the Uses of Geographic Information Systems

ISLANDS of the WORLD VIII International Conference “Changing Islands – Changing Worlds” 1-7 November 2004, Kinmen Island (Quemoy), Taiwan

Integration or Disintegration: the Uses of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Island Policy Rachel J.C. Chen1, Dimitri Ioannides2, Peter Billing3 1

Assistant Professor, Department of Consumer Services Management University of Tennessee Knoxville, Tennessee, USA Email: [email protected] 2 Senior Researcher, Centre for Regional and Tourism Research Stenbrudsvej 55, 3730 Nexo, Bornholm, Denmark Email: [email protected] 3 Director, Centre for Regional and Tourism Research Stenbrudsvej 55, 3730 Nexo, Bornholm, Denmark Email: [email protected]

ABSTRACT During the last decade of the 20th century, the European Union has been marked by major political changes. The enlargement of the Union, not only to the East, but also to the South, is a matter which has significant consequences for all the member states. The increasing mass of European legislation and the problems linked to its application, bring the question of governance to the forefront. Most recently, the E.U. has implemented certain legal framework in the Islands through its Regional policy. Individually or collectively, legal developments have differentiated the islands and the outermost regions during the course of their integration in the Community. Legislation in fields such as competition, taxation, fisheries or farming has had effects on Islands (Eurisles, 2002). This study includes several Islands of the European Union, among else Corse (France), the Baleares (Spain), Bornholm (Denmark), Crete (Greece), Gotland (Sweden), Gozo (Malta), Ionia Nissia (Greece), Sardegna (Italy), Sicily (Italy), Western Isles (Great Britain), Aland (Finland), with the aim to illustrate the changes of Island policies and how the policies affect the islands in a spatial sense. Specifically, this study uses the ESRI’s ArcGIS system, various Island policies, traffic flows, island characteristics, resources allocations, and spatial spread functions to demonstrate the value of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to decision makers and planners in the Island Region of Europe. Results suggest that the network and spatial analyses of the Geographic Information Systems provide comprehensive access to the database, query features, and create themes, layouts, and reports.

Keywords: Geographic Information Systems, Island Policy

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Introduction Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have been adopted as a useful tool by a wide range of disciplines such as environmental planning, property management, infrastructure siting, emergency planning, automobile navigation systems, urban studies, market analysis, and business demographics (Chen, 2002). However, even though tourism development is a distinctly geographical activity with serious implications for destination areas, few researchers have applied GIS to tourism planning and management practices. The followings are a number of opportunities for GIS applications in tourism planning (Farsari and Prastacos, 2004): 1. Tourism Resource Inventories: This involves developing an inventory of resources in order to identify conflicting but also complementary land uses and activities, available infrastructure, and natural resources. For example, Boyd and Butler (1996) used such a technique to identify suitable areas for ecotourism development in Northern Ontario, Canada. 2. Site Selections: Appropriate site selection is critical for the future of a business or an attraction. Businesses must locate within an area that benefits not only the needs of the business, but also the consumer needs for convenience and ease. GIS is essentially a spatial database that features geographic and attribute data (Chen, 2002). It is a method used to identify suitable locations for tourism development. 3. Spatial Demonstrations of Tourism Impacts: GIS can be used to demonstrate tourism impacts on various industrial sectors in a time-series and spatial format. 4. Visitor Flow Management: This involves the use of GIS to identify principal tourist activity spaces within a destination and the flows among destinations. Authorities may implement strategic plans for superior infrastructure (e.g., building public transportation systems linking various tourist activity spaces). 5. Relationships Associated With Resource Use: This involves the use of GIS in connection with the issue of environmental justice (namely the fact that tourism may not benefit all segments of society equally). 6. Assessing Potential Impacts of Tourism Development: Within this category, analysts can use all or several of the previous categories by employing the “what-if” tool of GIS. This tool allows the development of scenarios for predicting what the effect of a change in a certain variable(s) will be in the destination. The categories listed above are not mutually exclusive and it is more than likely that any application of GIS in a tourism scenario will involve a contribution of more than one of these. Unfortunately, as Farsari and Prastacos (2004) maintained, most applications of GIS in tourism relate to identifying suitable areas for developing tourism activities in the future (land suitability analysis) while the use of GIS in already developed (mature) tourist destinations has been avoided. They go on to suggest that there are a number of ways in which GIS can benefit the study of tourism (and implementation of sustainable practices) in destination areas.

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Background of Selected Islands During the last decade of the 20th century, the European Union has witnessed major political changes. The enlargement of the Union, not only to the East, but also to the South, is a matter which has significant consequences for all the member states. The increasing mass of European legislation and the problems linked to its application, bring the question of governance to the forefront. Most recently, the E.U. has implemented certain legal framework in the Islands through its Regional policy. Individually or collectively, legal developments have differentiated the islands and the outermost regions during the course of their integration in the Community. Legislation in fields such as competition, taxation, fisheries or farming has had effects on Islands (Eurisles, 2002).

Purpose of Study This study aims to include several Islands of the European Union, among else the Balearics (Spain), Bornholm (Denmark), Crete (Greece), Corsica (France), Gotland (Sweden), Gozo (Malta), Ionian (Greece), Sardinia (Italy), Sicily (Italy), Western Isles (Great Britain), and Aland (Finland) with the purpose of illustrating the changes of island policies and how the policies affect the islands in a spatial sense. Specifically, based on the availability of data sets, this study aims at using the ESRI’s ArcGIS system to integrate with various island policies, traffic flows, island characteristics, resources allocations, and/or spatial spread functions to demonstrate the value of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to decision makers and planners in the Island Region of Europe.

Variables Suggested to be Used At this stage, we are in the process of collecting data relating to various variables on those selected islands (Table 1). Some of these variables are easily available (at least for some of the islands) through secondary data sources, while others would entail more detailed investigations (e.g., mail out surveys) (Table 2). The main variables suggested to be used in this study are related to ‘political-economic’ issues. The political-economic parameters refer to tourism’s impacts on local economic structure, activities, etc including competition with other sectors. Of particular note here are institutional, policy and decision-making factors because these may “involve local capacities to manage the presence of tourism”. Coccosis and Mexa (2004) suggested that carrying capacity values relating to a political-economic component could be expressed as: “level of specialization of tourism; loss of human labor in other sectors due to attraction of tourism; income distribution issues at local level from tourism; and level of tourism employment in relation to local human resources.” (Coccosis and Mexa 2004: 61)

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Table 1 Political-Economic Indicators Demography Tourist flows Employment

Social behavior Health and safety Psychological issues

Table 2 Indicative Lists for Sustainable Tourism Political-Economic Indicators 1. Tourism Earnings and Investments 3. Tourism Policies 1.1 Ratio of net foreign exchange earnings 3.1 Existence of specific tourism regional relating to the tourist investments or to the development plan functioning of tourist activity 1.2 Inflow earnings from the expenditure 3.2 Participation of destination in prior to departure eco-labeling program (e.g., the EU program “Blue Flag” for beaches) 1.3 Tourism receipts in absolute terms 3.3 Reference to tourism in broader national and/or regional development plans 1.4 Per capita tourist expenditure during stay 3.4 Existence of specific national and/or regional tourism policy 3.5 Existence of national tourism development plan making reference to specific island 2. Employment 4. Public Expenditure and Revenue 2.1 Average annual employment (directly or 4.1 Tourist tax (eco-tax) revenue/total tax indirectly) in tourist sector/ Total revenue employment 2.2 Number of seasonal workers 4.2 Tourist tax (eco-tax) revenue/public expenditure on tourism development

Results Due to time and data constraints, we are still compiling and collecting selected variables at this stage. Maps 1 – 4 are examples of how GIS could be used as a tool to display the allocations of resources and differences of statistics in a spatial format. Maps 1 – 2 display the location of Bornholm (Denmark). Maps 3 – 4 demonstrate various statistical attributes among political boundaries. GIS analyses are investigated continually in this project to examine that if the network and spatial analyses of the Geographic Information Systems can provide comprehensive access to the database, query features, and create themes, layouts, and reports.

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Map 1.

Country Boundary of Denmark

(Sources: IT of Bornholm Regional Council)

Hammer Odde Hammeren 82

Sandvig

Madsebakke Allinge V嶟 e Ovn L黲 ehovederne 91 Hammershus SlotslyngenMosel鷦 ken Sandk廛

Tejn

159

Vang

Stammershalle

124

Olsker 83

K廛

158

Sankt Ols Kirke Humledal

Bym鷲le

Jons Kapel

Egesh鷮 127 Ruts Kirke

Teglk廛

B嶟 sted Helligdomsklipperne

R

R鷷 ro

125

Lensg緳d

Vysteby Krummeled

Spydelund

Splitsg緳d Huse

Himmerigsport

119

119

Krashave

Brog緳dsstenenRisby 127

Hasle

BORNHOLM

Gudhjem

Melsted

Rutsker

Helligpeder

Salene Bugt

Stenby M鷲le

103

Saltuna

R? Plantage Middelaldercenter Gamlev熞 de Kr熥 ket 喒 ter Lars Kirke

Kongensmark

Tofte

Assereg緳ds Huse

M熲 y

158

Kelseby Risen

Klemensker 21

喒 terlars

Glappe

Gildesbo

Randkl黲 e Sk緳 Hvidhat Randkl黲 e Ypnasted B鷲shavn Listed

Staggehuse

Svaneke Stubm鷲le

Skrulle 126

Muleby

113

Sorthat

Studeby 巒sballe

Skarpeskade

Nyker

39

Bjergebakke 102

44

Ek ko da len

Rytterkn熚 ten 162

巒sdale M鷲le

Rab熥 kev熳 ket K熳 by Myreby Grisby R鷢 ne Plantage27

113

102

儼 er Plantage

Aakirkeby

Sm鷨enge

Povlsker Plantage

Paradisbakkerne Rokkestenen

Lobb熥

38

Nex

91

Myreagre M鷲le

Nylars

Kalby 21

Lundesten Sose

Str鷷 y

38

Gadeby

Nyby

K熞 lingeby

Hundshale 39

Arnager

V熳 melandshuse

158

Malkv熳 n

Klinteby Gamleborg Pedersker Plantage 110 Bodilsker Plantage Slamrehuse Gryet Sankt Bodils Kirke

Bornholm

巒sdale

Dalslunde

127

121

95

Grisby Sankt Ibs Kirke

Vestermarie

Blemmelyng

71

ALMINDINGEN Gamleborg

Kanondalen

Br熡 deg緳dshaven Lyrsby

Lilleborg

73

Knudsker

Svaneke

74

Gadeby

144

Tingsted

M鷲levangen Ringeby N熲 be Bugt

R頄 NE

Runesten Elleby

Travbane G鷢 geherred

Blykobbe Plantage

Louisenlund

儻鷭 e

159

Svanem鷲le

喒 termarie

118

Gr鷣 by

Bodilsker Langedeby

34

Sm嶚yngen

Stenseby Kannikeg熳 det Holsmyrediget

Balka Salthammer Odde Snogeb熥

e喢

Pedersker

Boderne

Rispebjerg

Sankt Povls Kirke 47 Tj鷨neby Dyndeby 讚 gebjerg 18 喒 ter 26 S鷰 arken

Vester S鷰 arken Sluseg緳dens M鷲le

Broens Odde

Strandmarken Dueodde

Map 2. Spatial Information of Bornholm, Denmark (Sources: IT of Bornholm Regional Council)

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Relativ befolkningsudvikling 1993-2003 15% 10% 5% 0% -5% -5%

og derover (1) til 15% (7) til 10% (48) til 5% (51) til 0% (18) og derunder (6)

Map 3. Relative Development of Population 1993-2003 (Source: Ørestat, Map: Öresundskomiteen July 2004)

Relativ besk熠 tigelsesudvikling 1993-2002 20% og derover (3) 15% til 20% (4) 10% til 15% (19) 0% til 10% (76) -5% til 0% (24) -5% og derunder (5)

Map 4. Relative Development in Total Number of Employment 1993-2002 Source: Danmarks statistik och Statistiska centralbyrån (via Region Skåne) Map: Öresundskomiteen July 2004

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Conclusions Geographic Information Systems (GIS) can be used to identify various classes of islands throughout Europe. By using GIS as a tool for identifying types of regions (islands), recommendations could be made for a range of policies (not one size fits all) that would apply to islands according to their level of development. For instance, policy recommendations for mature tourist destinations in highly urbanized areas would not be the same for remote cold-water islands and so on.

References Coccossis, Harry and Mexa, Alexandra (2004). “Tourism carrying capacity: Methodological considerations.” In Harry Coccossis and Alexandra Mexa (eds.) The Challenge of Tourism carrying Capacity Assessment: Theory and Practice. London: Ashgate: 55-90. Chen, Rachel J.C. (2002). “Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Applications in Tourism Business, Network, and Spatial Analysis: Applied Research and Teaching Curriculum”, International Society of Travel and Tourism Educators (ISTTE), Vol 14, 171-184. Farsari, Yianna and Prastacos Poulicos (2004): “GIS applications in the planning and management of tourism.” In Alan A. Lew, C. Michael Hall, and Allan M. Williams (eds.) A Companion to Tourism: Blackwell Companions to Geography. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing: 596-607. Parpairis, Apostolos (2004): “Tourism carrying capacity assessment in islands.” In Harry Coccossis and Alexandra Mexa (eds.) The Challenge of Tourism carrying Capacity Assessment: Theory and Practice. London: Ashgate: 201-213.

Author Note Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Dr. Rachel J. C. Chen, Assistant Professor of Department of Consumer Services Management, the University of Tennessee, 247 Jessie Harris Bldg., Knoxville, TN 37996-1911; Phone: 1-865-974-0505; Fax: 1-865-974-5236; Email: [email protected].

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