6000 Wind power stations threats nature tourism?

Let me start by stating I´m pro-windpower. However, I´m afraid the intensity of wind power development in Sweden will affect the nature tourism industry seriously. I´d really appreciate your comments on this.

Last year The Swedish Energy Agency decided upon a new goal for Swedish wind power, by 2020 it should be 30 TWH/year. This means within 10 years the production of wind power energy will be 20 times bigger than today. They estimate up to 6000 wind power stations has to be built until 2020, which is about setting up a new one every second working day until 2016.

To my surprise, Swedish travel & tourism authorities doesn´t seem to have been involved in the planning process. Neither Nutek (The Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth), VisitSweden or The Swedish Ecotourism Society have been consultive body in the preceding studies and investigations, thus leaving the effects on nature tourism unnoticed.

Naturvårdsverket (The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency) managed to protect the nature reserves and some other sensible areas, but left the tourism aspects to the County Administrative boards – who delegated it to the local municipalities´ decision.

I´m afraid that if the wind power development continues so rapidly without considering the effects on nature tourism many of our yet non-developed wilderness regions will be more or less disqualified for future tour production. Protecting the nature reserves are not enough.

From my point of view, tourism is not a local decision. It´s a question of what our guests wants to see and experience. Caring for the local voters´ best or the municipality-owned wind power companys´ success isn´t always the same as creating good preconditions for sustainable development of internationally salable travel- & tourism products. A local tourism entrepreneur, providing only a part of a tour, is not in a position to negotiate with landowners, the local polititians or wind power companies where a power station park should or not should be located.

Therefore, I´d like to see VisitSweden or The Ecotourism Society to step in and apply a tour operators´ perspective wherever a windfarm is planned.

Now, would you still consider fishing, trekking, hunting, canoeing etc. in a wilderness with a windfarm nearby, or would you choose another destination? It would be interesting to get your opinions on this , so please feel free to write a comment.

Tourism jokes

These questions about Australia were posted on an Australian Tourism Website… Enjoy!

1. Q: Is it safe to run around in the bushes in Australia? (Sweden)
A: So its true what they say about Swedes.

2. Q: I want to walk from Perth to Sydney- can I follow the railroad tracks? (Sweden)
A: Sure, it’s only three thousand miles, take lots of water. . .

3. Q: Will I be able to see kangaroos in the street?(USA)
A: Depends how much you’ve been drinking.

4. Q: Does it ever get windy in Australia? I have never seen it rain on TV, so how do the plants grow?(UK)
A: We import all plants fully grown and then just sit around watching them die.

5. Q: It is imperative that I find the names and addresses of places to contact for a stuffed porpoise.(Italy)
A: Let’s not touch this one.

6. Q: Are there any ATMs (cash machines) in Australia? Can you send me a list of them in Brisbane, Cairns, Townsville and HerveyBay? (UK)
A: What did your last slave die of?

7. Q: Can you give me some information about hippo racing in Australia? (USA)
A: A-fri-ca is the big triangle shaped continent south of Europe. Aus-tra-lia is that big island in the middle of the pacific which does not …oh forget it. Sure, the hippo racing is every Tuesday night in Kings Cross. Come naked.

8. Q: Which direction is North in Australia? (USA)
A: Face south and then turn 90 degrees. Contact us when you get here and we’ll send the rest of the directions.

9. Q: Can I bring cutlery into Australia? (UK)
A: Why? Just use your fingers like we do.

10. Q: Can you send me the Vienna Boys’ Choir schedule? (USA)
A: Aus-tri-a is that quaint little country bordering Ger-man-y, which is. …. oh forget it. Sure, the Vienna Boys Choir plays every Tuesday night in Kings Cross, straight after the hippo races. Come naked.

11. Q: Do you have perfume in Australia? (France)
A: No, WE don’t stink.

12. Q: I have developed a new product that is the fountain of youth. Can you tell me where I can sell it in Australia? (USA)
A: Anywhere significant numbers of Americans gather.

13. Q: Can I wear high heels in Australia? (UK)
A: You are a British politician, right?

14. Q: Can you tell me the regions in Tasmania where the female population is smaller than the male population? (Italy)
A: Yes, gay nightclubs.

15. Q: Do you celebrate Christmas in Australia?(France)
A: Only at Christmas.

16. Q: Are there supermarkets in Sydney and is milk available all year round? (Germany)
A: No, we are a peaceful civilization of vegan hunter gatherers. Milk is illegal.

17. Q: Please send a list of all doctors in Australia who can dispense rattlesnake serum. (USA)
A: Rattlesnakes live in A-meri-ca which is where YOU come from. All Australian snakes are perfectly harmless, can be safely handled and make good pets.

18. Q: I have a question about a famous animal in Australia, but I forget its name. It’s a kind of bear and lives in trees. (USA)
A: It’s called a Drop Bear. They are so called because they drop out of gum trees and eat the brains of anyone walking underneath them. You can scare them off by spraying yourself with human urine before you go out walking.

19. Q: I was in Australia in 1969 on R+R, and I want to contact the girl I dated while I was staying in Kings Cross. Can you help? (USA)
A: Yes, and you will still have to pay her by the hour.

20. Q: Will I be able to speak English most places I go? (USA)
A: Yes, but you’ll have to learn it first.