Tourism in the

international
Wadden Sea area
Every year:

8-10 milj
tourists

€ 2200 milj
turnover
 Content
• Some characteristics of the Wadden
Sea area
• History of tourism development
• Nature protection vs tourism
• Differences between NL, D and DK
• Trends in tourism development
• Some examples
• Conclusions
Noordpolderzijl – Groningen
Hoogbeintum - Friesland
 The international Wadden
Sea
• Largest ‘unspoiled nature area’ in
northwestern Europe (8000 km2)
• Natural processes are dominant
• Special importance for migrating
birds
• Nursery area for seals and
commercial fish-species
• Popular holiday-destination
Is the International Wadden
Sea protected?

• Wetland of special importance

(Ramsar 1972)
• Special area of conservation (EU -
Bird and Habitat directive)
• National Parks
• National laws for the protection of
nature
• To be designated as a world heritage
 History of tourism
• 18th century ‘Terra incognita’
• End of 19th century: bathing
• 20th century: start mass-tourism
• Focussed on the islands (sun, sea,
freedom, fun)
• The natural values of the Wadden
Sea played a minor role
Advertisement 1919 in Leeuwarder Courant

Translation:
Choose for your whitsun holidaytrip Schiermonnikoog
and stay in Hotel van der Werff. The beauty of the
island and its bird-colony are unequalled.
 Recognition of the natural
values of the Wadden Sea
by tourists
• Development of ‘wad-walking’
• The foundation of the Wadden
Society and political debates on the
protection of nature
• Seals
• Campaigns of the Wadden Society
• Marketing by tourist organisations

Tension between
 Conflicts on
• Disturbance by tourists of nature in
broader sense (birds and seals, but
also the quietness and pristine
landscape)
• Building of new hotels, affecting the
landscape
• Rapid growth of pleasure boats
• Introduction of new activities (4-
wheel drives, jet-ski’s and
speedboats, golf, kite-surfing)
 Sustainable (?) sollutions
• Limits to the growth of the amount of
beds on the isles
• Zonation of recreational/touristic
activities
• Temporarely closure of vulnarable
areas

and most important…

Guidance and education of tourists
 Wadlopen
(Wadwanderungen, wad-
walking)
Crossing the Wadden Sea during low-
tide

• Introduced in the 1960’s

• Became very popular and seen as a
touristic product
• Too many people caused incidents
• Agreement on safety regulations and
maximum number (30.000/year)
Participants wadwalking tours
Number of pleasure boats
entering the Wadden Sea
 Pleasure boating
• Rapid growth of yachting
• Traditonal sailing ships ‘falling dry’
during low-tide
• Agreement between stakeholders on
capacity of marina’s
• Code of conduct
 Recent developments
• Excursions and field-trips (nature is
the unique selling point of the
Wadden Sea area)
• Boat trips to see seals
• Excursions on traditional fishing
boats
• Regional products (organic farming)
• More and more the young tourist is
ignored
 Which leisure activities on the Wadden Sea isles
Source: Stichting Waddenfederatie

imagewaarde vakantiesoorten/-activiteiten

Genieten van natuur

Bezoek pretpark/dierenpark e.d. 100 Relaxvakantie/om tot rust te komen
Shoppen Verblijf vakantiehuisje
80
Bezoek nachtclub-disco Kamperen
60

Culturele activiteiten 40 Wandelvakantie

20
Bezoek beautyfarm/w elness/spa Strandvakantie
0

Uitgaan-op stap gaan Duurzame-milieuvriendelijke vakantie

Excursies-uitstapjes Fietsvakantie

Verw envakantie Watersportvakantie

Verblijf luxe hotel Actieve-sportieve vakantie

Terrasje pikken-mensen kijken Lekker uit eten gaan
Visitor profiles
Source: Stichting Waddenfederatie

imagewaarde soorten mensen

Natuurliefhebbers
100
Kw aliteitszoekers Rustzoekers
80

60
Tieners 40 Senioren

20

0
Jonge stelletjes Gezinnen met jonge kinderen

Levensgenieters Geitenw ollen sokken types

Sportievelingen Mensen met druk dagelijks leven

 The average tourist in the
Wadden Sea area
• Loves to bike and hike
• Wants to experience (some) nature,
and stay in a comfortable hotel
• Stays more and more during the off-
season
• Loves the natural landscape and
intimate culture of the islands (the
absence of the industrialised society)
• Appreciates the sustainable
development of tourism
 WTM global Report 2008
Consumer trends: the desire for social and
environmental responsibility, social
interaction, authentic travel experiences
and fair trade practices.

Consumers are willing to trade up for

sustainability, thus operators should let
“conscientious consumption” now drive
the travel and tourism industry through
these uncertain times
 To be expected…
• Combined holidays on the islands
and the mainland (cultural heritage)
• Excursions and field trips integrated
in the different products
• Sustainable development of
infrastructure
• More international tourists due to the
World Heritage designation