Recreation and Tourism Programme

Goal

To provide recreational opportunities for local and international visitors, using ecotourism principles to generate income and support for the BJCMNP.

Strategic Approach:

A national park is designated as such partly to provide recreational opportunities to present and future generations, and, therefore, the areas zoned for recreational use must be managed in a manner that is not damaging to the park’s resources.

In addition, recreational use by resident and non-resident visitors will be geared towards garnering support for park management by:

1. Income generation - directly through entry and user fees, concessions, merchandise etc.,
2. Donations in cash or kind
3. Provision of educational opportunities
4. Employment and income generating opportunities for local community members, thus encouraging their support for park management and conservation.

Key Activities

1. Implement the Blue Mountains Sustainable Tourism Programme designed to market the National Park’s recreation areas along with local attractions and accommodations through tours and packages, using a system that will generate support for the National Park’s conservation and sustainable development of its Communitiy Buffer Zone.
2. Improve business planning, development and management, inclusive marketing of the Park’s recreational areas and related Buffer Zone opportunities.
3. Provide quality interpretive opportunities and materials e.g. signs and exhibits for recreational areas.
4. Increase visitor spend by providing opportunities for purchase of products and services.

Monitoring: Income/Expenditure statements, visitor statistics and questionnaires, community research.

Cost

Budget: 2017/18
Recurrent: J$12.7 million (US$98,007)
Capital: JA$36 million (US$278,577)

10 Year Budget: (2017 - 2027)
Recurrent: JA$184 million (US$1.3 million)
Capital: J$168 million (US$1.3 million)

Some aspects of Cultural Heritage Conservation covered here.