An Integrated Approach To Resort Development
An Integrated Approach To Resort Development
An Integrated Approach To Resort Development
A TOURISM AND
TI-IE ENVTRONMENT
PUHLIC,ZTTON
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An Integrated
Approach to
Resort
Development
SM CASE STUDIES
By Edward Inskeep and Mark Kallenberger
WORLD TOURISM ORGANIZATION
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
WTO and the authors would like to thank the tourism authorities in each resort
and country for their cooperation. This publication could not have been
produced without their assistance. Also thanks should be extended to Nancy
Cockerell, Scott Wayne and Michael Berggren for editing, copyediting and
proofreading this manuscript.
FIGURES
Number
1 TOURISM STRUCTURE PLAN OF BALI
2 NUSA DUA RESORT PLAN - 1973
3
NUSA DUA RESORT PLAN - 1988
4 KYONGJU TOURIST MAP
5 KYONGJU TOURISM PROJECT
6 POMUN LAKE RESORT
7 YUCATANREGION
8 CANCUN RESORT PLAN
9 CANCUNCITYPLAN
10 PUERTO PLATA TOURISM REGION
1 1 PLAYA DORADA RESORT PLAN
12 ANTALYA REGION
13-14 EAST AND SOUTH ANTALYA TOURISM PLANNING AREAS
15 LANZAROTE ISLAND
16 LANZAROTE PLAN - IMPACTS OF UNCONTROLLED
DEVELOPMENT
17 LANZAROTE LAND USE STRUCTRE PLAN
18 LANZAROTE TOURISM STRUCTURE PLAN
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CONTENTS
Foreword
Key, Conclusions & Recommendations
Pag. No
Chapter 1 Introduction 1
Chapter 2 Nusa Dua Resort, Bali, Indonesia 4
Chapter 3 Pomun Lake Resort, Kyongju, Republic of Korea 26
Chapter 4 Cancun Resort, Cancun, Mexico 44
Chapter 5 Puerto Plata Resort Project, Dominican Republic 65
Chapter 6 South Antalya Tourism Development Project-Turkey 85
Chapter 7 Lanzarote Tourism Planning Project, Canary Islands, Spain 105
Chapter 8 General Conclusions 123
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FOREWORD
Over the last two decades, a nurnber of large tourist resorts have been
developed around the world, many of which have become highly
popular holiday destinations. The growth in tourism generated by
these resorts has brought significant economic and social benefits to
their respective countries, including increased foreign exchange
earnings, direct and indirect employment. In addition, the resorts'
development has stimulated local and regional development,
encouraging new local industries and intemational trade.
The success of these resorts can be largely attributed to the
adoption of an integrated approach to their development - carefui
planning and implementation that took into consideration regional
environmental, economic and socisculturai factors. This kind of
approach helps minimise environmental, socio-economic and
marketing problems often associated with uncontrolled tourism
development.
In line with WTO's concern for sustainable tourism
development, a detailed evaluation of six tourist resorts was
commissioned in 1990. The results of these case studies highlight the
importante of an integrated approach to tourism development and
offer some valuable lessons for tourism policy-makers and public and
private sector planners. Many aspects of the approach to ei ch resort's
development are applicable to tourism resort projects all over the
world.
Antonio Enrquez-Savignac
Semtary General
World Tourism Organization
vii
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Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION
sustainable tourism development is one of the major issues facing the worlds
travel and tourism industry in the 1990s. Not only are tourists becoming more
concerned about different forms of environmental pollution in their holiday
destinations; tliere is also a growing numbcr of tangiblc examples of
environmcntal pollution translatcd into a loss of toiirisrn incorne. 171e decline in
populanty of certain traditional Mcditcrrancan holidav rcsorts that havc hccn
ovcrbiiilt and under-maintaincd, thc reduccd appcal of the Rlack Forest damaged
by acid rain, or the blooms of algae along the Adriatic coast of Italy are dramatic
proof of the threat to tourism from environmental neglect.
The costs are impossible to quant*, but they are enormous. And it is
already clear that tourists are beginning to shun operators and destinations that
have received bad publicity over their environmental record. Leading tour
operators themselves are increasingly appointing Environmental Advisors to
monitor the environmental practices of hotels and resorts to avoid losing valuahle
clients.
As far as new resort development is concerned, the problems are perhaps
less acute - but only on the condition that concerted effons are made on the
part of both governments and the operating sector to ensure an integrated
approach to the resort's development. Only in this way will the development be
sustainable and avoid placing undue strains on the carrying capacity of the resort
or the destination.
An Yntegrated approach to resort development' implies the controUed
planning and irnplementation of resort projects in order to achieve a balanced
development that satisfies economic, environmental and social objectives. In
general, it applies to long term project development - at times, over a period of
many years - and constant monitoring and control at the different phases of
development ensure that the basic concept can be adapted to changing
circurnstances and market demand.
The success of an integrated tourist resort depends on a number of
factors. These include a good transportation infrastructure with easy access to
and within the resort for guests and staff, and an architectural design that blends
into the surrounding natural environment, reflecting traditional local designs and
using as many local materials as possible. Specific natural geographical attractions
should be preserved and incorporated into the resort wherever feasible, and it
needs adequate utility services, such as water supply, electric power,
telecomrnunications, sewage and solid waste disposal systems.
Successful integrared resorts are also planned within the framework of their
regional environmental, economic and socio-cultural setting, as well as overall
development policies and plans, so that they are well related to the region.
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Carefully planned and properly implemented integrated tourist resorts can bring
substantial economic and social benefits, while also minimising those
environmental, socio-economic and marketing problems often associated with
uncontrolled tourism development.
An anaiysis of how some existing resorts have been planned, implemented
and financed can yield valuable insights into the approaches, principies and
techniques of resort development that have proven to be successful, as well as
the types of problerns that have been encountered. Although each country and
resort area is unique, the experience gained from planning and developing
different types of existing resorts can provide useful ideas that other countries
may be able to adapt to their own needs, in their pursuit of effective tourism
development.
This WTO study, which was conducted in 1990/91, analyses six resorts, ail
largely completed and representing various regions of the world and diierent
types of development. For each case study, comprehensive details are provided
on planning and implementation, including the current status of development.
Economic, environmental and socio-cultural factors in planning and
implementation are also analysed, as well as the development impact of these
factors. The report evaluates the financing of both the infrastructure and
superstructure of the resorts, the respective roles of the public and private
sectors in financing, and fmancial policies and procedures applied. Finally, it
assesses the potential of applying these planning and implementation procedures
in other development projects around the world.
Nnsa Dua Resort in Bali, Indonesia, represents a medium-sized beach
resort in an island environment that also offers outstanding cultural and scenic
day tour attractions.
Pomun Lake Resort at Kyongju, Republic of Korea, is a medium-sized
inland resort based primarily on nearby historic and cultural attractions for day
tours. It also offers its own diverse recreational facilities and activities.
Cancan Resort on the eastern Yucatan Coast of Mexico is a large
scale beach and marine oriented resort providing a wide variety of tourist
facilities and activities, as well as comprising a related new town development.
Puerto Plata Resort in the Dominican Republic is a medium-sized
beach and marine resort that has served as a catalyst for regional tourism
development.
The South Antalya Tourism Devdopment Project on the
Meditemnean coast of Turkey is a prime example of a major beach tourism
development planned in a large area of existing villages, agricultural land and a
mountainous hinterland of parks and forests.
Lanzarote in the Canary Islands is a case study of a controlled tourism
development that was planned and implemented for a complete island
destination reaching maturity.
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The results of this study are designed to be used by national, regional and
local government tourism policy makers and officials responsible for planning
and implementing reson development, as well as by private sector enterprises
and organisations involved in tourism development.
The study was carried out by two consultants, each visiting three of the
resons to observe actual development patterns. In addition to meeting with
public agency officials and private sector organisations to obtain background
information, the consultants also met with officials of the World Bank,
International Finance Corporation and Inter-American Development Bank in
Washington DC, to discuss their involvement in the different projects. Further
information on the study may be obtained from the respective national tourism
administrations (NTAs) of the countries in which the different resorts are located.
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water supply, sewage and solid waste disposal systerns, electric power,
telecommunications, interna1 streets and storm water drainage, landscaping and
landscape irrigation, an 'amenity core' or resort centre, and a service centre. The
resort was expected to attract private investors to build and rnanage the hotels
and other commercial facilities in the resort. Several international advisers were
to be attached to the BTDC.
Figure 1
LEGEND
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Some infrastructure improvements were also planned for the two nearby
villages of Bualu and Benoa, including the paving of roads, street Lighting, public
water supply and limited medical facilities. The project was to include
construction of a new twelane road between the airport and resort, connecting
to a new road linking the resort and airport (and nearby Kuta tourism area) to the
existing tourism area of Sanur and to the road network leading to the major
attractions of south-central Bali and elsewhere. Some upgrading of existing road
surfaces and replacement of inadequate bridges in the tourist excursion areas
were also stipulated in the project.
The Bali Tourism Development Board (BTDB) was to be responsible for
implementing the regional tourism plan, which required coordination between
several government agencies, hotels and other private sector tourism enterprises,
and Balinese cornmunity organisations. Technical assistance, in the form of
various advisers, was provided to help the BTDB and government formulate and
implement policies and programmes. These were designed to mitigate the
potentially negative effects of tourism on Bali's social and cultural Me, make the
best possible use of the existing human and natural resources for tourism, and
distribute the benefits of tourism in an equitable manner to the Balinese
population.
The project included the construction of a hotel, tourism education and
traning centre - the financia1 responsibility of the government. A smaU
demonstration farm was to be established to help local farmers grow vegetables
and fruits suitable for sale to international hotels and restaurants. Technical
assistance would be provided for improvements in the production and marketing
of food items.
The project was budgeted at US$36.1 mn for the infrastructure and related
components. Of this, US$18.1 mn would be required in foreign exchange. The
IDA was to provide a credit of US$16.0 mn, covering 88 per cent of the foreign
exchange &uired, or slightly more than 44 per ceit of &e total project cosi
with the government financinn the remainder. Some US$0.35 mn of the IDA
credit was allocated for the retroactive fmancing of water investigations, well
driing and technical assistance to the BTDC.
THE RESORT PLAN AND REGIONAL
CONSIDERATIONS
Resort Cowept a& Land Use Plan
A detailed resort plan was prepared in 1973 by a Japanese consulting firm. This
was based on the conceptual land use plan for Nusa Dua incorporated in the
1971 Bali regional plan. Y. This comprehensive study exarnined the regional
planning framework and relationships and existing environmental conditions of
the site. It made recommendations on the resort concept and specific land use,
transportation, other components of the infrastructure: zoningregulations, site
planning concepts, architectural and landscaping guidelines, renewal of the
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The land acquired for development was about 310 hectares. The site area is
mostly flat with some hills inland where the golf course has been developed.
There was iittle existing development on the site, except for coconut trees and a
boat landiig and storage area on the beach used by fishermen living in the
nearby Bualu village. The plan also showed a possible third stage for
development of hotels in an inland area near the resort and along the beach to
Benoa village, but this was not part of the designated resort area.
Although the basic concept and layout of the plan were adopted and
implemented, some minor changes were made during the course of
implementation based on new circumstances. As an example, it was decided
before development started to delete the two cornmerciai sub-cores and to locate
the National Tourism Education and Training Centre scheduled for Bali in one of
the auxiliary facility areas. Somewhat later, it was decided to develop a 9-hole golf
course in the unspecified reserve area and then a second 9-hole course extendiig
into the auxiliary area and taking over one of the hotel lots.
More recently, about 400 condominium viiias (duplex cottage units)
associated with the golf course and 200 serviced apartments associated with
existing hotels were added to the plan. The plant nursery proved to be
uneconomic, as it was cheaper to purchase plants on the open market, so it was
abandoned and the area was used for part of the golf course expansion. It was
also decided that the Nusa Dua Beach pier, shown on the original plan, was
unnecessq.
A revised plan was prepared in 1988 &. This included recommendations for
further improvements to the nearby villages, a bypass road system to sewe these
villages, and an implementation prograrnme, as shown in Figure 3. The principal
changes since this plan was prepared include the deletion of the proposed
centrally located convention centre. Convention facilities were included in one of
the resort hotels, and the originally designated area is being developed as part of
the golf course expansion.
The resort plan included a number of development standards and design
guidelines. A maximum building height of 15-m - appiicable to aii of Bali - was
stipulated for Nusa Dua. This height limit was selected so that the top of
buildings would be below the tops of the trees helping them to blend into the
natural environment. Maximum density standards were established (the overall
density of the resort is about 20 hotel rooms per hectare), with a maximum
number of rooms set for each hotel lot. The maximurn floor area ratio for each
hotel lot was 0.5 and the maximum lot coverage by buildings was 25 per cent. It
was stipulated that aUutility lines were to be placed underground. A minimum
50-m distance from the shore-ne was generally applied for main budiigs,
although a few recently developed hotels seem to have managed to get around
that requirement.
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TO DENPPSAR
---.r
..
i
1
1.
LoW DEWrrvTOURW EXPANSON '
SHOTTERU 1m. W U nni RWUS
UEDIUWTERU 199195 +1W ROOMS
LOWTERU ? M- Z WO t 250 RWUS
TOTU lOOi754 R WU S
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-- -
NUSA DUA 81 ENVIRONS
OVERALL PLAN
TOURIST ACCOMMODAilON
m
N3 NUSA DUA BEACH HOTEL - 300 ROOMS
N5 350 ROOMS
m 1; 700 RCOMS,50-100 COTTAGES
NUSA DUA PUSAT
8 , i aCONVENTlON COMPLEX
u b IUSINESS PARK
C PlAzzA
d NUSA DUA BAY VILLAGE
e SOUTH ISLAND, OUAY & LAGOON
COMMUNIN GOLF DEVELOPMENT
a PALM GROVE ,
m bCOASTAL
c SEA VlEW
d HILLTOP 1
3 BALINESE COTAGES
f SPORTiHEALTH COMPLEX
1 3 TIME SHARE VILLAS
h LAKESIDE VILLAS
MARINE RELATED PROJECTS
m
a CORAL REEF IN FlLL
b WSP. FISH FARM
VILLAGE REVITALISATION PROJECTS
a BUALU UP-GRADING
5 SAWANGAN UP-GRADING
1 5 1 BENOA REVITALISATION
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS
a
88-89 URGENTICORRIDOR - RESERVATION FOR CONSTRUCTIO
@
88-89 URGENTIPERMATA NUSA DUA THROUGH ROUTE
a
89-90 FERMATA NUSA DUA TO BTDC/NUSA DUA
a
90-91 TANJUNG BENDA SOUTHERN ACCESS
.
BUFFER ZONE 1'' < INTEGRITED VILLACE RMTAUSAllON + TDURISY '
MRTNEDIUU:*NDLONG-ERU ~ ~ . T E R U I ~ I O P E R ~ ~ ~ D N B O R I W
91-94 LONG TERM UNGASAN TO SAWANGAN LlNK
PDLEY URDEN V l W MEDIUH.TERU 1991-SYU:,IW-% R WU S
SSTI RWOYESTAYI VhUSUI O LONUERM 19062W0 + W RWMS
NTENS~M UI RI ETUROENI NO X I T N IOTOI tm RWUS a 91-94 LONGTERM UNGASAN TO DENPASAR LINK VIA MUMBUL
M0 WORTICULTURE
FINAL REPORT- MAY 1988 PART 1 -PAGE 30
13
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now being used in the resort irrigation system for use on the golf course and
resort landscaping.
Electnc power for the resort is provided directly from the island's electrical
gi d system as originally planned. The resort telecommunications' system is also
connected to the general island system.
A separate sewage collection and treatment plant system was developed for
the resort as there was no existing sewage system in this area. Sewage effluent is
treated to a secondary leve1 with the waste water, along with the weil field water,
supplying the resort imgation system. Although consideration was initially given
to the establishment of a soiid waste collection and disposal system, the
.
individual hotels decided that it was more economical to dispose of their solid
waste by paying local companies to coiiect it. Part of it is then used in recycling
operations such as for feeding livestock. This approach has not been totally
satisfactory, however, because the waste material that is not reused is apparently
often not disposed of elsewhere in a sanitary manner.
No housing for resort employees was developed directly on the resort, but
land was made available adjacent to the access road and near the resort for
private housing development. This has pmvided a total of about 800 units. One
area was designated for higher quality housing and another for less expensive
accomrnodation. Development of these areas is currently underway in line with
demand. Some employees also live in the nearby villages and a large number iive
in Denpasar and elsewhere. Minibus service is available for employees
commuting from these more distant locations.
Economic Impact AmaZysis
The World Bank analysis projected that the resort would provide direct
employment for about 5,8006,000 people in hotels and other establishments,
with an additional3,700 jobs generated for artists and handicmft workers, by
1983 - when it was originally expected to be fully operational. The economic
rate of retum was calculated at 18.7 per cent, with net foreign exchange earnings
of US$8.5 mn in 1978 and US$36.2 mn annually fmm 1985 onwards. Central and
local governments were also expected to receive substantial direct revenues from
taxes generated by the resort operations. It is likely that these targets were
achieved, albeit at a later date than origina@ planned.
As has already been explained, stmng consideration was given in the resort
planning to regional relationships. The resort site was selected and planned
within the framework of the Bali regional plan, with the resort viewed as one
irnportant component of the island's overall tourism development structure.
Regional road development was carried out as part of the project to provide good
access between the resort and the airport and to other tourism areas and the
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island's tourist excursion road network. Much of the resort's other infrastructure
was integrated into Bali's infrastructure systems.
The relationship of the resort development to the nearby villages of Bualu,
adjacent to the resort and Benoa, about 3-km north of the resort, was considered
especially important. In the past, these villages were isolated, highly traditional,
had very limited infrastructure development and community services, and the
villagers generally had low education, skiiis and incomes. One major objective
was for the viilagers to benefit from the resort development. The project
incorporated plans to improve viilage roads, develop a village and rural water
supply system from the resort system with public water taps provided, extend
electric power to the villages and install street lighting. The provision of in-house
water and electrical power supplies was an option, the cost of which was the
responsibility of the individual householders. Some community services, such as
the upgrading of medical clinics, were also financed by the resort developers.
Villagers were encouraged to develop small-scale enterprises such as
handicraft shops and restaurants to serve tourists, and this has been very
successful. The viilagers also eam money from working in the resort and renting
housing to resort employees and students of the Tourism Education and Training
Centre. During the resort development, some villagers were able to work on
construction projects and were given priority for this type of work depending on
their skiii levels. Young village locals were trained to work in the resort.
Despite the efforts di i ct ed at improving the nearby villages, it was
recognised after the resort was opened that these villages required additional
planning and encouragement for development. Thus, the 1988 plan includes
sections on village upgrading plans and programmes.
DEVELOPMENT IMPLEMENTATION
Organisation and ResponsibiZities for Resort
Zmpkmentation
As indicated in the initial agreement between the govemment and the World
Bank, the Bali Tourism Development Corporation (BTDC) was established in
November 1973 as a governrnent-owned l i t e d liability corporation to develop
and manage the Nusa Dua resort project. The BTDC was responsible for
developing the major infrastructure, includiig the interna1 roads, drainage, water
supply and sewage disposal systems, common area landscaping and certain
common-use facilities. The BTDC was also responsible for attracting hotel
invesunent, negotiating with interested hotel management groups, and leasing
hotel sites. As part of its promotional activities, the corporation~repared and
distributed an investment booklet. The BTDC was also initialhr res~onsibie for
A
development of the amenity core and the leasing of commercial facilities in this
centre. It established its main office within the Nusa Dua complex and a branch
office in Jakarta.
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Operation of the potable water supply system has since been transferred to
the local govemment and, as was otiginaily planned, the electtical and
telecommunications' operations are integrated into the island-wide systems and
run by the responsible agencies. Due to the difficulties in developing the amenity
core, that project site has been leased to a private company for development and
operation. The golf course development and operation, including a club house
and sports centre, is contracted to a private company that wi also be developing
the condominium units referred to previously. The regional road improvements
that were part of the project, but outside Nusa Dua, were developed by the
country's highways' department.
Much of the technical work (planning, engineeting, etc.) of the BTDC was
contracted to consulting firms. Among the many technical advisers anached to
the BTDC during its first years of operation were a development adviser, who
assisted in promotional efforts to attract investors and carry out financia1
negotiatiois, engineering, architectural and agricultural advisers. Zoning
regulations and architectuml design guidelines were prepared for the resort
development, based in large part on the recornmendations of the 1973 resort
plan.
The BTDC is currently organised under a Board of Supervisors or Directors
and a managing director, with two directors - one for development and
operations and the other for administration and finance. These two directors are
responsible respectively for operations and development and kance and general
administration, with various units and sections designated within these four
divisions. In addition to the continuing development activities, the BTDC is now
responsible for the fouowing operational functions:
Sewage collection and treaunent.
Irrigation system (supplied from the treated sewage effluent and the well-field).
Common area landscaping and maintenance of the two islet parks.
Maintenance of the interna1 road system.
Operation of the intemal shunle bus service.
Street lighting.
Beach maintenance and security.
OvemU secutity of the resort's cornrnon areas.
Fire protection for the resort.
Emergency medical clinic (ieased to the ptivate sector).
Hotel Bualu (a 50-room commercial hotel used as a tralliing hotel by the
Tourism Education and Training Centre).
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In early 1991, the BTDC had 272 staff members includiig staff involved in
security, maintenance and the Hotel Bualu. Based on its experience and success
with the Nusa Dua resort, the BTDC is currently expandiig its operations to
develop new resorts elsewhere in the country. It is particularly involved in
Manado in North Sulawesi and Biak in Irian Jaya, and has established some branch
offices to develop those resorts. The BTDC is also planning other resorts
elsewhere in the country. Although rather diierent from the Nusa Dua resort,
they are being planned and developed as integrated complexes.
Resort Deuetopmetzt Programmdng
Acquisition of land for the resort and infrastructure development was
programmed and costed in detail by the World Bank, with a construction
schedule incorporated into the 1973 Nusa Dua plan. The infrastructure was
initiaily scheduled for completion by the end of 1976 and the resort scheduled to
be fulk operational by 1983. Land ;cquisition, which involved the purchase of
private landholdiigs at market value, generaiiy proceeded smoothly.
Since the land was relatively undeveloped, there was no issue about
resettlement of existing residents. There were some, but not serious delays
exverienced in the development of the infrastructure, which was finally
cokpleted by the late 1970s. However, there was a major delay in attracting the
first hotel investors, despite promotional efforts by the BTDC and investment
incentives such as tax exemptions. Consequently, the first hotels were not
opened until the mid-1980s. This initial difficulty in attracting investors was
attributed by the government to the rather slow growth of tourism in Indonesia
during the late 1970s and early 1980s and the restrictive air policy of that period,
which limited the number of international airlines serving Bali. Another
contributos. factor may have been the usual reluctante of private investors to be
pioneers in a new resort venture. Arnong the first investors were two
government companies - PT Aerowisata, a subsidiary of the national airline
(Garuda), and PTHI, a government owned hotel corporation. The development of
Club Mditerrane in Nusa Dua in 1987 may have been helpful in demonstrating
international investor contidence in the resort's viability.
With the opening of Indonesia to more international airlines, including
increased di i ct flights to Bali, and the generally rapid growth of tourism to the
country and Bali since the mid-1980s, hotel development in Nusa Dua has
progressed rapidly and the resort is now virtually completed.
The Bali Tourism Development Board (BTDB), with the govemor as chairman and
a technical staff includiig some international advisers, was also given
responsibiiity from the outset for coordination of the Bali regional tourism plan.
As an example, it camed out detailed land use plans for the Sanur and Kuta
tourism areas, in order to improve existing development patterns and guide
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future growth, and plans for the first and some second stage tourist excursion
roads identified in the 1971 regional tourism plan. The excursion road plans were
aimed particularly at preserving fertile agricultura1 land, open space areas and
scenic views adjacent to the roads, along which the linear development of arts
and handicraft shops and tourist restaurants was beginning. It was proposed that
instead of linear road development, a clustering of these cornrnercial enterprises
adjacent to existing villages should be encouraged. Implementation of these plans
has been mixed, with some control exercised on excursion road development
but apparently little implementation of the Sanur and Kuta plans.
The BTDB also coordinated aspects of the Nusa Dua resort development.
Zoning regulations were written for the Nusa Dua resort and BTDB staff were
involved in the Nusa Dua Design Review Comrnittee activities. A multi-faceted
sociocuihml programme was undertaken. For Nusa Dua, this was directed at
monitoring the social impact of the construction phase of the resort on the
nearby villagers, including educating the viagers about the project and how they
could benefit from it. In other tourism areas in Bali, the BTDB conducted a public
awareness programme. The BTDB also undertook surveys of tourist profiles and
attitudes toward tourism development in Baii in order to provide a better basis
for the effective planning, development and management of tourism. These
activities have since been discontinued.
As mentioned previously, an agricultural development programme was
attached to the Nusa Dua project with an agricultural adviser assigned to the
programme for a few years. This programme was designed to help local farmers
irnprove their production and marketing of fmits and vegetables for use in
international hotels and restaurants. A small demonstration farm was established
in Bali with some progress on the production of more suitable food. Although
valid in concept, the programme was not highly successful overall, in part
because the cite selected for the demonstration farm was not as suitable as it
might have been.
Edwcatton and Tratndng of Resort EmpZoyees
One of the two national Tourism Education and Training Centres was located in
Nusa Dua, as already mentioned, because of the close access to several maior
hotels. This centre, organised to serve several of the provinces of East Indonesia,
was designed in an attractive Balinese architectural style and opened in the late
1970s. It was financed and is managed by the central government. The school
initiaiiy received international technical and some financial (for equipment)
assistance from the International Labour Organization @O). During its first years
of operation, priority was given to Banese who were to be trained to work in
the Nusa Dua resort, but the school now receives students from al1 the various
provinces.
Since the original local students had very lirnited general educational
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backgrounds, special remedia1 education programmes were organised for them
by the school to bnng them up to the entry acceptance requirements of the
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school so that they could enroll in the regular tourism programmes. Many of
the young villagers took advantage of this opportunity, completed their
training programmes, and are currently working in the resort. Some of these
have since taken the school's advanced programmes and have now been
promoted to supervisory and assistant manager leve1 positions in the resort
hotels.
At the present time, the school offers a number of different certificate and
diploma programmes - of up to two, three and even four years long - at the
craft and supervisory levels in hotel and catering operations, tour and travel
operations and tourism management, as well as short refresher and special
courses for existing tourism employees. The school currently handles up to 2,000
students annually including short course participants. However, the school was
designed to handle only 1,000 students and enroihent for regular students is
therefore restricted. Since present capacity is limited, the government intends to
relocate the school inland within the next year or so, and to lease the present site
to an investor for reson purposes. It is expected that payment for this site wi be
sufficient to finance the new school development. Al1 graduates of the school
find employment, and there is considerable competition for places at the school,
with about 3,000 applicants each year for the 250 regular programme entry
places available. The development of the new school will enable twice as many
students to enroli every year.
Cuwent Status of Development
The Nusa Dua resort is nearing completion. As indicated, the land was al1
acquired during the early stage of the project, and both the interna1 and regional
infrastructure, including access to the resort and in the nearby villages, was
completed by the late 1970s. Since the mid-1980s, hotel development has
progressed rapidly, as shown by Table 1.
AU these hotels are of four or five star category. The convention centre, a
separate complex on the Bali Indah Hotel site, contains a main hall with seating
capacity for 1,800, a medium-size hall, an auditorium, 10 meeting rooms, a 1,000-
seat capacity dining hall and exhibition galleries. The total 5,100 existing and
planned hotel and other accommodation units exceeds the originally planned
4,500 units in the fust and second stages of the resort plan. This is due to the
addition of condominiums and serviced apartments. ~bnsideration is being given
to the development of another hotel but nothing is definite.
The first nine holes of the golf course are operational and the second
nine holes were due to open in 1991. The golf club house is under
construction. Development of the amenity core commenced in 1990. This will
contain shops and offices as well as an amphitheatre for cultural
performances, scheduled to be completed in mid-1991. As already mentioned,
the Tourism Education and Training Centre was opened in the late 1970s, as
was the BTDC office.
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Table 1:
Current status of hotel development in Nusa Dua
Hotel No. of rooms Status
lex)
Existinv Accommodation
Hotel Club Bualu (training
hotel & part of school comp
Nusa Dua Beach Hotel
Melia Bali Sol 500
5 Bali 425
club Med Niisa Dua 400
Nusa Indah Hotel &
Convention Centre
Bali
Grana nyan norei fiau Con
two hotel lots)
Sheraton Lagoon Nusa
a Beach
Total existing (on 9 lots)
Planned Accommodation (
Westin Hotel
Pacific Island Club
[as at 19l
Condominium villas (by
the golf course)
Serviced apartments crin
existing hotels sites:
Total planned
TOTAL ALL UNITS
Opened late 1970s
Openec
Openec
Openec
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550 m m s opened
1987; 50-room
cxpansion planned
Opened 1990
Opened 1990
Opened 1991
Opened in 1991
Site lease signed
Site lease signed
Plannec
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Some three and four star category beach hotels have been developed or are
being planned outside the resort project area but along the adjacent Benoa
Peninsula. These do not come under the BTDC, although they are generally
compatible with the later stage recommendations of the 1973 plan. They are
connected to the Denpasar water supply system in the same way as Nusa Dua.
Discussions are also underway over the question of i i i g these hotels to the
Nusa Dua sewerage system. Other hotels have been built, or are planned for the
Jibaran Beach area on the isthmus between the airport and Nusa Dua.
Socio-Econumtc and Env#ronmentrrt Impact
As far as the economic impact of the resort development is concemed, precise
figures are not available. But it is likely that the pmjected generation of about
6,000 jobs is close to being achieved - based on an approximate 1.5 staff per
hotel room, plus employees of the BTDC and golf course - and will be exceeded
when the resort is fully completed. A signif~cant, i unidentitiable number of jobs
have also been created in the tourism supply sector for arts and crafts production
and sales.
It is unclear how much foreign exchange earnings and government
revenues in the form of taxes are generated by the resort, but estimates suggest
projected targets wiii be met or even exceeded because of the high quality of
development and related high tourist expenditure pattems.
Within the resort, there appears to be little negative environmental or socio-
cultural impact because of the well developed infrastructure and strict land use
and design controls applied. However, beach erosion is taking place adjacent to
one of the hotels, and a retaining wall has been built to control further erosion.
This problem is probably the resuit of natural coastal processes because there has
been no disturbance of the Nusa Dua shoreline during the course of the resort's
development.
It is unfortunate that the stretch of footpath in the common area along the
beach by one of the developed hotel sites has been removed, thus interrupting
the continuity of this pleasant public access way.
Some traffic congestion is being experienced on the access road,
particularly near the resort entrance. It is expected that this wiil be rnitigated
once the new local bypass roads are developed and if the main access road is
widened. The present system, whereby hotels operators are individually
responsible for disposal of their waste to local entrepreneurs, may be generating
some waste disposal pmblems outside the resort. In addition, since land use
controls were not strictly applied to the areas along the access to Nusa Dua, there
has been some linear commercial development with unattractive advertising
signs, especially near the resort entrance.
The nearby villagers have benefited signicantfy from a socio-economic
point of view as a resuit of the resort development, as was originally planned
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through the various programmes already detailed. As mentioned, plans have been
prepared for further upgrading of the local village environment.
FINANCING OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
The original regional plan was nanced by the UNDP and the central
government. The financing of subsequent resort planning and infrastmcture
engineering was the responsibility of the BTDC. It was partly funded by a World
Bank loan, although more recent resort planning has been financed from the
BTDC's budget. The total infrastmcture costs including the regional roads was
about US$37 mn, or close to the original estimate. Of the proposed World Bank
loan of US$16 mn, only US$14.3 mn was actually used. Of this, US$9 mn was
used by the government to capitalise the BTDC and the remainder allocated to
the highways department for regional road development. The balance of the
financing was provided in local currency by the government through the BTDC.
Smce 1987, the BTDC has been operating at a profit and, since 1989, has
paid a dividend to the government as asharehblder,-as well as paying corporate
taxes. The agreement with the government is that the BTDC does not need to
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repay its initial capitalisation (including the World Bank loan to the government
which is repaying the loan), but will instead pay dividends and corporate taxes.
Some of the profits of the BTDC are being used to finance BTDC resort projects
elsewhere, as previously described.
The primary source of revenue for the BTDC is from the leasing of hotel,
amenity core, golf course and condominium development sites. The lease rent
for the hotels is based on the allowable number of rooms for each site specitied
in the 1973 plan and is established as being equitable for both developers and the
BTDC. Lease rents are set for a 30-year period with renegotiation for extensions
at the end of that period. The cash flow of BTDC has been enhanced through the
payment in advance of the total 30-year lease rent by two hotel developers. Other
sources of revenue are user fees paid for the sewage service provided to the
Hotel Club Bualu and other hotels.
Hotel financing was arranged by the respective investors involved and
details have not been fully disclosed. As already stated, one hotel is owned by a
government hotel corporation. The hotel fmanced and developed by PT
Aerowisata has been sold to a joint venture company set up by an Indonesian
group and the Sultan of Bmnei. The Hiton hotel is totally owned by Indonesian
interests. The other hotels are jointly owned by Indonesian and international
companies. The BTDC has a small interest in one of the hotels, as well as owning
the Hotel Club Bualu. The amenity core is leased to an Indonesian company and
the golf course operation and future condominium development are joint
ventures between Indonesian and international interests. There was no
international agency fmancing involved in the development of hotels and other
commercial facilities.
Various investment incentives including certain tax exemptions were and
stiil are provided to the Nusa Dua investors and investors generally in Indonesia 5/.
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The extent of these incentives has been gradually decreased through the years as
it has become easier to attract project investments.
OVERALL NALUATION AND CONCLUSIONS
Resort and RegdonaZ PZanndng
The plan for the Nusa Dua resort has proved to be realistic and successful overall,
pro&liig a high quality, environmen&ly sensitive and functional resort that
meets current market demands. The basic concept was maintained throughout
its implementation despite some modifications.
It should be noted that, although the priinary attractions of Bali are its rich
cultural heritage and scenic beauty, past experience among tourists on the island
has shown that most prefer to stay in beach accommodation, spending part of
their time on sightseeing tours and the remainder, relaxing on the beach or
around the hotel swimming pool and in recreational activities. This is the
established pattern in the Sanur and Kuta resorts. Thus, the concept of
developing a beach resort is valid even within the Bali context of cultural
tourism. For tourists who wish to have more direct experience of village life,
small scale accornmodation and other tourist facilities are available in some of the
Balinese towns.
With respect to regional relationships, the regional transportation
infrastructure was suitably planned to ~rovide access to the resort and from the
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resort to other parts of Bali, although it will require some further improvements
in the near future to alleviate growing traffic congestion, especially near the
resort entrance. In the nearby villages, proper consideration was given to both
infrastructure improvements and programmes to provide socio-economic
benefits to villagers. Plans are underway to further upgrade the environment of
these villages.
Nusa Dua is seen by some observers as an exclusive resort designed only
for certain high-spending market segments. However, it should be recognised
that, within the regional context of Bali, Nusa Dua is only one development
among a wide range of different types of tourist accommodation. Bali still
caters to a diverse range of market segments. In fact, as has been mentioned, a
number of three and four star hotels are now being developed quite close to
Nusa Dua, thereby providing this immediate area with a greater variety of
tourist facilities.
The resort was plamed within the frarnework of a regional tourism plan for
Bali which has proved in concept, to be an appropriate one. Detailed planning
for other tourism areas was carried out as a result of this plan. With the
development of Nusa Dua and the continued rapid growth of tourism in Bali, it is
clear that the 1971 regional plan is now rather outdated and requires review and
revision. In addition, the rapid growth of tourism has resulted in some
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Chapter 3
POMUN LAKE RESORT
KYONGJU, REPUBLIC OF KOREA
BACKGROUND
To~t"t~stn Zn Korea
The Republic of Korea offers a wide range of attractions linked to both its
distinctive culture and history and its natural environment of scenic mountains,
lakes and beaches. During the past two decades, international tourism has
developed rapidly, with foreign visitor arrivals growing from 232,795 in 1971 to
close to 3 mn in 1990 '/. In addition, domestic tourism has become important,
reflecting the country's rapid econornic development during the past several
years, with increased disposable incomes and holiday time available to Koreans
for vacations. Korea's weil developed transportation system and the relatively
short distances between urban and tourist areas facitates travel within the
country by both domestic and international tourists.
Of the total international arrivals in 1990, 55 per cent were from Japan -
due to the proximity of the market and its historic links with Korea - and a
further 15 per cent were from other Asian countries, particularly Taiwan and
Hong Kong. North America, especially the USA, generated an 11.6 per cent
share and Europe, 5 per cent. Some 12.5 per cent were overseas Koreans
(living mainly in Japan and the USA) visiting their friends and relatives WR) .
According to purpose of visit in 1990, 58.4 per cent were on holiday, 13 per
cent traveing on business, 11.6 per cent on Vi%, and the balance for other
private reasons.
The peak season for international tourism is May to October, although
seasonality is not strongly marked. The average length of stay of international
tourists was 5.5 nights in 1990. About one third of tourists came on group tours
and the rest were FITs (fully independent travellers). The vast majority of tourists
to Korea arrive at Kimp'o international airport in Seoul, making that city the
prirnary tourist gateway to the country. Average visitor expenditure per trip in
1989 was US$1,304 a. Although some 1.5 mn Koreans travelled overseas in
1990, there was (and has always been) a positive balance on the country's
tourism account, with international tourist receipts (US$3.5 bn) exceeding
expenditure on travel abroad WS$3.1 bn). In 1989, the country had 335
registered hotels with 37,148 rooms.
Government policy is for the continued development of both international
and domestic tourism, and this sector has been given a relatively high priority in
national development planning.
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Before the Pomun Lake Resort was developed, the Kyongju area attracted
some domestic tourists, includiig pilgrims, but relatively few intemational
visitors because of the lack of suitable accommodation and other tourist facilities.
Since the resort's development, Kyongju has become one of the major tourist
destinations in the country and tourism is still expandiig rapidly in the region.
EvoZution of the Pomun Lake Project
In 1970, the government of the Republic of Korea expressed an interest in
obtaining hancial assistance from the World Bank (IBRD) for tourism
infrastructure development in Korea. Foiiowing site visits by the World Bank
team, the Kyongju area was selected for priority development (with Cheju Island
as the second choice). In the course of project identication in 1972 and 1973,
agreement was reached that the focus of tourist supply development would be
on a new resort at Pomun Lake.
During this period, planning was carried for the Kyongju region accordiig
to the President's Instruction of June 12,1971, which stated: "Kyongju shali be
rehabilitated so as to preserve and numre the prominent natural scenic beauty,
to revive the atmosphere of magnificence, briiiiance, exquisiteness, magnanimity,
progressiveness, composure, elegance and profundity of the ancient capital of
the SiUa Dynasty, thereby developing Kyongju as an international cultural and
tourist centre".
The Tourism Development Planning Group was given the task of preparing
a Kyongju regional plan for a ten-year period from 1972 to 1981 with the
foiiowing major objectives 3:
Reconstruct the ancient capital of Siila with special emphasis on the recovery
and revivai of its original atmosphere ..., in accordance with the President's
instructions.
Preserve c u l d heritage, enforce and spread national culture, refine national
emotion and finaliy, provide tourist resources.
Create an international cultural and tourist centre.
Develop related industries, thereby enhancing the income leve1 of the people
of Kyongju.
This plan included the improvement of historic sites, tourist facilities,
transportation such as roads, railroads and airports, the improvement of
riverways, reforestation, agricultural development, water supply and sewage,
telecommunications, electrical power, a city park and "readjustment of the
environment". The plan also designated the Pomun Lake Resort site for
development of the major portion of tourist facilities required. Total regional
public investment requirements were estimated at US$72 rnn, of which some
portion would hopehiiiy be financed by a World Bank loan.
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According to the World Bank appraisal, the Pomun Lake Resort wouid be
developed in its first stage for 3,000 hotel rooms on a site of 1,040 hectares. The
project would include the provision of water, sewage and solid waste systems for
the resort and city of Kyongju, construction of a multi-purpose dam (Duckdong
Dam) and a smali irrigation system, provision of electricity and
telecommunications facilities, resort roads and street lighting, site preparation
and common area landscaping, public facilities at the resort including a tourism
centre, an amenity core with shopping and restaurant facilities, a smaU marina,
golf course and community facilities, constmction and/or realignment of access
roads to historic sites, and the provision of training facilities for hotel and
restaurant employees.
For water supply and sewage, the programe recommended the expansion
of the Kyongju city water system to serve the resort and the development of a
sewage and solid waste system serving both the city and resort. There wouid also
be improvements made to the rural water supply, environmental sanitation,
electricity and streets for five existing vlages in the area, plus the development
of an elemenrary school to serve these villages. The muiti-purpose dam wouid be
constructed upstream from the existing Pomun Lake (which was created by a
dam constmcted in 1921) to control flooding, stabilise the water leve1 in Pomun
Lake and suppiy water for the project area, the City of Kyongju and the villages,
and facilitate a small agricultura1 irrigation project.
The Bank's total estimated cost for the project's infrastructure was US$50
mn, with a foreign exchange content of US$21 mn, or 42 per cent of the total.
Proposed Bank financing was for US$25 mn which wouid cover the foreign
exchange cost and provide US$4 mn for local cost financing. The remaining costs
would be financed from the government budget. It was expected that private
investors would finance and construct the hotels and a certain number of other
tourist facilities. In addition to the immediate project cost, the government
fmanced the historic site preservation, the Kyongju National Museum and other
tourist attractions in the region, as weU as regional infrastruchire like the
airports' and national expressway network that serves Kyongju.
It was agreed that responsibility for developing the project wouid rest with
five government agencies. The Agricultud Development Corporation (ADC)
would build the Duckdong Dam and related irrigation works. The Kyongju City
Government (KCG) wouid be responsible for constmction of the water supply
and sewage and solid waste disposal systems of both the city itself and the resort.
The Korean Electric Company (KECO) would construct and operate the
electricity facilities of the project.'The Ministry of Communications (MC) would
instali and operate the teleco~unications' facilities. The Kyongju Development
Office (KDO) would be responsible for implementation of aUthe remaining
infrastructure works included in the project.
After construction, the KCG would operate and maintain the dam, the
water supply, sewage and solid waste disposal systems, and aii the project roads.
The ADC and the Farmers Land Improvement Association m), or another
suitable organisation, would operate and maintain the imgation works. A new
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\ MULCHE
7
--,-..
, +,:.
E N T ~ 6
HOOL
&-..
I I U N ~ J ~ TOURISM PnumCT
BOMUN LAKE LAND USE PLAN
IALHIGHWAYS
----rnuvii4ClALHIGHWAY
.
--PRWECT ROAOS
9% HOTEL!
s.>.,. FUTURI
. - r URE 18 HOLE
ViLLliG
PARKS.
- - PRWE,
4'~- RIYERS
CONTOUAS IN METER:
2
E HOTEL5
NGFACILITIES
EAPARTAMENT
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Figure 6
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entity, the Kyongju Tourism Agency (KTA), would operate and maintain all public
areas within the resort and lease and/or seil sites and facilities to private
investors. The KTAwas to be established not later than January 1, 1975. Overall
project coordination would be provided by the Secretariat for ~conomic Affairs
in the Office of the President of the Republic.
THE RESORT PLAN AND REGIONAL
CONSIDERATIONS
Resort Concept and Land Use Plan
Following the World Bank appraisal and conceptual plan, detailed planning for
the resort was prepared in 1973. This called for eight hotel sites and 4,000 rooms
&. A revision to that plan was made in 1974, recommending that two of the
proposed hotel sites be used for additional golf course development and reducing
the nurnber of rooms to 3,000. The present plan is sti for 3,000 rooms. To
reflect the increasing number of domestic tourists visiting this area, 1,000 rooms
have been ailocated for Korean style accommodation with lower tariffs and the
remaining 2,000 rooms designated for hotels of intemational standard. Figure 5
shows the original conceptual plan and Figure 6 is a pictorial map illustrating the
present plan, much of which has been developed.
The concept of the Pomun Lake Resort is that of an integrated, relatively
self-contained, medium density resort providing a variety of accommodation,
recreation and anciary facilities. The resort is designed to cater to both
international and domestic tourists and serve as a base for exploration of the
nearby historic, cultural and religious sites, as weii providing its own recreation
and commercial facilities.
The land use plan shows six hotel sites, four of which are oriented to the
lakeshore and lake views, one to a water channel and one, a hillside
accommodation area where the Korean style inns are being developed and youth
hostels are planned. A condominium apartment area is located on the inland side
of the main resort road, as are the hotel school and associated training hotel. The
-
resort is focused on a centrally located amenity core that includes an integrated
shopping complex with an amphitheatre for cultural performances, an aquarium,
convention centre, large Korean style restaurant and small marina on the lake
front, post office, the Kyongju Tourism Agency office, and other community
facilities. Fishing and boating facilities and activities are available on the lake. A
pagoda stnicture in the shopping complex and a large traditional water miil
wheel near the amenity core provide visual foca1 points for the central area of the
resort.
The 18hole and 36hole golf courses are situated in the northern part of the
resort. Also in the northern area is a small themed family park. On a lakeshore
site south of the hotels is Doturak World Playground, an amusement park offering
a variety of rides and recreation facilities, and an expansion area for the
development of a theme park. A replica of a Silia style folk village is planned for a
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site near the Korean inns. There is a petrol station and bus terminal on the main
access road.
Specific land use controls, development and design standards were
prepared and appiied to the resort 9. These include procedures for submission'
and approval of plans, general land use, architectural and landscaping standards
and additional requirements for specific use areas. These standards function as
zoning regulations for the resort, with each type of land use having its particular
development standards.
Major hotels, for example, have a maximum allowable height of 45-m (12-15
stories), maximum site coverage by buiidings of 20 per cent, and minirnum
setback from the lake shoreline of 10-m (although this setback is actually 12-14111
for the existing hotels). Outdoor advertising sigis are prohibited and only
identification, legal and construction signs are ailowed. Exterior lighting is also
controlled.
Architectural design must include consideration of climatic conditions,
traditional archite~t&~rinci~les such as the Korean courtyard layout, and
specific characteristics of the site location. Overall site planning must give
attention to maintaining view comdors. No reflecting finishes on exterior walls
are permitted except for glass and hardware items and exterior colours of
buiidiigs must be predominantly subtle and 'warm'. Landscaping principies to be
foliowed are also specified. Al1 utility lines must be placed underground.
The resort site of more than 1,000 hectares is flat near the lake shore and
hiy further inland. This site was barren and undeveloped at the time of its
acquisition for the resort development.
Inf~astructure and EmpZoyee Howsdng
Aii infrastructure was developed to international standards. Water supply is
provided by the Kyongju City system, which was upgraded as part of the resort
project, and receives its source of water from Toktong Lake, created by
Duckdong Dam as part of the project. In addition, this lake provides irrigation
water for the resort. Pomun Lake is used for recreational purposes and provides
some water supply for industrial purposes. Sewage collection and disposal are
also provided by the city, whose sewage system was developed as part of the
resort project. The sewage treatment plant is located about 10-km from the
resort. Electric power and telecommunications are provided by the pubiic utility
agencies for the region. Solid waste coilection and disposal are provided by the
city of Kyongju, with some segregation and recycling of material, and the
remainder incinerated if possible or disposed of in sanitary land fa. A storm
water drainage system was part of the resort infrastructure plan and designed for
the northem side of Pomun Lake where the resort facilities are located. This
system involved a checkdam and sand basin to prevent sand flow into the lake
and a total of 1 l-km of drainageways.
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was phased over the period 1973-82, when the infrastructure and 3,000 rooms
were to be completed. The regional and resort area infrastmcture development
began in 1973 Ad was compGted in 1979, much according to the originai
schedule, and the frst two hotels were o~ened in 1979. However. there were
some delays in attracting additionai hoteiinvestment until the late 1980s and the
target of 3,000 rooms is now expected to be achieved by the early to mid-1990s
when the resort is due for completion.
Education and Training of Resovt Employees
The Kyongju Hotel School and associated training hotel, which also operates as a
cornmercial hotel, have been operational for several years. The school offers a one-
year progranme in the various departments of hotel and catering and currently has
about 270 students from al1 parts of the country. On-campus dormitories are
provided for these students. The school offers modern training facilities, including
equipment and classes in the application of computer technology in hotel
operations. The school is under the general adi st rat i on of the KNTC.
Current S-tus of Dewelopment
The total land area acquired for the resort development was 1,061 hectares with
most of this purchased during the earlier stage of development. As previously
indicated, the infrastmcture was completed by 1979. The current status of
development (1991) of accomrnodation and other facilities in the resort is shown
in Table 2.
The KTAestimates that the resort will be about 90 per cent completed by
1992-1993, as is reflected in the above development schedule. The original Leve1
of 3,000 rooms, with about 2,000 of intemational standard (four and five star)
and 1,000 of domestic standard (the Korean inns and youth hostels), is being
generally maintained. In addition, a small number of hotel rooms are planned for
development in conjunction with the public golf course club house. Outside the
resort area, a few km away, two major hotels with full facilities (one contains a
casino) have been developed.
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Table 2:
Current status of hotel development at Pomun Lake
Completed Facilities
Amenity Core
Convention centre
Hobanjang Restaurant
and marina
Kyongju Chosun Hotel
3- -.-A-,
Kyongju Concorue norei
Kyongj ju Hilton 1
Hotel Kwanwoo
Korea Condominium
3 Korean style inns
Pomm
Kyongj
Coiintr
- "-.---!
Doturak World Playgrounc
Club i Country
ju Chosun
y Clilb
- hyull#jll Hotel School
* Kogajang and Dae Ho
Various tounst Test areas
Gas station and bus tenninal
Total accommodation rooms/
units completed by 1991
Facilities Under Constniction and Planned
Kyongju Hy n Dai Hotel
Kyongju Hilton Hotel
New hotel
Kyongju Chosun Hotel
Korean style inn
Yoiith hostels
Dotura
World
k World 7
Playgrour
keme Pai
id.
Total plaiui~u accummodatioii
roorns/units
TOTAL ACCOMMODATTON UNITS
00 rooms.
tlier facili
,.- -- - -- -
'e.
on hall an
ied in 197
S--,. --
32 establishment~ of i/
s o we N shops, snacn "ni>, testaurants,
duty-free shop, etc., aqiiarium, amphitheat
repost ofiice, water mil1 feature and
otlier facilities.
Main hall of 900-seat capacity and other
facilities located near the amenity core.
Korean style restaurant and
smaU marina on the lakeshore
near the arnenity cor
3 , conventi id
o ties (open 9).
3u2 rooms, convention nau and
other facilities (opened in 1979).
325 moms and full facilities
(opened in Aprii 1991).
50-mom training hotel with facilities
(opened 30 rooms in 1979 and 20 roorns
in 1990).
103 units individually owned and some of
wliicli are rented to toiirists.
Each with 50 moms for total
of 150 rooms.
Laree amusernent pa '
1 blic golf c 1 club house.
3 ,mbenhip se
auu CLUU IIOIIS~.
Facilities for 250-300
Korean style restaiir: urants
Picnicking areas.
Located on resort ac.,,, . , , , .
rK.
oiirse and
golf cour
1 students.
ints. resta
437 rooms, under constmction
(schediiled to open in 1992).
Planned expansion of about 375 rooms.
320 rooms scheduled to start
construction in July 1991.
Planned expansion of 60 family units.
Plans for 4 more inns of about
50 rooms eacli witli a total of 200.
2 youth hostels with facilities
equivalent to 500 rooms, scheduled to start
construction in July 1991 andopen in 1993.
l&liectare replicated traditional
village, started in 1989 and
completion scheduled in 1993.
Planned asan addition to Dotiirak
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CANCUN RESORT
CANCUN, MEXICO
BACKGROUND
Tourism i m Mexico
Mexico has had a long tradition of domestic tourism with beach resorts having
been particularly popular with Mexicans during holiday seasons. The east coast
port of Veracruz and the lakeside setting of Guadalajara were two early
destinations for domestic tourists, partly because of their convenient access.
Subsequently, the west coast town of Acapulco developed as a popular beach
resort. As interna1 roads were improved and incomes increased, domestic tourism
developed in a variety of other coastal areas, and it continues to be an important
part of the Mexican life-style.
international tourism developed more slowly, but is growing increasingly
important. There are three main types of international tourism in Mexico: urban
tourism drawn to Mexico City, Guadalajara and other cities for business and
cultural attractions; border tourism in the northern cities; and resort tourism.
Urban and border tourism have expanded at a high rate in line with the growing
economy of the country, but resort tourism was not as dependent upon the
domestic economy and, therefore, took a diiferent path of growth.
international resort tourism began to emerge in the late 1940s and early
1950s when Acapulco was discovered by tourists who were largely from the
western USA. Resort tourism continued to expand, but not at the high rates of
other competitive destinations like Hawa and the Caribbean. The Mexican
resorts that became popular with domestic tourists were also visited by
international tourists, but problems of access and other secondary shortcomings
impeded their development as international destinations.
In the late 1960s, the government prepared a National Tourism Plan and
formed several institutions to assist with the development of towism. The main
objectives of this plan I/ were to:
Develop tourism in rural areas that have major tourist attractions and where
alternative sources of employment are limited.
Develop integrated tourist centres that stimulate regional economic
development, not only in tourism, but also agriculture, industry and the arts
and crafts.
Improve and diversify the appeal of tourist attractions in Mexico.
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boomed not only in Cancun, but also in Cozumel and elsewhere along the
Caribbean coast. The main tourist attractions of this region are the beaches and
tropical climate, although the Mayan ruins continue to be of interest to visitors
and the reefs near Cozumel attract a large number of divers. The number of hotel
rooms in the region has steadily increased over the past decade, and occupancy
rates have generaliy improved. One major interniption in this steady pattern of
growth was caused by Hurricane Gilbert, which wreaked darnage throughout the
Caribbean in September 1988. Many coastal hotels in the region required some
repairs but most were back in operation within three months. Nevertheless, the
residual market impact of the humcane carried over into 1989, when hotel
occupancies continued to be much lower than in previous years. There was a
strong rebound in tourist traff~c in 1990.
Today, the Yucatan Peninsula is a major Caribbean tourist destination, and
Cancun is the focus of tourism in the region. Cancun had 17,470 hotel rooms at
the end of 1990, and registered 1.2 rnn international and 395,200 domestic
visitor arrivals that year.
Figure 7 YUCATAN REOION
.-
S
-.
*
!
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EOGRAPH
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The major tourist market for Cancun and the region is the USA, which
accounted for a 57.6 per cent share of visitors to Cancun in 1990. The USAis
followed by the domestic market which generated 24.9 per cent. Canadians and
Europeans each accounted for 7.8 per cent. Average expenditure per foreign
tourist in Cancun was US$576.
There is some seasonality in the Yucatan beach resorts. Hotel occupancies
are generaiy over 75 per cent in the winter months from January to April and in
Juiy and August, while occupancies during the remaining months seldom fali
below 60 per cent, except in September and October. The average length of stay
in Cancun is around 5.2 nights, with foreign visitors generally staying 1.5 nights
longer than domestic tourists.
Evotsction of the Cancun Project
In the late 1960s, the Central Bank of Mexico was charged with conducting a
comprehensive evaluation of the economy, including the tourism sector. It
camed out a detailed two-year evaluation of tourism in Mexico and, in 1969,
identified six (which later became five) tourism zones for development as
described previousy. In addition, the major implementing agency, Fondo
Nacional de Infraestructura Turistica (iNFRATUR), was formed in 1969 to
implement the recommended tourism development.
Early in the evaluation process, the coastline of Quintana Roo was identified
as a logical place for tourism development for a number of reasons. These
included the geographic balance it would provide Mexican tourism, most of
which was then located along the Pacific Coast. Five sites in Quintana Roo were
considered. Several potential sites, including the islands of Cozumel and Isla
Mujeres, were seen as unacceptable because of land ownership problems, whiie
others were discarded because of a shortage of nearby water supply, access
problems, few natural attractions, or other reasons. Cancun was selected as the
best of the sites in late 1969.
The types of tourist markets destined for the Caribbean region were also
seen as having great potential for Mexico, making Cancun the logical choice as
one of the first five designated tourism zones in Mexico to be developed.
INFRATR, therefore, began to concentrate its efforts on Cancun, starting work
on the master plan and begiming field surveys in 1970. The vast expanse of
land required for the resort was purchased without great difficulty, since there
were only 117 residents in the adjacent town of Puerto Juarez. Shortly
afterwards, work began on an access road from Puerto Juarez as well as a
temporary airstrip. At the same time, environmental studies were conducted of
the large lagoon that is a main natural feature of Cancun. The studies provided
methods to improve the circulation in the lagoon, and these were incorporated
into the master plan.
When the master plan was completed, iNFRATR quickly commenced
work on developing the infrastructure. At the same time, it was recognised that
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international fundiig could relieve the pressure that this project would place on
national finances, which were already strained. Accordingly, application for
financing was made to the Inter-Arnerican Development Bank (IDB), which
issued a loan in 1971, mainly for the required infrastructure. With the loan in
place, work proceeded rapidly on the airport, water supply, dminage, land
reclamation, sewage system, and telecommunications. The airport was largely
completed in 1974. The construction of several hotels began even prior to the
completion of the infrastructure, aUof which were financed with debt-equity
from INFRATUR. In addition, an advertising and promotional campaign was
launched in the international travel trade.
In 1974, the institutions responsible for the development of tourism in
Cancun and elsewhere, including INFRATUR, were consolidated into a new
organisation, Fondo Nacional de Fomento al Turismo (FONATUR).
The initial stage of development proceeded at a remarkable pace as much of
the preliminary infrastructure was completed and three hotels opened in 1975. A
year later, there were 2,023 rooms in Cancun, which supported an estimated
workforce of 5,000 and a town of 18,000 inhabitants. FONATR realised that this
pace of growth would soon require additional infrastruaure and a second credit
facility was arranged with the IDB in 1976.
The fust hotels were operating with good occupancy rates oniy a few years
after opening, partly as a result of their popularity with domestic tourists. The
average occupancy in Cancun rose from 68.6 per cent in 1977 to 70.9 per cent in
1978 and 77.5 per cent in 1979. These positive results in the early stages of
development spurred the sales of hotel sites and the development of
accommodation. The number of rooms increased to 5,258 and the population
sweUed to 70,000 in 1982.
Some problems caused by the unexpectedly rapid growth of the project
surfaced in the early 1980s. Employees' housing supply was not keeping pace
with demand and the disposal of sewage effluent was generating 'algae bloom' in
a lagoon. Corrective measures were taken to mitigate these problems.
After 1982, approximately 400 hotel rooms were opened during each of the
next several years, in spite of the weak financing market then prevaing in
Mexico, which had encountered general problems associated with managing its
large intemational debt. As a means of reducing this debt, the debtequity swap
was employed at Cancun. This approach resulted in a surge of new hotel
development that began in the late 1980s and has oniy recently slackened. Today,
there are about 18,000 rooms in more than 110 hotels in Cancun, and more
hotels are being constructed in the tourism zone and in Cancun City, the
residential zone of the project. The population is expanding too rapidly to allow
for an accurate count but various sources indicate that it is iikely to be near
300,000 (1991) and still growing.
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There are four main elements of the plan: the beach oriented hotels and
related tourist facilities (tourism zone); the new town (urban zone); the
international airport; and conservation areas. While the main commercial
element of Cancun is the beach resort, a large expanse of land was provided to
support the residential comrnunity - a complex that was to be built in
conjunction with the resort. The international airport was planned at the
southern end of the resort and large areas were reserved for conservation
purposes. IRSS than 18 per cent of the area was in the tourism zones, another 29
per cent was in the urban zone, and the remaining 53 per cent, including the
lagoons, was designated for conservation.
The tourism zone generally encompasses al1 the area along the stretch of
land and beach between the lagoon and the sea, which is often referred to as
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Cancun Island, since it is separated from the mainland by two narrow channels
spanned by bridges. The tourism zone was divided into three areas to correspond
with the expected phasing of development. The first part comprises that portion
of Cancun Island from the town to just beyond Punta Cancun, most of which lies
perpendicular to the shore. The second extends along the strip lying parallel to
the shore between a ~ o i m near Punta Cancii and Punta Nizuc. This ~ l a n for
staging was generally foiiowed in the implementation process, although a revised
plan in 1989 amended the land uses of the third stage by changing designated
hotel uses to an amusement park.
The geography of Cancun allowed a large number of hotel sites to have a
waterfront orientation but also promoted a linear contiguration of development.
To soften this pattern, development densities were varied somewhat along
Cancun Island, with clusters of high density development interspersed among
low and medium density areas.
A number of amenities were planned in the tourism zone includiig an 18
hole championship goif course, a large marina, several retad centres, a
convention centre, piers, water sports facilities, and other recreation facility
areas. Some existing Mayan mins and other archaeological sites were preserved.
A marine transportation system within the lagoon was designed but never fully
implemented due to environmental considerations. In addition, several sites were
reserved as public beaches for townspeople and day visitors.
Various design regdations were imposed on development in the tourism zone.
These had several purposes including the provision of a high standard of lodging as
weli as an urban setting that would be in harmony with the environment. Four
classifications of density were established: low, medium, medium-high, and high.
Sites designated to be low density were limited to 75 rooms per hectare and a
building height limit of three stories. High density sites would be ailowed 150 rooms
per hectare, 2htory buildigs, and a lot coverage of 45 per cent. The bulk of hotel
sites were assigned medium density zoning, which ailowed buildings of five to eight
stories. There are suict controls on advertising signs.
Some landfi operations were undertaken to widen namw sections of the
island, to stabilise the road providing access to the airport, to constmct the golf
course, and to enlarge a few hotel sites. The fiu was provided by dredging both
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an adjacent bay and the lagoon. Dredging of the lagoon also had a salutary effect
of improving its water circulation.
The new town, shown in Figure 9, is located at the northern end of the
project and was designed to expand alongside the Merida-Puerto Juarez highway,
which runs perpendicular to the coast. Progressive town planning principies
were applied to the layout and land use composition of the support town.
Development was planned to take place in separate 'superblocks' and provision
was made for greenbelts, public beaches, educationai, health, public safety and
other conununity service functions, and conunercial centres. The roadways were
generally designed to include sidewalks and acconunodate public transportation.
Specific portions of the town were identified for development in each of the
three stages of the overall resort development. The location of the internationai
airport was selected for its isolation from the resort and town in order to l i i t the
impact of noise and avoid land use conflicts.
Conservation zones, principally designed to protect the lagoons, were
established in the initial plan. Subsequently, additional parcels of land inland from
the lagoon, which were not owned by FONATUR but were under the jurisdiction
of the Municipality of Puerto Juarez, were also designated for conservation.
These additional parcels were to prevent development along the coastal federal
highway and thereby limit the pollution of the underground fresh water streams
that flow into the lagoons of Cancun. There are generous greenbelts along most
of the interior roads in the project and sidewalks facilitate pedestrian traffic.
Fiaure 9 CANCUN CI ~Y PLAN
AMPLlAClON ZONA URBANA
L.---
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The sewage system was designed for a secondary leve1 of treatment, that is
sufiicient treatment for irrigation use. The initiai design of the system provided
for three treatment plants on Cancun Island and one oxidation pond faciiity in
the new town of Cancun City. The effluent from the treatment plants was
designed to be, and is currently, used for imgation of the golf course and
landscaped common areas.
The expansion of the resort generated an excess suppiy of nutrient-rich
effluent which was then discharged into Laguna Bojorquez. The inadequate
circulation in this lagoon contributed to the previously mentioned algae bloom
and other environmental problems, includiig an unpleasant odour and unsightly
clumps of algae. To correct this situation, injection wells were drilled near Punta
Cancun and the excess effluent was discharged underground. But there are still a
large number of homes in Cancun City that are not connected to the municipal
sewage system.
The initial electric power supply was provided by transmission lines from
the power plan in Merida (the main city of the Yucatan Peninsula), and
subsequent additional power was provided through the national grid system. The
telecommunications installation consisted of a 1,000-line system, which was
regularly augmented as demand increased. An insect abatement programme was
also undertaken to control mosquitos and other insects, principally through the
use of insecticides.
As mentioned previously, the development of a new town for employees and
their families was a major element of the plan. The planning, acquisition of land,
and installation of the basic infrastnicture of this town was the responsibility of
FONATUR (then INFRATUR). The housing was to be developed largely through
the existing programmes of various housing and financing agencies of the federal
government .
The housing strategy faltered during the initial stage of development and for
several years afterwards. Most of the migrating employees became squatters,
moving onto neighbouring lands which were not owned by FONATUR. One
reason for the ~r obl em was the rigiditv of the loan mechanisms of the federal
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housing instihkons, which made it difficult for many of the eariy employees of
Cancun to obtain special low-income housing loans. Moreover, many of the
migrating employees treated their employrnent as temporary. This was because
they were unaware of, or unsure of, the long term prospects for employment and
living conditions in Cancun City, or because they planned to eventually return to
their homes. Within a few years afler the opening of Cancun, settlements of
squatters were mushrooming and the planned city had very little housing.
As Cancun matured, the iegal settlements began to take on some
permanence. Street patterns emerged and illicit elearic power was instailed in
the homes. It was apparent that many employees were no longer sceptical about
staying in the region.
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southern coast of Quintana Roo has several isolated beach areas on which some
tourism projects have been built and more are planned. FONATUR's intention is
to sponsor the development of luxury accornmodation of a higher standard than
in Cancun along the southern coasts and it is exercising its authority in the
approval process to further this objective. While projects on the southern coast
are proceeding, few are as successful as Cancun. Some of these resorts feature
condominium projects and timesharing programmes to enhance their early
financia1 returns.
In addition to the archaeological sites, the region has extordinary natural
attractions and various conservation measures have been employed to protect
the ecology in sensitive areas. The 1.3 mn acre Sian Ka'an.Biosphere Reserve and
World Heritage Site, located in the southern part of Quintana Roo, is a designated
wilderness area with diverse ecosystems. In addition, a marine preserve with
strict control measures has been established at Cozumel to protect the fragile reef
ecosystem.
DEVELOPMENT IMPLEMENTATION
Imptementing Organtsatton
The Central Bank of Mexico was an ideal organisation to assume the lead role in
the development of tourism because it had considerable technical expertise,
access to internal and externa1 sources of fundiia, and was a technical and not
political entity. The Central Bank prepared the Gi a l supporting and policy
development studies and then a quasi-subsidiary organisation, INFRATUR, was
formed to implement the following principal objectives:
Conceive and implement tourism infrastructure projects that complement
investments of the federal govemment.
Develop tourism infrastructure projects that generate private investment.
Acquire, develop, subdivide, se11 and lease property associated with tourism
projects.
Coilaborate with other government agencies in the promotion of tourism.
The founding trust agreement of INFRATR provided for its tennination
after 30 years. INFRATUR subsequently merged with a fund created to fi ance
tourism projects which evolved into FONATUR. The new funaions of FONATUR
included those of INFRATR as weil as financia1 activities in tourism, including
the guaranteeing of loans, making temporary equity investments, tradiig loans
and issuing credits.
While INFRATUR is actuay a trust fund with its own resources, the Central
Bank retains strong ties to FONATUR. For example, an arm of the Centrai Bank
was the borrower on record for the two IDB loans, mady because of its previous
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The actual costs of the infrastructure turned out to be much higher than the
original estimates. The cost overruns were attributed to the unexpectedly high
inflation rate and the expanded scope of work in the dredging operations and the
new town infrastructure.
As the project evolved, revised development schedules were prepared.
Most of these schedules were very optimistic about the pace of development.
Even though the development of Cancun proceeded rapidly, it often lagged
behind the ambitious schedules.
Education and Training of Resort Employees
INFRATUR implemented an excellent training programme in construction skilis
during the initial stages of the project. The purpose of this programme was to
provide agricultural workers, many of whom were Mayans, basic skills in the
construction trades, thereby facilitating their employment in the construction
activities of Cancun. The programme consisted of a two-month course in S~ani sh
language training (many Mayans only speak their native language) and the ;se of
construction tools and techniciues. Bv 1976. more than 3.000 construction
workers had received training through this programme.
In contrast, the programme established to train hotel employees was not
considered to have functioned adequately throughout the 1970s, despite funding
provided for this programme under the second IDB loan. A major reason was that
tourism enterprises were in great need of employees and would hire and train
most of those available even if they lacked sufficient skiils. To remedy the
shortcomings of the organised training programme, the Department of Tourism
convened a meeting of local tourism and other government oficials in Cancun in
1979 that identified problems and solutions. The hotel training programme was
suhsequently revitalised and its operations have improved. Today, this vocational
programme, which offers three-year certificates to a few hundred graduates each
year, is an integral part of the tourism sector. AU graduates can find employment
in Cancun.
Czcrrent Stcctzcs of Development
The Cancun project has become a major international resort which currently
contains 112 hotels and similar establishments providing approximately 18,000
rooms. The resort has a small convention centre, a championship golf course,
retail centres, and a variety of water sports facilities. There is a wide variety of
accommodation, with 72 mainly beachfront hotels on Cancun Island and another
30 commercial and budget accommodation facilities in Cancun City. This
diversity aiiows Cancun to attiact a wide variety of tourists.
Most of the hotels on Cancun Island were built to a very high standard.
Ahout 34 per cent of the rooms on Cancun are classified as Gran Turismo (six
star), another 32 per cent are five star, and 18 are four star properties, according
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to the ratings of FONATR in 1990. Moreover, the quality of newly opened and
planned hotels is improving signiticantiy. ExceUent Mamott and Conrad (Hilton
Corporation) hotels have recently opened, and two luxury projects (a Ritz-
Carlton and a project of the Aoki Group of Japan) are planned.
Cancun suffered greatly from Hurricane Gilbert which damaged much of
the landscaped areas of the resort. While the occupancies of the hotels improved
greatly in 1990, room rates were still lower than expected. i n the urban zone,
there was rather serious damage to buildings, parks, and infrastructure, with
pubc semices adversely affected, The lower earnings from tourism since the
hurricane have dirninished the resources of both the hotel industry and public
sector that are needed for the repair and rnaintenance of stmctures and
landscaping.
As previously described, the new town of Cancun City has developed
strongty, with the present population being about 300,000. This is expected to
increase to 400,000-500,000 when the resort is completed.
The resort is not yet fuUy developed. The two large projects of San
Buenaventura and Puerto Cancun, which will together require an investment in
infrastmcture of US$225 mn, are stili in the planning stages. As mentioned, these
projects are designed to be interesting activity-oriented and themed
developments, attraaing affluent tourists, and will further improve and diversify
the resort. The continued development of the resort is projected to reach an
inventory of over 25,000 rooms on completion, probably by the late 1990s.
Economic considerations featured strongly in the conception and formulation of
the Cancun project. As already indicated, the original objectives of the national
tourism plan included the generation of employment in rural regions as well as
foreign exchange earnings to improve the national balance of payments. The
Cancun project, an outgrowth of the national plan, has been successfui in
satisfymg both of these objectives.
The project anaiyses prepared by FONATR, as weU as those of the IDB,
found the project to be economicaUy viable. The detailed economic analysis
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prepared in conjunction with the IDB loan issued in 1971 produced the .
following estimates of tourism development and economic benefits in 1980:
Number of tourists 252,400
Hotel rooms required 1,630
Hotel employees required 2,710
Effect on balance of payments USS25.8 rnn
When this analysis was undertaken in 1971, the internal m e of return of
the project was estimated to be 20 per cent, but al1 assumptions on which this
estimate was based were exceeded. in fact, more than 460,000 tourists stayed in
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were built, such as piers, were damaged by Hurricane Gilbert. Beaches were
severely eroded in a few areas by Hurricane Gilbert but these are slowly being
restored by natural accretion.
The most fragiie ecosystem of the resort is that of the Cancun lagoons. The
circulation in these lagoons was initially improved, substantial adjacent lands
were designated for conservation, and boating activity has been restricted. As
mentioned previously, one problem was the substantial amount of nutrient-rich
effluent which was discharged into a small lagoon with poor circulation and then
caused much algae growth. Subsequently, the effluent was instead injected into
deep weUs and other algae control measures were implemented. The Cancun
lag60ns are being carefully monitored by a number of environmental groups and
it appears likely that the natural beauty and ecological functions of the lagoons
FINANCING OF PLANNTNG AND DEVELOPMENT
The funding for aii the planning of Cancun was provided by the Central Bank
either directly or, after 1969, through its subsidiary, INFRAWONATUR.
The infrastmcture was initiated with funding fmm FONATUR and the
largest portion of the subsequent financing was also provided by FONATR, with
some input from two IDB loans. FONATR contributed more than 70 per cent of
the total costs of the infrastmcture work associated with the first IDB loan and
over 60 per cent of that covered by the second loan faciiity.
The first loan, arranged in 1971, covered various infrastructure components
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necessary to support the initial hotel development, some improvements on Isla
Mujeres, and the restoration of archaeological sites on the Yucatan Peninsula. The
estimated cost of the work covered under this loan was US$47.1 mn, of which
the IDB contributed US$21.5 mn, al1 in foreign exchange. When additional work
was added and inflation increased, the total costs increased to US$73.2 mn,
which was absorbed by FONATJR. The second loan, initiaiiy funded in 1976,
provided for additional infrastructure in both the tourism and urban zones of
Cancun, including construction of a secondary school and expansion of the hotel
school. The estimated cost of the project was US$49.5 mn, of which US$20 mn
was funded by an IDB loan.
An important source of income for FONATUR was the sale of hotel sites to
developers and home sites to new residents. The unimproved land had been
acquired at a nominal price by FONATUR and the increase in value of the land
resulting from the development of infrastmcture was to be recovered through
the sale of improved parcels to hotel developers. It was projected that the
income from the sale of land would be less than the costs of the infrastructure in
the early stages of the project. But sales were expected to increase once Cancun
matured. As an exarnple, the initial land sales had covered only a fraction of the
overall infrastmcture investment associated with the first IDB loan, but it was
anticipated that under the second IDB loan, there would be land sales of more
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community facilities for employees, and the design details that contributed to the
high standard of development desired. The design considerations encompassed
the road system, the associated greenbelts, the stmcture of the urban and tourism
zones, and the generally high standard of infrastructure.
The market analysis which supported the planning of Cancun was
eventually validated by the actual international appeal of the project, especially
arnong tourists from the USA and Canada. The market analysis underestimated
the attraction of the project for domestic tourists.
Whiie the physical planning for the urban zone was good, the planning did
not accurately assess the future market for housing, nor did it fully consider the
institutional framework required to implement the urban development. The goal
of building a modern, efficient new town proved to be very ambitious and
fraught with problems. However, these problems are being resolved and the new
town is functioning satisfactorily and planning to cope with the projected
continued influx of population.
Planning for the tourism zone has, by most measures, produced a
successful, high quality international resort but it is sometimes criticised for its
density, linear form of development, overly modern buildings and shortage of
traditional style buildiis. The density and linear character of development are
largely due to the geography of Cancun Island, which makes it virtually
imperative that hotel development be linear. Furthermore, much of the
marketing success of the resort is due to the fact that many hotels have
beachfront locations, which is directly attributable to the geography and form of
development. Some variation of densities along Cancun Island were planned and
are reflected in the varied hotel profiles. But there could perhaps have been
greater differentiation of accommodation areas.
The proposed development of San Buenaventura, which is to have an
historic theme that features plazas, traditional architecture, a waterfront
promenade and other complementary elements, is designed to provide some
contrasting design character to the resort as a counterpoint to the modern hotels.
There may aiso be other opportunities to develop more themed areas.
The regional planning conducted as part of the Cancun project was limited
but it has been beneficial. The regional infrastructure was improved by the
constmction of the airport, the expanded highway system, and extension of the
water supply, electric and telecommunications' systems. Archaeological sites
have been restored and are important attractions for tourists. Much employment
was generated by the resort, providiig badly needed employment for local
agricultural workers in a region where agriculture was suffering, as weii as for
migrants Trom other parts of Mexico. In general, the education levels and living
standards of regional residents have improved, but there have been rnixed results
in the housing sector because of the great in-migration of workers. The Cancun
resort seems to have been a signiicant impetw for regional tourism development
on the coast of Quintana Roo and Cozumel Island.
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DeveZopment Impkmentation
The development of Cancun has been carried out with few major problems,
despite the very substantial scope of the project. The exceiient physical
attributes of Cancun, its proximity to important Mayan archaeological sites, and
the sizeable North American tourist markets provided a sound foundation for the
project. But the manner in which it was implemented also contributed
significantly to its success. There were few delays in the execution of the project
and the standard of development is generally in accordance with that
recommended in the initial concept. The major strucmral faaors that faciiitated
the implementation process were the effective organisational framework of the
implementing agencies, the financing expertise applied, and the inclusion of
environmental and social considerations in the programme .
FONATUR had a specitic set of objectives and the resources to fuifil those
objectives. Because of its ties to the Central Bank of Mexico, FONA'iXJR was able
to mobiiise the necessary technical expertise, properly fund the plan's
development recommendations and undertake costly modiications to the plans
when necessary. The national infmstructure agencies executed their projects
satisfactorily and the state of Quintana Roo played a major role in implementing
needed housing programmes. However, the less experienced municipal agencies
had considerable difficulties coping with the rapid growth of the urban zone.
The financing expertise of the Central Bank and FONATUR played a major
role in financing the development of Cancun. The loans from the IDB were
arranged expeditiously, the required additional funds were obtained when they
were needed, and the debt-equity swap mechanism was used productively to
help provide the required investment in hotels.
The conservation of large tracts of land and the environmental programmes
executed at Cancun have been important in retaining much of the natural
character of the resort despite the considerable development that has taken
place. The early social programmes were helpful in integrating the local
population into the development process.
The major problem in the implementation process has been the
development of the urban zone, and especially the disruptions in the orderiy
development of housing. The development of a large new town is an enormous
undertaking which, in Cancun, encountered marketing problems and social
resistance that required the joint efforts of many public agencies to overcome.
The implementation of various regional programes has been successful.
The coiiateral tourism development in the region has been weU controlled and,
as mentioned, some archaeological sites have been conserved and developed
with visitor facilities. The airport appears to function well and regional highways
are generaliy good.
Cancun has now developed about 18,000 rooms of the planned 25,000
rooms and fuii development is expected by the late-1990s. Completing the resort
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enjoy average occupancy rates of over 75 per cent during the winter months of
December to April and in the sumrner months of July and August. Occupancies in
the remaining months are often below 50 per cent. The year round occupancy of
large hotels was 73.2 per cent in 1989, accordiig to the previously cited Horwath
survey.
Inflation and several currency devaluations caused real room rates at the
major hotels to faU from an average of US$35.00 in 1988 t o US$34.80 in 1989,
according to the Horwath survey. These room rates are much lower than in most
other Caribbean destinations.
Domestic tourism has also grown during the past decade. There was a
negligible amount of leisure tourism from the domestic market in 1980, mainly
due to the low income levels of most Dominicans at the time. The proportion of
domestic tourists has steadily increased, to an estimated 19.3 per cent of all the
A
guests in the major hotels in 1989. Domestic tourism is generated primarily
during holiday periods and on weekends by residents of Santo Domingo
travelling to coastal resorts.
Although there has been continuous planning of selected resort centres in
the Dominican Republic, there has been no formal comprehensive planning of
tourism development throughout the country for many years. The focus of
governrnent efforts in tourism has been on tourism promotion, attracting
investments, and other activities.
Tolcrtsm in the Puerto PZata Regdon
Puerto Plata is both a small city, with a population of almost 100,000, and a
province on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic. The city of Puerto
Plata is located at 235-km north of the capital city of Santo Domingo and, for
tourists, a rather long three-hour trip from the capital. Santiago, the second most
populated city in the country, is located in the northern coastal region, which has
long been a major source of agricultura1 production and one of the most
prosperous regions in the Republic.
A number of cruise ships stopped over in the harbour of the city of Puerto
Plata in the 1970s. Otherwise, tourism to the region was inhibited primarily by its
di i cul t land and air access and the fact that the northern coast is prone to rain.
Thanks to a master plan for Puerto Plata, much of which has been implemented,
tourism development throughout the region has since been stimulated.
The main tourist attractions of Puerto Plata are its beaches and tropical
climate, although the mmantic image of the Canbbean, some colonial ruins, and
interesting flora and fauna in the lush mountainous terrain are of secondary
interest. The climate in the region is generally equitable, with an annual mean
temperature of 24.7OC (76.5OF) and only slight variations throughout the year.
Most Caribbean destinations have similar attributes and are located in areas with
a higher standard of infrastructure and services. Consequently, the principal
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unique appeal of Puerto Plata to the international travel market is the low cost of
tourist goods and services.
Today, a major share of leisure tourism to the Dominican Republic is drawn
to the northern coastal region. Over 32 per cent of foreign arrivals landed at the
international airport at Puerto Plata in 1990. Furthermore, approximately 42 per
cent of the hotel rooms in the country were in Puerto Plata in 1990. The bulk of
hotel guests on the northern coast amve by charter flights. Tourism officials
estimate that 85 per cent of all room nights can be attribiited to charters.
Approximately 30 charter fiights arrive each week at Puerto Plata airport.
Evolutdow of the Puerto Pht a Project
The government of the Dominican Republic became interested in tourism in the
late 1960s. The first of three studies on tourism authorised by the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP) was conducted in 1967. Following this study,
the federal government in 1968 decreed that tourism was to be @ven a high
priority in iational development. Subsequently, the first national tourism
institutions were created in 1969 and guidelines and incentives for tourism
development were established in 1971.
The Central Bank of the country was @ven responsibiiities in tourism and
its president and other officials visited Mexico to investigate techniques and
methods which the Central Bank of Mexico was using to address its tourism
functions. Drawing on the experience of Mexico, the Central Bank formed the
Departamento para el Desarrollo de la Infraestructure Turistica (INFRATUR) in
1971 to develop the infrastructure for tourism projects and aid in their financing
and administration. In the same year, the construction of the airport runway at
Puerto Plata was started.
A second UNDP study addressing planning issues and the viabiiity of Puerto
Plata was completed in 1972 u. iNFRATUR then camed out additional detailed
studies of two resort zones, at Boca Chica along the southeast coast and at Puerto
Plata. Meanwhile, a third UNDP study was conducted, which recomrnended that
tourism development be initiated on the southeast coast because of the relatively
lower infrastructure costs, drier climate and better beaches. However, after
several attempts at assembiing land at Boca Chica failed, that project was
terrninated in 1976.
Puerto Plata was selected for tourism development for a number of reasons:
Development on the northern coast would diversify tourism geographically in
the Dominican Republic.
The required land for development was vacant and could be acquired
inexpensively.
The existing towns of Puerto Plata and Sosua offered some cultural attractions
and colonial buildings, which already attracted cruise ships.
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The local residents had some experience with tourism through the established
cruise business.
There was an existing labour pool in nearby communities.
Many Europeans fleeing the Nazi occupation had settled in the region in the
1940s and local residents were accustomed to foreigners, with some speaking
German, French and English.
The infrastructure necessary for tourism (airport, roads, etc.) would also
generally benefit the north shore communities.
The leaders of the communities on the north coast actively supported the
proposed tourism projects and the educated and sizeable population of the
region pressed for their development.
The project proposed at Puerto Plata involved two resort complexes, one at
Playa Dorada and the other at Playa Grande. Playa Dorada, located l4km west of
the airport, was intended to be developed for mass tourism whe Playa Grande,
at 97-km east of the city of Puerto Plata, was t o target the luxury travel market.
The location of these two resort complexes is shown in Figure 10.
Figure 1 O
Puerto Plata tourist region
Tourist Pole NQ 2
11***111111111,1,#11IIII1II,IIII,,*8aI...II.II ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
L \ 1 \
Santiago
w
San Francir
de Macoria
\
SAN
.,....
JUAN
-.-1
Nagua
1
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Puerto Plata, and the other division was in charge of the financing arranged
principally for the constmction of the required superstructure. When Little
interest was expressed in the development of the first hotels at Playa Dorada,
INFRATR also assumed the responsibility for the development of the initial
accommodation projects.
INFRATUR retained intemational consultants to work in conjunction with
local consultants and the technical staff of INFRATUR in the design and
supervision of the development of the infrastructure and resort facilities. The
involvement of intemational consiiltants deciiied as the project matured.
INFRATUR was responsible for the development of the infrastmcture, a
handicrafts centre, and other components of the project. On completion, the
infrastmcture was to be purchased by the appropriate utility or public authority
which would then operate it and charge the user fees. INFRATUR continues to
supervise the operations and remaining development in Playa Dorada. The
Central Bank has assumed responsibility for Playa Grande and is investigating its
sale to private developers.
Having accomplished its task of spurring the growth of toiirism in the north
shore region, INFRATUR now has considerably fewer functions than in past
years. Because of this situation, there has been taik of disbandiig the
organisation.
Resort DeveZopment Programming
The initial project schedule prepared by INFRATUR, which was based on the
UNDP planning study completed in 1972, was not met. This was largely due to
the lack of sufficient financing - not an unusual situation during the conceptual
stages of resort development projects. Subsequently, many development
schedules were prepared throughout the formulation and execution of the
Puerto Plata project, but the major commitments were made by INFRATUR when
the two World Bank loans were arranged.
The first World Bank loan (for the infrastmcture and airport terminal) was
approved in November 1974 but the airport did not open until 1980, much later
than programmed. As mentioned, this delay was largely due to unexpected
adverse soil condition at the airport and to inflationary increases in the cost of
the infrastructure that required additional funding by INFRATUR. Subsequently,
no private investors came fohard to construct the accommodation facilities and
the project was again delayed.
The second World Bank loan (mainly for a credit line for the development
of the accommodation) was approved in 1979 and the terms of the loan required
that commitments be obtained for al1 the lodging projects within three years (by
1982) and that aU construction be completed within five years (by 1984). This
schedule was not met, either. It appears to have been too ambitious in that it did
~ ~~
not allow sufficient time for the required steps of attracting investors, arranging
financing, and the design and construction of the accommodation. In addition,
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the schedule called for the development of as many as 1,600 rooms in a very
short period, which may have generated some market resistance and would have
strained the capacity of the construction industry.
The interest of hotel entrepreneurs in this pioneering project remained
tepid until the investment promotional campaign was launched and innovative
fmancing schemes began to generate momentum. When the initial
accommodation was opened, a number of investors emerged and the
development of Playa Dorada proceeded rapidly.
Regdoltrrl Plan Impkmetctation
W e there is some planning conducted in the provincial offices of Puerto Plata,
it is very general and the provincial government has insufcient enforcement
powers. There is little public participation in the planning process. The federal
government accorded INFRATUR some powers to control aspects of tourism
development on the north coast, mainly in a decree issued in 1976. Subsequently,
a zoning plan was prepared in 1984. As indicated, the Puerto Plata project did
not include regional planning and development to any great extent.
Enforcement of the existing regional development controls has been
difficult because the regional planning efforts are not sufficiently comprehensive
and detailed, and decision-making on development proposals frequently becomes
politicised. The review process also suffered during periods when there were
frequent changes in the administration of INFRATUR. Consequently, problems
surfaced in Sosua and the development along the coast took place in a scattered
and disorganised manner.
Education and Tradndng of Resort Employees
A hotel school was founded in Puerto Plata in 1978. It offers primarily technical
training for entry-leve1 employees in front office operations, catering,
housekeeping, property maintenance, and other aspects of hotel operations.
Training in foreign languages is also provided and many hotel employees have
conversational skills in Enghsh. The training programmes are of six months, one
year and 18 months in length. The number of students in this programme is low
because of the shortage of educational materials and the generally limited
attendance in schools in the Dominican Republic where formal education is not
mandatory and literacy me s are low.
A smail local Catholic University recently began to offer a programme in
hotel administration. The University has a critica1 shortage of instructional
materials and this programme is only developing slowly. There are several
university and vocational tourism programmes in Santo Domingo and some
aspiring employees from the north coast move to Santo Domingo to attend these
schools.
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Table 3:
Current status of hotel development in Puerto Plata
1 Facility
Rooms/units m e of facility
Existing
Playa Dorada Hotel
Eurotel
Dorado Naco 1
Flamenco Beach Resort
Villas Doradas
Jack Tar Village
Puerto Plata Villag
incess P
llas Victc
laya Dor
~r i a
- ..
ada
ltopicana caribe
Heavens
ViUage Caribe
Total existing units
Apartn
Apartn
.. -
ront hot
. . .
252 Hotel (former
Holiday Inn)
402 :el
204 . . _i enr note1 - Phase 1
322 el
207 el
300 aungai
504 Iniand
221; Inland golf vilk
Inland golf vill;
168 Inland golf villas
150 Inland golf villas
24^
T-."-A
tennis villas
lent hot
lent hot
ow styIr
golf vilk
Under Construction
Dorado Naco 11 428 Apartment hotel
Phase 11
Planned
Hotel site A 295 Beachfront hotel
Hotel sites C and D 590 Beachfront hotel
Golf Villas lV 250 Inland villas
Total planned units
TOTAL, ALL UNTTS 4,768
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built by 1990, but 3,205 rooms have actuaily been constructed. The existing
development generates an estimated 5,100 jobs in the resort, based on the staff
to room ratio of 1.6 that prevails on the north coast. In addition, there is an
unidentitiable amount of employment outside the resort in the supply sector.
However, the hotels' profitability is adversely affected by the average room rates
which were lower than expected. Eventually, the economic benefits of the resort
may be much greater than anticipated when additional development takes place
on the remaining sites.
The Puerto Plata project has had a major impact on the national, regional
and local economies. The national benefits of this tourism project include
sign*cant incremental economic development, the generation of foreign
exchange, considerable employment generation, sectorai diversification, and the
dispersa] of development to less populated areas.
One main purpose of the project was to encourage regional economic
development, and this has been successful overall. The regional irnpact of this
project is substantial, with the project being largely responsible for the
development of the tourism sector on the north coast. Without this project, it is
likely that tourism in the region would have remained a minor activity
characterised by a few cruise ship stopovers and some budget travel. Instead, the
construction of around 3,000 rooms at Playa Dorada and the supporting
infrastructure generated the collateral development of the bulk of the additional
15,000 rooms now existing in the province of Puerto Plata. Tourism has become
a rnajor economic activity in the region, generating income and employment
both for those directly employed in tourism and those supported in tourism
supply activities. In addition, travel by local residents and the transport of goods
were facilitated by the development of the international airport that was built
mainly for tourism.
As a result, the national and regional economic benefits of the project are
far greater than originally anticipated because of the stimulus given to collaterai
tourism development. But as already explained, much of the tourism
development outside the resort project area is environmentauy not weU planned
and controlled, and some problems such as land speculation are occurring.
Because of the careful planning and appcation of development controls,
the Playa Dorada resort was developed to much higher environmental standards
than most of the other accommodation projects on the north coast. But the
development of three additional accommodation sites in areas originally
designated as reserves has increased the overall density of the project and altered
its visual impact.
One major environmental problem is the beach erosion that has occurred
along the northern shore, especialb in front of the Eurotel hotel. This forrnerly
wide beach has WtuaUy disappeared and sand bags have been placed around the
foundations of some restaurant buildings to protect them from wave damage.
Tourism officials are not certain of the cause of this erosion. Some indicate that
recent storms are at fault whiie others point to the destruction of near-shore reefs
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with dynarnite that was reportedly used to enlarge the swimming area in front of
the hotel.
The Puerto Plata project itself appears to have had a largely positive socio-
cultural imoact. This is due to the increase in emolovment and income and
. ,
consequent rice in iiving standards of employees and their families diiectly or
indirectly supported by tourism. Only a rninor negative impact can be ascribed to
the resort development because residents had already been exposed to foreign
tourists through the cruise ship stopovers. INFRATUR included funds for the
identification and mitigation of social impact in the f i st World Bank loan.
hierto Plata did, however, induce the development of much additional
tourism throughout the region, which has certainly generated significant socio-
cultural impact. The favourable impact generated by increased employment and
income are evident as there is some migration to Puerto Plata and Sosua from
rural areas and Haiti. It appears that this migration has generated little negative
irnpact, especiauy when compared with the explosive growth of the population
of Santo Domingo. The composition of the labour force is changing as the
proportion of employment in agriculture has declined in favour of the service
sector, and especially tourism. These changes seem to have caused sorne
modification of traditional values, which may be considered desirable or
undesirable depending on standards of evaluation.
FINANCING OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
The funding for the early planning was provided by the Central Bank (after 1971,
through its subsidiary of INFRATUR) and the UNDi? AU subsequent detailed
planning was funded by INFRATR.
The development of the infrastructure was started by the federal
government but most of the funding was provided jointly by INFRATR and the
World Bank (which issued a loan for US$21 h). It was anticipated that the
cornpleted infrastructure would then be purchased by the appropriate utiiity or
other pubiic entity which woiild operate it and collect user fees. In practice, the
utilities seldom had sufficient resources to fuUy reimburse INFRATUR and the
completed infrastructure was usually transferred for liale, if any, return.
A major source of revenue to repay these loans for infrastructure
development was intended to be the sale of accommodation sites to developers.
The land had been acquired by iNFRATUR at a nominal price and the increase in
value generated by the development was to be recovered through the sale of
improved sites. However, the site sale prices covered only a fraction of the overall
investment. At some point, the sale of Playa Grande may provide an additional
return but it is unlikely that the full investment wiU be directly recovered.
However, the annual taxes and other government reveniles attributable to
tourism on the north coast will provide an indirect return on investment.
It was anticipated that the funding for accommodation facilities would be
provided mainly by the private sector. In addition, government entities including
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INFRATLJR had been making hotel loans in Santo Domingo and could therefore
be a source for some loans. This was not the case. Private lenders did not
materialise and even many of the loans made for hotel development in Santo
Domingo had defaulted. To overcome this obstacle, INFRATUR, the World Bank
and commercial banks collaborated on a loan, the main purpose of which was to
fund the development of the tourism superstnicture in Puerto Plata.
lreign cc
ominica
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Table 4:
Total participation of lenders and equity investors in Playa
Dorada accornmodation projects
Amount
Lender (U% mn)
INFRATUR 10
World Bank 25
F< ~mmercial banks 1 O
D n Republic commercial banks
E(
Total
This compiicated financing mechanism was not arranged without
difficulties. Each loan participant had special requirements over the use of funds
and loan guarantees. In general, the Central Bank issued full govemment
guarantees for all borrowing. This nancial approach was required because of the
difficult financing market then prevailing in the Dominican Repubiic. While a
shortage of long term funds is common in developing countries, the problems of
this particular situation were compounded by investor scepticism over
pioneering hotels on the north coast, as well as the financia1 problems being
experienced by hotels in Santo Domingo.
The hotels developed initially at Playa Dorada were constructed with
innovative financing approaches. The first property was built by INFRATUR and
then leased to an operator who retained an option to purchase it, thereby
allowing much of the development risk to be shared by INFRATLJR. Many
subsequent facilities were built as condominium projects, with individual units
sold to private investors who retained rights to use the units for a limited period
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each year and leased the unit to the management company or entered into a
renta1 pool arrangement. These condominium operations are generating some
controversy among the owners of the units who claim that their proper share of
revenues are not being paid.
Al1 but a few of the hotel projects at Playa Dorada were funded with the
INFRATUR/World Bank credit facility. The World Bank actually contributed only
US21.5 mn of its obligation, partly because there were no loan appiications
submitted for accommodation projects scheduled for Playa Grande.
The individual loans to hotel developers were issued by fmancial
intermediaries who assumed fuU credit risk. The project loans typicaUy had a
loan term of 17 years, a grace period (requiring no debt payments) of as many as
four years, an interest rate of 12 per cent, and come loan fees. The project loans
could represent 65 per cent of costs. Investors were required to contribute the
remaining 35 per cent in equity. These loans eventually became windfalls for the
borrowers as inflation and devaluations reduced the real value of debt
repayments. Not surprisingly, there have been no loan defaults.
A fmancing arrangement of US$50 mn for accommodation projects was also
negotiated with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), but problems with
the terms and implementing agencies have caused it to go unused.
On the termination of the INFRA'ilJR/World Bank credit facilitation, the last
few hotels in Playa Dorada were built with funds from commercial lenders at
market rates. Owing to the high rates of inflation, the interest rates increased
dramatically, thereby placing severe financia1 strains on the borrowers. Many of
these last few projects may fail or require some refmancing.
The very generous fiscal incentives available to investors in tourism projects
in the Dominican Republic include:
Full exemption from income taxes for a period of ten years, with a possible
extension for a further five years.
Exemption from construction taxes, corporate taxes and national and
municipal taxes on iicenses and public events.
Exemption fmm import duties and taxes on irnported goods for construction
and operations if local goods are unavailable.
The extent to which these incentives have induced investment in tourism
projects is unclear.
OVERALL EVALUATION AND CONCLUSIONS
Resort and Regiomal Planning
Although there have been a few problems, Playa Dorada has become a reasonably
successful resort, partly because of its generally weU conceived plan. The
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integration of the golf course, the good design of circulation, the incorporation of
extensive ocean setbacks, the svacious accomrnodation sites, and other features
provide an artractive resort complex. There were moditications in the original
plan that increased density but these changes did not greaty affect the character
of the resort.
The plan to promote Playa Dorada as a destination for mass tourism was
fortuitous. Charter flights brought large numbers of tourists to Puerto Plata when
the shortage of scheduled flights could not. The limited marketing budgets of the
hotels did not greaty inhibit the penetration of the mass tourism market as it
would have other market segments. Moreover, when the North American market
dissipated, it was quickly replaced with the European market, which would have
been very diificult if the resort was not geared to charters and package tours.
The plan for the whole of Puerto Plata, which recommended the near
simuitaneous development of both Playa Dorada and Playa Grande, proved to be
fauity. It ignored the typical gravitational expansion pattem of resort tourism,
which prevails in a relatively small region, whereby tourism development expands
outward from an established core in a sequential panern. Tourism development
does not normally develop simultaneously in two major relatively nearby centres,
unless there are severe natural or artificiaily imposed restraints to suppress
intermediate development. In the case of the north coast of the Dominican
Republic, there are no major natural barriers and, in the absence of strong regional
planning controls, artificial restrictions did not exist. In addition, the higher quality
market aimed for at Playa Grande has not materialised in the country.
The greatest contribution of the Playa Dorada project has perhaps been the
economic development, especially of collateral tourism development, that it
stirnulated throughout the region. However, the weak regional planning and
implementation has not only reduced the economic benefits but has also generated
some adverse environmental and socio-cultural impact. One particular problem has
been the deficient regional infrastructure, notably in electricity and roads.
Development Implementation
The organisation in charge of the development of tourism on the north coast,
iNFRATR, was given extensive responsibilities that included not only the
development of the resort complexes of Playa Dorada and Playa Grande, but also
important functions throughout the 200-km stretch of coastline designated as the
Puerto Plata tourism zone. INFRATR, as a subsidiary of the Central Bank, had
the necessary funding and expertise in lending to execute the important
financing functions. It added technical planning, construction, and project
administration expertise through the employment of consultants and hiring of
local professionals. This organisation was weii structured but it functioned less
effectively during periods when management changes were frequent.
The organisation of financing for both infrastructure and hotels greatly
affected the timing and extent of the implementation of Playa Dorada. Initial
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The major foreign market for Tutkey is Westem Europe which accounted
for 53.4 per cent of total arrivals in 1990. Germany heads the ranking, accounting
for 18.1 per cent of al l arrivals, foliowed by the UK, France, Greece, Austria, Italy,
Sweden and Finland. Eastern Europe generated 27.1 per cent of anivals in 1990,
with Romania, Yugoslavia, the USSR, Poland and Hungary as the major sources
from that region. Other significant sources of tourism are the USA (2.8 per cent)
and Syria (2.1 per cent) while Canada, Australia and Japan are important growth
markets, albeit from smaller bases. In 1989, 52.6 per cent of international visitors
to Turkey arrived by air, 28.9 per cent by road, 16.7 per cent by sea and the
remainder by mil. More than 90 per cent of visitors are traveuing on holiday.
Yachting tourism is becoming popular in Turkey and in 1988, almost 21,000
yachtsmen and their crews spent at least one night in the country.
Seasonality is very marked, with May to October being the peak amvals
season. The months March/April and NovemberDecember are the shoulder
months and visitor arrivals fall sharply in JanuaryFebruary. The peak month of
August accounts for about seven times more arrivals than the lowest month of
January. The average length of stay in the country is between 9-10 nights. In
1989, the average expenditure per foreign tourist was US$570. Tourism
contributes a very positive balance to Turkey's tourism account as expenditure
by Turks on international tourism falls wel1 short of intemational tourist receipts.
The development of tourism in Turkey started with the creation of the
Ministry of Tourism in 1965, and the preparation of tourism development plans
in the late 1960s and 1970s. Since then, detailed tourism planning has continued
to be an irnportant part of the government's overall strategic planning. Tourism
has been a particularly high priority since the early 1980s and the adoption of the
Tourism Encouragement Law in 1982. The South Antalya area and other regions
in Southwest 'Ibrkey and elsewhere were designated for tourism development
during this early period of planning.
Tourism is included as a sector in the national five-year development plans.
By the end of the current sixth national plan period (1990-1994), international
tourist arrivals are targeted to reach 7.4 mn a year, representing an annual growth
rate of 8.2 per cent, and international tourist receipts are projected to reach
US$5,514 mn. ~ot a l tourist bed capacity is expected to exceed 350,000 beds by
1994, compared with 145,000 beds in 1989. The tourism policies and principles
adopted for the sixth plan period are as follows 2:
Incentive policies will be improved to make specific sectors of tourism more
attractive, notably winter tourism, hunting and water sports, festivals, health,
youth, the congress market, thermal tourism, golf and third age tourism.
The number of people employed in the tourism sector, either directly or
indiictly, wiii be increased to an adequate leve1 and their knowledge and skills
will be enhanced through training programmes.
Importante wi be attached to the itnproved quaiity of tourism and the growth
in infrastructure capacity.
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Panoramic view of
Side, eastern part of
South Antalya coast,
the ancient theater
Ancient temple of
Apollo situated in Side
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Presewation of the cultural and natural heritage will be a high priority and
tourism activities and investments will be planned and implemented accordimg
to approved environmental and landscaping rninimum standards.
Charter travel wili be developed and domestic tour operations encouraged.
Measures will be taken to increase hotel average occupancy rates, to extend the
tourist season, and to improve the quality of existing properties.
Priority will be given to the conse~at i on of natural and cultural attractions;
designated areas wi U be presewed and promoted for tourism.
Hotel management expertise will be developed, and the development of low
capacity and famy managed properties will be encouraged.
Citizens will be given opportunities to take their holidays at their convenience
and in a healthy environment.
Touvdsm in South AtttaZya
The South Antalya region, which comprises the resort development project
examined in this study, extends for some 80-km south of Antalya city along the
Mediterranean coast in southwestem Turkey. Antaiya city is outside the project
area but is the major city of the entire Antalya region, where the airport sening
the region is located. It provides its own attractions of a well developed, attractive
and highly scenic tourist-oriented harbour environrnent, historic districts,
buildings and structures including ancient wails and gates, important religious
monuments, shopping facilities, and an arrhaeological museum. There has been
considerable development of accommodation and other tourist facilities in Antalya
city, including some very interesting renovated histonc hotels and guest houses.
Thus, the city functions as the gateway to both the south and east Antalya tourism
areas, as weil as providing attractions which are visited by tourists staying in both
the South Antalya project area and the newly developing East Antalya tourism area.
Figure 12 depicts the entire Antalya region and its main attractions.
Within the South Antalya project area, attractions for tourists include the
very scenic coastal area of mountains situated near the shoreline, a narrow
coastal plain, good beaches, archaeological and historic sites, and traditional
'hrkish villages and architecture. Some specific scenic and natural sites are open
to tourists. Recognition on the part of government that this scenic beauty needed
to be presewed has led to the entire region, including the project area, being
designated, planned and developed as the Olyrnpus Seashore National Park.
The South Antalya tourism area is focused on the town of Kemer on Kemer
Bay, which has a long history dating back to the Greek Homeric period. Olyrnpus,
founded during the 3rd century BC, and two other ancient city sites, Phaselis and
Idyros, are located in South Antalya. In addition to the main town of Kemer, there
are six other villages in the area. In the heavily wooded surroundings of Kemer
Bay, there are existing tourist holiday villages and a major marina serving the
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Figure 12
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entire area has been developed on the bay in the town. Before the tourism
project commenced, South Antalya was not very developed, either in general or
tounsm terms, and the population living in the area was limited. At that time,
there was no incorporated municipality. As recorded in the 1980 census, the total
population in the South Antalya region was about 10,000.
EvoZution of the South AntaZya Project
In 1969, the govemrnent decided that tourism should be developed and the
southwest coastal region of the country extending 200-km inland was designated
for tourism, with no development aUowed until planning was completed. Initial
planning received intemational assistance and expertise from France, Scandimavia
and other sources. In addition to the southwest region, some cultural sites
including Cappadocia in central Turkey were added to the planning programme. In
the southwest, structural plans on a scale of 1:200,000 were first formulated,
identifying the tourism area boundaries, the tourism development zones and other
related areas such as historic and natural sites, forest areas, settlement areas, and
the transportation network of airports, roads and marinas. Plans on a scale of
1:25,000 were then drawn up for the tourism development areas including South
Antaiya, and 1: 1, 00~al e plans have been prepared for specific development sites.
From 1974 to 1976, an integrated tourism plan and related feasibiiity studies
were prepared and adopted for South Antalya as weU as some other tourism
areas, and the World Bank (international Bank for Reconstruction and
Development - BRD, and the International Development Association - DA) was
approached for financia1 and technical assistance. An IDA credit for about US$26
mn was approved to cover the foreign exchange component of the infrastructure
development, and the loan agreement was signed in September 1976. The
Ministry of Tourism was the agency designated for the overaU execution of the
project and it, in tum, appointed the Tourism Bank to imdertake project
development. The South Antalya Tourism Development Project was included in
the Government hbl i c Investment Projects list in 1976 and, in 1978, was
included in the list of priority projects. The acquisition of land, where necessary,
and the development of the infrastructure started in the late 1970s.
The South Antalya tourism project is considered by the government to be
the most successful tourism development project in Turkey incorporating, from
its outset, integrated planning, programming, fmancing and operation.
TWE SOUTH ANTALYA PLAN AND REGIONAL
CONSIDERATIONS
Resort Comept and Lan Use PZam
The tourism plan for South Antalya is a regional or subregional plan which
indicates major development areas for tourism, town and viUage settlements,
forest areas to be preserved, major archaeological/historic sites, the road network
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and a large marina. The overail plans for South and East Antalya are shown in
Figure U, and the nonhern part of the South Antalya plan, where Kemer and the
accommodation areas are located, is reproduced in Figure 14 9. The red colour
on the maps identifies the proposed tourist accommodation areas. Some minor
plan changes have been made since this particular map was produced, but the
planning concept remains the same. Within the framework of this regional plan,
a more detailed plan has been prepared for the region 4/, as weii as for Kemer
town and its surroundings, which includes beach tourism areas Y.
The original plan cailed for a capacity of 25,000 beds in the area surveyed
by the World Bank which, after an amendment was made to the plan, was
adjusted upwards to 58,000 beds. A more recent amendment to the plan in 1990
indicates a 65,500 bed capacity in the whole of South Antalya, including a new
development site at Adrasan Bay, a considerable distance south of the main
concentration of development in the Kemer area. Accommodation includes a
large number of hoday villages and some hotels, camping sites and guest
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houses. In addition, current policy is t o encourage owner managed, smaii-scale
accommodation and traditional hotels where ~ermi t t ed on the plan. Tourism
development in South Antalya is aimed primarily at international tourists (80 per
cent of all tourists to the area), in order to generate foreign exchange earnings.
The land use concept of the regional plan is to develop Kemer as the
tourism service centre of South Antalya, with a relatively large marina, associated
hotel and restaurant complex and other tourist facilities. These include a hotel
school and training hotel, information centre, medical clinic, fire fighting station,
the resort development office, employee housing, tour and travel agencies and
other comerci al tourist facilities, small-scale hotels, guest houses and self-
catering units, all integrated into the existing community. Close to Kemer is the
archaeological site of Idyros. The hotel and holiday viilage accommodation sites
are beach-oriented and mainly located near or within a few km of Kemer. The
only remote accommodation site is the one recently added to the plan and
scheduled for 6,700 beds, located on Adrasan Bay.
The 1990 plan also included two 18-hole golf courses, camping sites, day
use picnicking and recreation areas, 11 entenainment centres designed to attract
tourists inland from the coast, and a health-oriented tourism centre. The existing
villages are separated from the accommodation sites and ailow sufficient space
on the plan for expansion. The main coastal road provides good access t o Kemer,
which is close by - but not divided by - the main road and the accommodation
sites, as weU as most of the existing villages and ancient city nllns. The remainder
of the region is designated for agriculture and preserved forest and is, as
mentioned, aii part of the Olympus Seashore National Park. Specific sites of
archaeological, scenic and natural interest are also designated. Several water
conservation and breeding zones are indicated on the plan. In addition t o the
tourism plan, a master plan has been prepared for the national park and is being
implemented.
Development and design standards have been specified and are applied to
tourism development. The minimum setback of buildings from the beach
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Figure 13
AKDEN~Z
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MEDITERRANEAN
Figure 14
lar
.
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AKLXNIZ
MEDITERRANEAN
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DEVELOPMENT IMPLEMENTATION
Organisatiom and Responsibilities for
Impkmetttation
As indicated in the initial agreement with the World Bank, the overali
responsibility for the South Antalya project was given to the Ministry of Tourism,
which appointed the Tourism Bank as the consultant company or functional
executing entity. The Tourism Bank carried out the different activities required to
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implement the specific projects involved (with the approvai of the Ministry of
Tourism). These included issuing invitations to tender for the constmction work,
monitonng the constmction, issuing the finai acceptance of works, and
managing the infrastructure where relevant. Some of the infrastructure work was
undertaken by existing agencies and the developments are operated by them.
The major highway and secondary roads were developed and are maintained by
the Turkish State Highways Department.
Development of the electric power network was carried out by Kepez AS, the
pubiic power utility company, and the electricity system is maintained by the
same company.
Development and operation of the telephone system is the responsibility of the
Directorate of Post, Telegraph and Telephones (an international direct diailing
facility is available).
* Electric power and service units at the Kindilcesme Camping Area were
developed by the Directorate of National Parks.
River flood control and agricultura1 irrigation works were implemented by the
General Directorate of State Hydraulics.
The Physelis ancient city exhibition and services buildiigs and related
infmstmcture were developed by the Ministry of Culture.
The development and management of water supply, sewage and soiid waste
disposal and other project facilities and services were implemented by the
Tourism Bank and are now carried out by local organisations within the project
area that were established in the late-1980s. The South Antalya Tourism
Infrastructure Management Organisation (SATiMO) was formed as the
government policy making body. The executing management organisation is
ALTAS (Altyapi Isletme ve lbrizm AS), established by the municipality, which is
49 per cent owned by private sector companies (about 25 shareholders) and 51
per cent owned by SATiMO. ALTAS is financiauy self-sufficient through the
couection of user fees for water supply, sewage and soiid waste systems, as weli
as permit fees for development projects. It also manages, with government, the
fire protection, health services and other operations. ALTAS has its own general
director and staff, including a technical consultant, and shares an office building
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central government is responsible for planning and the regional and local
govemments are responsible for implementation, close coordination is required
among the different government levels.
Czcrremt Statrcs of DeveZopmemt a md Pl ammi mg
The status of infrastructure and public facility development was described in the
previous section. By 1991, 58 sites had been allocated to private enterprises
developing accommodation facilities (existing, under construction and approved)
as follows:
Table 5:
Current status of hotel development in South Antalya
1 Type of Accommodation Number of Beds 1
La, .l"LC
4star hotels
3-star hotels
tar hotel
tar hotels
First class holiday village
Pensions/guest houses
Camping areas
I
Total 26,038
I
Thus, in terms of bed capacity, the project is approaching 40 per cent of its
intended fuil capacity. In addition, a day use recreation area with a capacity of
750 has been allocated, and the two 18-hole golf courses are underway. In h e
with the policy of encouraging smali-scale accommodation, small hotels, guest
houses and some selfcatering units are being privately developed in Kemer and
some of the villages. Shopping facilities, tour agencies and other tourist-oriented
enterprises have also been developed in Kemer.
Expansion of the infrastructure progresses as the facility sites are anocated.
The programme of ALTASis to consolidate and centralise the sewage and water
treatment plants for more efficient operation of those systems, and a loan may be
taken out to finance this project. It would be repaid from future user fees. The
present technique of using sanitary land fiii for disposal of solid waste is not
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by the Ministry of Tourism. Based on field research of the turtle nesting areas on
the beaches in East Antaiya, as part of the tourism planning of that region,
techniques are being devised to protect the turtles' nesting habits and passage of
the hatched baby turtles into the sea. These techniques include shielding the
nesting areas from lights (which distract the turtles), prohibiting heavy vehicles
on the beach, and prohibiting tourists with lights on the beach during the nesting
season. The potential conflict between turtle nesting and tourism is compounded
by the fact that the turtle nesting season coincides with the peak tourist season.
More generaliy, Turkey has recently adopted an environmental protection
law and an Under Secretary for the Environment has been appointed. An
Environmental Impact Assessment (ELA) procedure is under review but not yet
adopted (as of early-1991). This law and procedure give greater assurance that
new development projects, including tourism development, wiii be
environmentaliy planned and wiii not result in serious environmental problems.
FINANCING OF PLANNING AND DEYELOPMENT
The original planning of South Antalya was undertaken with some international
financia1 and technical assistance. Since then, the planning has been camed by
the Physical Planning Section of the General Directorate of Investments, Ministry
of Tourism, located in Ankara. This section has a trained and experienced
technical staff.
The World Bank loan (an IDA credit that provides for no interest and a long
grace period for repayment of the capital) of about US$26 rnn made in 1977 was
used mostly for the foreign exchange component of the infrastructure
developrnent, notably for the water supply and sewage systems, and also for
some other components such as archaeological conservation and f ~ e fighting
equipment. The central government (through the Ministry of Tourism and
Tourism Bank), the Highways Departrnent and various public utility companies
involved, paid for the remaining cost of the infrastructure. The hotel school
received some technical and financial assistance (for equipment) from the
International Labour Organization (ILO). The World Bank also provided come
technical assistance initially, especially for coastal engineering, financial analysis
and other areas of expertise.
A. already mentioned, there was initial difficulty in attracting private sector
investments for the development of accommodation and other commercial
facilities. In 1980, the govemment underwent a restructuring and there was a
general shift in policy towards encouraging private sector development, albeit
allowing for the government to provide investment incentives. A Foreign
Investment Law was adopted aiIowing up to 100 per cent foreign investment in
projects, or joint ventures with Turkish companies and development banks. The
Tourism Encouragement Act was adopted in 1982 and became operational in
1983, and other related regulations were adopted to encourage investment in
tourism 4/.
The tourism investment incentives include provision for such factors as:
allocation of state land at low lease rent; special loans for capital and the initial
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cost of operations; various types of tax exemptions such as value added tax,
corporate income tax, property tax, and customs duties normally applied to
imponed materials used in tourism (but not for more than 10 per cent of the
total project cost); and other concessions.
An interesting aspect of this law is that tourism investors are treated as
exporters with exporters' preferential rights. in addition, tourism establishments
may employ up to 20 per cent foreigners within their total staff count. Project
sites for development are made available on a 4Fyear lease period at a low rent.
In the case of South Antalya, provision of the infrastructure is also an incentive,
since it is recognised that the investor must pay a development permit fee and
user fees for much of the infrastructure.
The Development Bank of Turkey is, by policy, very involved in making
concessionary loans to developers of accommodation and other tourist facility
projects Z/. This bank provides loans for projects approved by the Ministry of
Tourism for up to 50 per cent of the property value at interest rates which are
substantially lower than commercial rates. Previously, loans were granted an
eight-year repayment period including a tweyear grace period but since 1991,
loans have had a ten-year repayment period including a four-year grace period.
The loans can be appiied to the expansion of existing development, as weU as
new projects, and can be applied to various types of accommodation and other
tourist faciiities including hotels, holiday villages, small-scale accommodation
(through local commercial banks), marinas, large yachts used for commercial
tourist activities, health tourism facilities, golf courses and club houses, and tour
and travel agencies. Loans may also be granted for marketing and training
programes.
in South Antalya, the Development Bank has granted loans for projects
totaing more than 12,000 tourist beds, or close to 50 per cent of the 26,000
beds so far aiiocated for development. The distribution by type of
accommodation is shown in Table 6.
The International Finance Corporation (IFC - part of the World Bank) has
also granted loans to two Turkish companies for the development of hotels in
South Antalya. As previously mentioned, the state company of TURBAN
developed the marina hotel in Kemer. There is some international financing in
certain hotel projects and some appiications for international financing of
projects are pending (1991).
The government believes that, with the various incentives and loans
available and the generally favourable tourism growth trends in the country, there
wi be no problem in attracting investors for the development of tourist facilities;
and that an adequate amount of capital is available within the country which can
be attracted to tourism.
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Table 6:
Bed capacity in South Antalya according to type of accornmodation
Type of No. of No. of
accomrnodation enterprises beds
5-star hotels 6
4star hotels 4
3-star hotels 1
2-star hotels 2
Holiday villages (first class) 9
nsions/g 9
Total 35
OVERALL EVALUATION AND CONCLUSIONS
The South Antalya tourism plan, which encompasses an 80-km long coastal area
and is included in the Olympus Seashore National Park, provides for some 65,500
tourist beds (equivaient to more than 30,000 rooms). It has been targeted for
high quality tourism markets, and particularly international leisure tourists. But its
facilities also cater to domestic tourists. The plan has proved to be an appropriate
one that provides a functional, attractive, and environmentally sensitive tourism
product, integrated into the regional setting and existing communities.
Modifications of the original plan maintained the initial development
concepts but cailed for an increase in the extent of development. The expansion
was able to be absorbed because of the size of the area and its many beaches and
extensive mountain hinterland. Besides increased accommodation, the revised
1990 plan also recommended additional tourist recreation facilities and activity
areas, reflecting the need to expand and diversify visitor activities in order to
extend the tourist season. It also reflects the current European market trend
towards more activity oriented holidays.
Emphasis on planning and development focused on the regional integration
of tourism, which could provide a multi-purpose infrastructure serving both
tourism and the existing local communities. This included facilities and services
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such as a medical clinic and schools, which were greatly needed for the residents'
welfare. The town of Kemer was designated as the main service town for tourism
in the region, providing housing and community facilities for employees in
tourism, and is the site of a major marina, related hotels and other tourist
facilities. Both Kemer town and other villages in the region have substantidy
benefited from infrastructure and community facility improvements
accornplished as part of the project. Agricultura1 improvements were made
through the construction of irrigation systems combined with river flood control.
One very important component of the infrastmcture was the development
of a hotel school and training hotel to provide the necessary skilled personnel to
work in tourism. Key regional infrastructure components developed were the
airport near Antalya city which is the gateway to the region and a good highway
between the airport and the South Antalya project area, in order to provide
comfortable and easy access for tourists to South Antalya.
The planning approach used, together with the subsequent application of
development and design controls, has maintained the environmental quality of
the area. This has helped avoid any senous environmental problems. The only
social problem resulting from the project seems to be the influx of unskied
workers seeking employment, thereby placing stress on local housing and
community services. More generally, Turkey has adopted an Environmental
Protection Law and is preparing Environmental Impact Assessment standards and
procedures to be applied to specific development projects.
South Antalya was planned within the context of national planning for
tounsm in Turkey which focuses on the coastal regions of the Aegean and
Mediterranean Seas, as weU as on some inland areas. The areas designated for
tourism in the country are systematicaliy undergoing development, reflecting the
government's policy of giving high priority to tourism because of its economic
and social benefits.
The implementation approach involved planning and initial infrastructure and
public facility financing (with World Bank assistance) and development by central
government. The project was then taken over and managed by local entities.
However, the central Ministry of Tourism still carries out the detailed planning
needed and maintains control over the review and approval of private
development proposals to ensure that the desired type of accommodation and
other facility development is achieved. ALTAS, the local agency established to
continue developing and managing the infrastructure in South Antalya and which
has joint govemment and private sector ownership, has been an effective
mechanism for infnstructure management.
Because of the inexperience of local government with tourism development
in South Antaiya, it has been seen that the central government stiil needs to retain a
strong role in development planning and implementation. However, the private
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In spite of its large surface area of about 800 square kilometers, Lanzarote
has historically had a smail population. This is dueto the island's limited supply
of water and other natural resources necessary to support population growth.
Local authorities estimate that the current population is 80,000, of which
approximately 20,000 are recent immigrants. The principal industries were
fishing and subsistence farming until the tourism sector began to flourish in the
mid-1970s. Today, pubiic oficials estimate that over 75 per cent of employment
in Lanzarote can be attributed directly or indirectly to tourism.
The Canary Islands have a regional government located in Tenerife. On
Lanzarote, there is a subordinate island government (the Cabildo) as weIi as seven
district (municipal) governments.
Like many island destinations, the main tourist attractions of Lanzarote are its
warm and sunny climate and beaches. However, the island also possesses severa1
natural and cultural attractions, of which the principal ones are:
General scenic beauty and natural geographic attractions of the island.
Artistic character that pervades much of the local development and life-style.
Distinctive features of the life-style of Lanzaroteans.
Various scenic and natural sites that have been developed for visitor use.
The genera1 scenic beauty and natural attractions include a variety of
striking volcanic land forms, a marine nature preserve, interesting tidal water
features, numerous coves and broad beaches, and offshore islands.
The artistic traditions and character of Lanzaroteans are evident in many
aspects of traditional development on the island. The architecture, with its
distinctive white masonry walls and green or blue trim, is simple and attractive.
This style prevails in hotels as well as residences. Many of the historic buildings
have been weil preserved and several new monurnents have been built. In
addition, there is an expanding landscaping campaign to enhance roadsides and
public areas. A major proponent of these endeavours is the local artist, Cesar
Manrique, who also has designed several of the tourist facilities on the island.
The farming techniques used on Lanzarote are of great interest to
tourists. Large areas of the landscape are interspersed with interesting half-
moon stone conical formations. These unusual earthworks, which are based
on techniques developed centuries ago, capture scarce precipitation for the
growing of crops. Cultural attractions include severa1 fortresses and other
colonial buildings, traditional fishing villages, museums, traditional dress,
dance, arts, crafts, and sports. The hospitality of Lanzaroteans is also an
important tourist attraction.
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The growing demand for employment which could not be satisfied by local
residents and was, therefore, causing increased in-migration.
Shifts in employment from traditional agriculture and fishing to tourism, which
may have contributed to the declining cultivation of traditional crops.
Emerging environmental problems such as the adverse visual impact of
development, excessive mining of local cinder, and selective detetioration of
the island's aquifer.
Skyrocketing municipal budgets, due in part to expenditure on infrastructure to
support toutism.
Fortunately, the environmental and social impacts of tourism development
were (and sti are) limited. But there was considerable concern that future
development could lead to major problems. This was vividly portrayed in
supporting studies for the plan which analysed the potential development under
three scenarios: a ceiling on development; controlled growth; and uncontrolied
growth.
Table 8:
Accornmodation development scenario for Lanzarote
Number of Tourist Beds
Scenario 1991 1995 1999
Growth Ceiling 53,300 60,OOC i0,OOO
Co Growth 60,000 80,000 90,000
Un~i~iilluiied Growth 74,600 130,600 191,200
Accordig to this study, the demand for tourism under the uncontrolied
growth scenario would have required enormous increases in the supply of
accommodation on Ianzarote. The consequences of development of the
magnitude forecast in the uncontrolied growth scenario would have included a
sharply expandiig imbalance between the existing population and the dernand
for labour and increasing demands on iimited infrastructure. Moreover, the study
concluded that uncontrolled growth rnight lead to severe deterioration of the
environmental quality and soci~cultural character of Lanzarote, as indicated in
Figure I 6.
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LANZAROTE PLAN
IMPACTS OF UNCONTROLLED GROWTH
KEY IMPACT POINTS
fl Municipal tourdaties Natural protened ateas
Insular Capta1 Main ioad network
Municipal Centres
A Aiipoti
O Olher c6nims
P Hamur
Population ianes whose "iban gmwfh and lilestyle will kadverrel y anectid
@ ~ei i ous Considerable
damage O damage
Areas vith mial rones illegally occupied by ilolated miisinicfions
Environmentally damaged areas due l o exca~l i on d r ar d snd stone
Zonss with high soenkvalus lhraatened by "iban g m h
- Agri c~l l ~ral areas who6 natural landacape will de degrsded or abandoned
Coasial afeas occupied by new loutist developmenls
18 DRJraded areas dus l o the wncentralion 01popul~lion. l ~ s s 01cmps. ?ew i s~l al ed
mn~t wmi on~, inciease in slona and sand excauations and a general disrsgard lor
fj the envimnment
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The Insular Plan was prepared according to these objectives. It was funded
jointly by the regional government of the Canary Islands and the Cabildo (which
also receives most of its funds from the regional government). The plan
ultimately took the form of regulations, land use maps, and other guidelines
contained in ordinances enacted by the Cabildo. The jurisdiction of the plan
extended to the whole of Lanzarote. The land use and tourism structure plans are
presented, respectively, in Figures 17 and 18.
A principal result of the plan is a l i i t at i on on development - the plan
permitted the development of no more than 80,000 tourist beds by the year
2000. The location of development was also controlled as building was
prohibited on almost 90 per cent of the island. In addition, the density of
development permitted was reduced in a variety of ways. As an example, the
plan mandated a height limitation of three stories and called for extended
setbacks from the shoreline for tourist facilities.
The standard of development was addressed in the plan. In gened, the
various regulations require that subsequent development be of a higher quality
than that allowed previously. In addition, new tourism development is required
to adhere to the traditional architectural style of Lanzarote.
Market Isstces
The proponents of the Insular Plan cited severa1 market problems that could be
partially remedied if the growth of tourism was controlled. These included the
existing poorly diversified market, the high proportion of apartments, and the
need for a higher standard of clientele.
Approximately 56 per cent of foreign tourists to Lanzarote were from the
UK and Germany in 1990. This unhealthy dependence on only two markets
alarmed Lanzaroteans who feared that problems in one or both of those countries
could greatly upset tourism on the island. One desired result of controlied
growth could be a more diversified and therefore less vulnerable market mix. The
high proportion of tourist apartments on Lanzarote was also causing concern.
Apartments require much more land than hotels, and tourists who stay in
apartments generaliy spend less on a daily basis. One way to increase economic
benefits and reduce unit infrastructure costs might be to encourage a higher
proportion of hotels rather than apartment units.
As already indicated, most of the tourists coming to Lanzarote amve on
charter flights and/or package tours. This type of market is fairly low yield, since
rooms and tourist services are offered at fairly heavily discounted rates. If demand
continues to grow and the suppfy of accommo&tion is limited, the natural result
would be upward pressure on the prices of tourist facilities and services. Thus,
the economic benefits to Lanzarote could continue to increase without large
investment in new infrastructure and new accornmodation. However, any big
increase in rates for price sensitive package tourists may have a negative irnpact
on demand.
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Figure 17
z
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117
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Figure 18
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Chapter S
GENERAL CONCLUSIONS
A number of general conclusions can be drawn from the case study evaluations
and analyses. Al1 the case studies demonstrate, albeit with varying degrees of
success, that integrated resorts and resort areas can be very successfiil in
generating the desired economic benefits of tourism, while minimising the
environmental, sociocultural and economic problems of development. But this
depends on proper planning, implementation and management.
It should also be emphasised that these case studies were for resort areas in
countries that did not have previous experience in developing integrated resorts.
Therefore, the successful implementation of these resorts posed new challenges
in organisation and fmancing that some other more mature tourism destinations,
such as Hawaii and the French Riviera, have already faced.
General conclusions can be grouped under the headings of planning,
implementation and management, and financia1 considerations. It must be
recognised that while there are certain basic conclusions applicable to all new
resort development, the situation in each tourism area is different. Some
approaches that are effective in one country or region may be - but are not
necessarily - transferable to other areas. Approaches must, in any event, be
adapted to the prevailing conditions of the resort area and its country and region.
Easy access
One of the m6st basic of al1 planning considerations is that adequate access must
be provided to new resorts - their country and region - from the major tourist
market sources, whether international or domestic. This access can be by air,
road and even water or mil, depending on the location of the targeted market
sources. In many cases, this may require a change of transportation, such as from
an international airport to a regional airport and then by road to the resort. But
transfers should be kept to a minimum and effected as conveniently as possible
to attract tourists.
With2n the regZonul and nat i onal contexi
The resort should be planned within the regional and national context of the
country's overall tourism development policy and physical stmcture, including
location of other resort areas and relationships to major tourist attractions and
activities. The best appmach is to start by preparing a comprehensive national
and regional tourism plan which identifies the resort being developed. At the
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local level, the resort should be planned with consideration given to its
relationship to local communities, potential tourist attractions and infrastructure.
Si t e sel ect i om
The site of the resort should be determined according to a number of criteria,
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including: suitability for the type and size of resort planned and distance from
potential tourist attractions; availability of land not required for more important
uses or of high conservation value; easy accessibility; availability of, or feasibility
of developing, an adequate infrastructure; and availability of the required amount
of land, or feasibility of acquiring the land, without unduly disrupting existing
settlement patterns. Undeveloped sites are clearfy preferable.
Tramsport at i om network
The resort site and area should be carefuliy planned with respect to land use and
circulation patterns. Whatever the type of resort, an efficient interna1
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transportation system, incorporating public transport and footpaths, is especially
im~ortant. Planning should be related to environmental analysis, market and
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economic analyses, and sociocultural considerations where relevant, as well as
sound planning principies. Public access should be incorporated into the resort
plan. In areas with existing settlements, there should be local community
participation in the planning process. Resort planning is a specialised field and
experienced professionals should be employed to carry out the planning and
related market and economic feasibility analyses.
At both the national, regional and resort development levels, careful and realistic
market and financia1 feasibility analyses should be conducted to ensure that the
proposed resort will be economically viable, and to help determine the size and
type of resort to be planned.
The resort plan, in both outline and final form, should be evaluated for its
economic, environmental and sociocultural impact to ensure that benefits are
balanced and optimised while negative impactiare minimised. Impact evaluation
should consider both the immediate resort site and its regional context. If
negative impacts are unacceptable, the plan concept or contiguration will need
to be revised.
In maturing tourist destinations, it is ofien necessary to plan for controlled
development, with a limit on the growth of tourism - and efforts to attract
higher yield markets - so that economic benefits can be maintained without
environmental and socio-cultural problems arising.
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The resort planning should aUow for flexibiity of development, especially during
the later stages of implementation, to aUow for changing market trends and other
influencing factors. But the basic concept of the resort and the integrity of its
plan should stdi be maintained.
For larger resorts that are expected to be developed over a long period of
time, the plan should be configured so that it can be developed in stages, with
the earlier stages sufficienty selfcontained for them to be efficiently managed
and convenient for tourists to use before the later stages are developed.
An adequate water supply, electric power, sewage and solid waste disposai and
telecommunications, all designed to internationai standards, should be planned
along with the land use planning. Where needed, the resort infrastructure should
also be developed to serve local communities and thereby upgrade them.
Devetopmetct and desigvt stundkrds
Development and design standards and guidelies, such as for densities, building
heights and setbacks, percentage of open space and landscaping, parking,
signage, general architectutal styles and other elements, should be established as
part of the planning and reflect the basic concept of the resort.
Leisure facittties
In response to current market trends and the increasing demand for all types of
activities, a variety of recreation, cultural and leisure facilities and sight-
seeing/activity-related attractions should be incorporated into the resort plan and
into the tourism planning of the region in which the resort is located. In resort
areas that are already developed, it may be necessary to expand and diversify
such facilities and opportunities for tourist activities in order to maintain the
resorts' viability.
ErnpZoyee housing
Resort planning should consider relationships to any nearby communities and the
provision of housing and community services for employees. In some places,
new communities may need to be planned for resort employees and their families
and, in other places, planning will be required for existing communities to absorb
these employees.
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