INTRODUCTION TO SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

1.
2.
Understand and appreciate the concept of SUSTAINABILITY, specially in the Tourism Industry.
Define Sustainability.
3. Sustainability.
Be familiar with the different approaches to the study of Tourism
4. Discuss the different factors to consider in the development of Sustainable Tourism

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM – protecting & preserving tourism environments for future use and
without decreasing the tourism experience
Lets review some of the following facts about tourism:
1. The travel and tourism industry is one of the largest industries in the world together with oil,
building and construction
2. Tourism is increasingly important in the economic terms – bringing about economic impacts
for developing and developed countries as well
3. Interaction with the local community has been recognized as a major activity in tourism; thus
bringing about impacts to the socio-cultural sector of the host country
4. Recently, attention has been given to the direct and indirect negative impacts of tourism to
the physical and socio-cultural environments of the host country

5. Tourism and leisure travel entail the spatial movement of people and materials; this
movement has an impact on the environment.
6. The human movements in space which tourism and leisure travel entail have place-
specific consequences in the form of encounters between people which may lead to social
contacts and the transfer of culture or to conflict.
7. The development of tourism has consequences for physical planning, for example, on the use
of land resources and leads to local political decisions regarding exploitation for tourist
activities.
8. Lifestyle factors affect the choice and content of tourism and leisure travel and can be
manifesting a certain lifestyle. If we are to achieve long-term sustainable development, it is
important that we as individuals change our attitudes, behavioral and consumer patterns.

Aronsson reminds us that there is no absolute sustainable development; rather, sustainability

can be seen as a process towards something which is more sustainable than what has been
before. “The sustainable concept is a contextual one; i.e., there is a need for specifications until
it becomes practicable. . . Questions like sustainable – at which level and at which time
perspective; sustainable – for whom; sustainable – with regard to which system and with regard
to which functions.”
“In the final analysis, sustainable development is not a fixed state of equilibrium but rather a
process undergoing continual change in which the use of resources, the type of investment, the
direction of technological development and institutional changes are in harmony with both
today’s needs and those of tomorrow.” (Hagerhall)

1. The simplest definition of sustainable development is the optimal use of resources over
time for the good of the people who have access to the resources. The central argument here is
that over time people will exploit the resources as much as possible without regard to the
consequences for natural and cultural variety.
2. There will be exploitation of resources over time but only on condition that the natural and
cultural variety is preserved. It is essential to preserve the natural and cultural variety to ensure
long-term survival, stability and richness of experience.
3. The consumption of resources must be seen in a global context; consumption must not be so
great as to harm societies in other parts of the world. Rich countries should be consider the
plight of the poorer countries.

From whatever point of view we choose to study sustainable development specifically for
tourism, these considerations must be addressed:
1. Tourism development may take place if it does not change the environment and is
ecologically sound.
2. Sustainable tourism development largely consists of small-scale development and is based on
the local community.
3. Sustainable tourism development takes its point of departure in who benefits from tourism.
The aim is not to exploit the local residents.
4. Sustainable tourism development places the emphasis on cultural sustainability – the
destination is developed in such a way the feel of the place is retained in its architecture and
cultural heritage.

THE JAFARI PLATFORMS

1. Appreciate the importance of discussion platforms in the study of sustainability.

2. Enumerate the different platforms as identified by Jafari.
3. Discuss the different characteristics of each of these platforms

Jafari asserts that a sequential appearance of platforms or perspectives is useful in providing

a framework for understanding the emergence and development of sustainable tourism; each
of these platforms build on its predecessors and all four coexist within the contemporary global
tourism sector.
1. Advocacy Platform
- characterized by strong support for tourism - appeared in post WWII period
- contributed growth of tourism to: emergence of a strong middle class, growing tendencies for
recreational travel, return or peace and stability, introduction of technological advances that
reduced considerably the cost of travel and making more destinations accessible
- lists the benefits of tourism: generates direct revenues; creates employment; promotes cross-
cultural understanding; provides incentive to preserve culture and environment

2. Cautionary Platform
- argues that unregulated tourism development eventually leads to high environmental,
economic and socio-cultural costs for the residents of the destinations
- appeared in the late 1960s and early 1970s
- states that the growth of tourism development in many places (included less developed
regions) led to negative impacts
- used the “dependency theory” (exploitation of the more developed countries of less
developed countries) to further this cause
- believe that direct revenues from tourism are eroded by seasonality; leakage of the economic
benefits are caused by importation of goods; employment is low paying & seasonal; promotes
cross-cultural conflict due to disparities; culture is commodified and environment is degraded
by development and tourist activity

3. Adaptancy Platform
- espouses tourism that is adapted to the unique socio-cultural environmental circumstances of
any given community
- appeared in the late 1970s and early 1980s
- recommended adaptive models to avoid the negative effects identified by the cautionary
platform like: alternative tourism - whose characteristics were in contrast with mass tourism;
ecotourism - which is alternative tourism that emphasizes attractions based on the natural
environment
4. Knowledge-based Platform
- appeared in the late 1980s and 1990s
- requires a holistic, systematic approach that utilizes rigorous scientific methods to compile the
knowledge needed to properly assess and manage the tourism sector
- the decision of what tourism model is best for a destination should be based on a sound
scientific analysis of its characteristics and subsequent implementation of appropriate planning
and management strategies

THE SUSTAINABLE IMPERATIVE IN TOURISM PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT

1. Appreciate the basic principles of sustainability 2. Understand the sustainable tourism

values
3. Discuss “lessons” regarding sustainable tourism

The World Commission on Environment and Development identified the following principles:
1. The idea of holistic planning and stratgy-making.
2. The importance of preserving essential ecological processes.
3. The need to protect both human heritage and biodiversity.
4. The need to develop in a way that productivity can be sustained over the long term for future
generations (intergenerational equity).
5. The goal of achieving a better balance or fairness and opportunity between nations.

In a review of recent research, Lewis and Hall identifie certain “lessons” regarding sustainable
tourism that planners need to understand in order to make sustainability principles work:
1. Sustainable tourism represents a value orientation in which the managment of tourism
impacts takes precedence over market economics - although tension between the two are ever
present.
2. Implementting sustainable tourism development requires measures that are both scale and
context specific.
3. Sustainable tourism issues are shaped by global economic restructuring and are
fundamentally different in developing and developed countries.

4. At the community scale, sustainable tourism required local control of resources.

5. sustainable tourism development requires patience, diligence and a long- term commitment.
These lessons help us achieve these objectives:
a) ensuring the conservation of tourism resource values
b) enhancing the experiences of the visitors who interact with tourism resources
c) maximizing the economic, social and environmental returns to stockholders in the host
community

MINIMALIST AND COMPREHENSIVE VIEWS OF SUSTAINABILITY

CATEGORIES OF PROTECTED AREAS

1. Differentiate Minimalist from Comprehensive models in sustainability

2. Identify and define indicators of sustainable tourism
3. Be familiar with the specific measures of these indicators and apply them in specific
examples/situations

MINIMALIST S.T. MODEL

ØEnvironmental, sociocultural or economic impacts
ØSite specific or local focus ØShort term effects of actions ØTourism sector only
ØDirect impacts only ØIntergenerational equity
ØStatus quo sustainability
COMPREHENSIVE S.T. MODEl
*Environmental, sociocultural and economic impacts
* Regional or global focus
* Long term effects of actions
* Tourism in the context of other
sectors
* Direct, indirect and induced
impacts
* Intergenerational and
intragenerational equity * Enhancement sustainability
Weak or strong sustainability approach depending on context Financial sustainability

INDICATOR
1. Site protection
2. Stress
3. Use intensity
4. Social impact
5. Development
control
6. Waste mgt.
7. Planning process
SPECIFIC MEASURES
Category of site protection according to World Conservation Index
Tourist numbers visiting site (per year/month)
Intensity of use in peak period (persons/hectare)
Ratio of tourists to locals (peak period & over time)
Existence of environmental review procedure or formal controls over development of site
% of sewage from site receiving treatment Existence of organized regional plans

Indicator
8. Critical ecosystems
9. Consumer satisfaction
10. Local satisfaction
11. Tourism contribution to local community
12. Coastal zones
13. Urban developments 14. Cultural sites
15. Ecological sites
Specific Measures
Number of rare/endangered species
Level of satisfaction by visitors
Level of satisfaction by locals
Proportion of total economic activity generated by tourism only
Levels of beach erosion/beach use
Air pollution measurements Restoration costs, disruptive behavior
Changes in flora/fauna mix & concentration

THE INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE (IUCN) protected area

categories:
CATEGORY I – a
I–b
II III
DESIGNATION Strict Nature Reserve
Wilderness Area
National Park
Natural Monument
DESCRIPTION
Area of land and/or sea possessing some outstanding or representative ecosystems
Large area of unmodified or slightly modified land and/or sea, retaining its
character and influence which is protected and managed so as to preserve its natural conditions
Natural area of land and/or sea designated to protect the ecological integrity of one or more
ecosystems for present and future generations
Area containing one or more specific natural or cultural feature which is of
outstanding or unique value because of its inherent rarity

CATEGORY DESIGNATION
IV Habitat/Species Management Area
V Protected Landscape/Seascape
DESCRIPTION
Area of land and/or sea subject to active intervention for management so as to ensure the
maintenance of habitats
VI Managed Resource
Protected Area
Area containing predominantly unmodified natural systems managed
to ensure long term protection and maintenance of biological diversity, while providing a
sustainable flow of natural products and services to meet
community needs
Area of land with coast and sea as appropriate where the interaction of man and nature over
time has produced an area
of distinct character. Safeguarding the integrity of this traditional interaction is vital to the
protection and evolution of such an area.