TOURIST ATTRACTIVENESS OF RAMSAR WETLANDS. CASE STUDY: CHAMPAGNE HUMIDE LAKES (FRANCE) AND COMANA NATURAL PARK (ROMANIA)

Florent Luc, Groupe Esc Troyes, France
Toroimac Gabriela, University of Bucharest, Romania

Abstract

Since 1971, the signatory states of Ramsar Convention made a commitment to protect their wetlands, considered as fragile and irreplaceable environments, threatened by the extension of agricultural and built-up areas. However Ramsar wetlands are not managed as sanctuary devoid of human presence. One of the actions approved by Ramsar convention is sustainable tourism. Some of Ramsar sites are frequented by tourists and excursionists. What attracts these visitors towards places which don’t have an international image, such as Mont Saint-Michel in France or Danube Delta in Romania? Is it the wilderness? Is it the preserved character? The proximity of a city? The objective of this study is to analyse the role of the protection (and of the Ramsar label) for tourist attractiveness. This study is conducted on Champagne Humide Lakes (Aube and Marne Department, France) and Comana Natural Park (Giurgiu County, Romania). Champagne Humide Lakes are classified since 1991 and is the most large French Ramsar area (255 000ha), while Comana Natural Park (24 963ha) is classified on Ramsar list since 2011 protecting, among others, the biodiversity of lake Comana (1206 ha). By an identical survey conducted in both countries, we try to explain tourist frequentation and processes at work in these areas. The main questions concern: the age and the place of origin of visitors, the time spent in the protected area (days or hours as appropriate), the main reason of the visit (i.e. birds watching, boat trips, bike course, forest hiking, picnics, Ramsar label). Champagne Humide Lakes attract especially excursionists, but also tourists from Paris region. Comana Natural Park is known as protected area and is especially frequented by excursionists from Bucharest and is a recreation area for week-ends. In both cases, it seems that the Ramsar label is unknown to the public.