Demonstration projects are carried out in priority action areas and are intended to provide feedback on the effectiveness of implementing the Regional Environmental Sustainable Tourism Plan (RESTP).

Feedback is obtained to assist in the synthesis, evaluation and refinement of the draft RESTP, notably by monitoring and assessment of the completed demonstration projects through visitor surveys and consultation with key actors and beneficiaries. The monitoring and evaluation process is intended to assess whether the following have been successfully achieved:

• Adopting acceptable standards of environmental quality at sites, avoiding threats to the environment from tourism and tourism-related impacts

• Providing suitable support for tourists in the action area through such actions as access provision, signage, guides and interpretation facilities

• Promoting and marketing the sustainable tourism attractions

• Ensuring that the local community is suitably stimulated by the proposals of both the demonstration project and the wider RESTP initiative

• Creating new employment opportunities through the new tourism projects and extending the length of stay of tourists

• Using adequate development control standards both outside and within the action area to safeguard its appearance

• Making sure that the projects are effectively integrated with other elements of the RESTP, including the tourist circuits of existing and future attractions to attract new visitors

• Ensuring that investments contribute directly to the RESTP objectives.

From the results of the tourist/visitor surveys at the demonstration projects, an inventory of common complaints and positive comments on the planning of the action area is prepared. Impacts on marketing and promotion, employment opportunities, the success of specialist tourism interests (ecotourism, cultural tourism etc) and needs for further services can also be assessed. Appropriate analyses of the surveys and other data collected can also be used to highlight strengths and weaknesses.

The findings from the above allows refinements to be made to the plan making process which can be used to benefit the planning of the other action areas to be developed under the RESTP, as well as the success of the RESTP strategy itself.