Abstract for: Preserving Paradise Simulation and Simulator Training

The Preserving Paradise Simulation is a simulation-based role-play on the tension between tourism growth and environmental degradation in Small Island Development States with a freely-available SD model. Tourism fuels economic growth, but the resulting solid waste and other pollutants threaten the SIDS’ natural beauty, quality of life for residents, attractiveness to tourists, and economic success. In this simulation-based roleplay, participants assess the tension between tourism-driven economic growth and environmental degradation from a limits-to-growth perspective, developing a systems-based understanding of the problem using the Maldives as a case study. Participants take on the roles of stakeholders, such as the Maldives government, the tourism industry, local environmental activists, etc., and negotiate about the future development of the Maldives. The role-play helps helps a wide range of people explore and test policy and investment scenarios how to manage both, prosperity and keeping the natural beauty of the island. Participants learn about counterintuitive insights such as policies focusing on better waste management alone are self-defeating, because they increase tourism, growth and waste generation, undermining attractiveness and growth later. Policies that limit tourism demand improve economic and environmental health. Participants will learn to lead the game effectively.