of visitors camp overnight but camping provision is not adequate to meet future demand and the standards need to be improved. Other forms of overnight accommodation also need to be considered.
Tourism activities have adversely affected virtually all parts of the protected area and there is a need to limit the type and intensity of activities in some areas to allow for the restoration and conservation of its ecological value. Not yet proven – see comments above.   Vehicle tours are the main cause of environmental damage in Rum and there is an urgent need to rationalise the track network and control vehicle movements. You must allow for special needs of climbers & trekkers.
The number of tour operators in Rum is increasing (Diseh, QAF and private sector) and there is a need to have all tourism operations managed under the umbrella of a single competent agency to ensure that site protection and tourism development can be effectively integrated.
The RTC, as the principal tour operator at present, is not managing its operations effectively and invests little in service improvements or site protection. Consequently, the general level of service received by most visitors is low. Enhancing the capacity of this organisation to provide better service is crucial.
The financial benefits from tourism are not fairly distributed, either within the RTC or between the RTC and private sector operators, and especially the manager of the rest house. Presently, this manager takes the lion's share of camping income and has a virtual monopoly on externally arranged tours. None of the current tourism income is invested in site protection or improvement of services.
Entrance fee collection is not efficient and many visitors enter without paying
The level of service provision does not at present appear to warrant an increase in entrance fees but mechanisms for starting to generate income for site protection and management need to be considered.
The information available to visitors is minimal. There is virtually nothing about the options for activities, about the vehicle tours or about the protected area itself and the attempts being made to conserve it. Guide services provided by local operators are also generally very poor. If you are referring to climbing & trekking guides this is NOT TRUE.
There are currently no regulations governing the use and protection of the site and no effective enforcement mechanisms

Local communities have largely been responsible for developing tourism in Rum and they receive most of the financial benefits, but these benefits are not fairly distributed and the recipients are concentrated in one tribal group when there are several others who claim traditional use of the land inside the protected area. Relieving tribal conflicts over tourism is vital to ensuring coordinated development and effective protection for the whole of the site. Correct.
The new visitor centre will radically alter the focus of commerce in the protected area and introduce a new order of control over visitor use and services. These could potentially undermine local community business interests and create conflict with the management authority. See above notes on climbing / trekking people who are a real asset to Rum village, shops, cafes, restaurants, guides and drivers – grass roots tourism at its very best, putting the money where it should be and where it does the most good!