Republic of the Philippines

SORSOGON STATE UNIVERSITY

Sorsogon City Campus
Sorsogon City

LEARNING
MODULE
Tourism Product
Development
Module 5: Sustainable Tourism
Development

Submitted to:
Mr. Jakim Timothy F. Golimlim

Discussants:
Almiñe, Dharwin
Deniega, Charles Anthony
Lactao, Jordan
Lopez, Carla Fearl M.
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MODULE 6.
Sustainable Tourism Development

Learning Objectives:

After studying this chapter, you will be able to:

1. Sustainable Tourism
2. Operational guidelines for sustainable tourism
development
3. Tourism management planning
4. Sustainable tourism product development

Introduction

TOURISM is the world's largest industry. This fact has now been recognized all
over the world. Today the relationship between tourism and environment has
been receiving, a growing level of attention all over the world.
Sustainable tourism development guidelines and management practices are
applicable to all forms of tourism in all types of destinations, including mass
tourism and the various niche tourism segments.

SUSTAINABILITY PRINCIPLES refer to the environmental, economic, and

socio-cultural aspects of tourism development, and a suitable balance must be
established between these three dimensions to guarantee its long-term
sustainability.

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SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM is a kind of approach to tourism meant to make the

development of tourism ecologically supportable in the long term. The very
importance of sustainable tourism lies in its motives to conserve the resources
and increase the value of local tradition and culture.

Sustainable tourism is a responsible tourism intending to generate employment

and income along with alleviating any deeper impact on environment and local
culture.

Sustainable tourism is a forms of tourism which meets the needs of tourists, the
tourism industry, and host communities today without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

According to the World Tourism Organization, sustainable tourism is “Tourism

that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and
environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the
environment, and the host communities.”

Thus, Sustainable Tourism should:

▪️Make optimal use of environmental resources that constitute a key element in

tourism development, maintaining essential ecological processes and helping to
conserve natural heritage and biodiversity.

▪️Respect the socio-cultural authenticity of host communities, conserve their

built and living cultual heritage and traditional values, and contribute to inter-
cultural understanding and tolerance.

▪️ Ensure viable, long-term economic operation, providing socio-economic

benefits to all stakeholders that are fairly distributed, including stable
employment and income-earning opportunities and social services to host
communities, and contributing to poverty alleviation.

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Concept of Sustainable Tourism

It is a derivative of general concept of sustainable development which attempts
to make a low impact on the environment and local culture, while helping to
generate income, employment and conservation of local ecosystems. It is both
ecologically and culturally sensitive. The concept of sustainable development
provides an organizing concept for the development of ecotourism initiatives.

It tends to see the pursuit of sustainable tourism development as involving the

balancing of social, ecor mic and environmental goals. Its purpose is to counter
the threats resulting from unmanaged Sustainable sees tourism within
destination areas as a triangular relationship between host areas and their
habitats and peoples, holidaymakers, and the tourism industry.

The tourism industry dominated the triangle and, in this context, sustainable
tourism aims to reconcile the tensions between the three partners in the
triangle, and keep the equilibrium in the long term. Further, it aims to
minimize environmental and cultural damage, optimize visitor satisfaction. and
maximize long-term economic growth for the region. It is a way of obtaining a
balance between the growth potential of tourism and the conservation needs of
the environment.

Tourism is seen as an agent for rural economic regeneration and as a way of

valorizing conservation. But, rural environment is a very fragile one because it
changes or experiences damages easily due to rapid changes of any sort; and
tourism is a powerful agent for change.

This is an important issue because of the role rural areas play in many countries
as repositories of both natural and historical heritage and also important
commercially. Therefore, "rurality' is a unique selling point for holidays in the
countryside. Tourists look for high quality and unspoiled scenery, for peace,
quiet and solitude. Tourism growth in course of time would destroy rurality and
induce the onset of negative impacts on the environment, cultures and
economies. However, the concept of sustainable tourism, if followed, would
serve as a strong agent to counter negauve impacts that result from tourism.
Sustainability of rural tourism includes different aspets such as sustaining the
culture and character of host communities, sustaining landscape and habitats,
sustaining rural economy and sustaining tourism industry.

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Definition of Sustainable Tourism

The World Tourism Organization defines sustainable tourism in the following

manner: "Sustainable tourism development meets the needs of presen' tourists
and host regions while protecting and enhancing opportunities for the future. It
is envisaged as leading to management of all resources in such a way that
economic, social and aesthetic needs can be fulfilled while maintaining cultural
integrity, essential ecological processes, biological diversity, and life support
systems."

While tourism is welcomed almost universally for the benefits and

opportunities it creates, there is a growing recognition of the need to see
tourism in its environmental to acknowledge that tourism and the environment
are interdependent, and to work to reinforce the positive relationship between
tourism, the enviror.ment and poverty reduction.

Sustainable tourism means tourism which is economically viable but does not
destroy the resources on which the future of tourism will depend, notably the
physical environment and the social fabric of the host community.

According to Richards, "Sustainable tourism is tourism which develops as

quickly as possible, taking account of current accommodation capacity, the
local population, and the environment. The development of tourism and new
investment in the tourism sector should not detract from tourism itself. New
tourism facilities should be integrated with the environment."

Butler defines environmentally sustainable tourism as, "tourism which is

developed and maintained in an area (community, environment) in such a
manner and at such a scale that it remains viable over an infinite period and
does not degrade or alter the environment (human and physical) in which it
exists to such a degree that it prohibits the successful development and well-
being of other activities and processes."

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Characteristics of Sustainable Tourism

◾ Sustainable Tourism tries its utmost to maintain the importance of local

culture and tradition.
◾ Sustainable Tourism is informatory, as it doesn't only let tourist know about
the destinations but also it helps locals knowing about the culture and
civilization of tourists.
◾ This kind of tourism is aimed to conserve the resources of destinations where
one is visiting to.
◾ Sustainable Tourism seeks deeper involvement of locals, which provide local
people an opportunity and make their living. Above all, Sustainable Tourism
stresses pointedly upon integrity of the tourist places.

Goals for Sustainable Tourism

The twelve (12) main goals for sustainable tourism laid out in 2005 by the World
Tourism Organization and the United Nations Environment Program are as
follows:

1. ECONOMIC VIABILITY: To ensure the viability and competitiveness of tourism

destinations and enterprises, so that they are able to continue to prosper and
deliver benefits in the long term.

2. LOCAL PROSPERITY: To maximize the contribution of tourism to the economic

prosperity of the host destination, including the proportion of visitor spending that
is retained locally.

3. EMPLOYMENT QUALITY: To strengthen the number and quality of local jobs

created and supported by tourism, including the level of pay, conditions of service
and availability to all without discrimination by gender, race, disability or in other
ways.

4. SOCIAL EQUITY: To seek a widespread and fair distribution of economic and

social benefits from tourism throughout the recipient community, including
improving opportunities, income and services available to the poor.

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5. VISITOR FULFILLMENT: To provide a safe, satisfying, and fulfilling experience

for visitors, available to all without discrimination by gender, race, disability or in
other ways.

6. LOCAL CONTROL: To engage and empower local communities in planning and

decision-making about the management and future development of tourism in
their area, in consultation with other stakeholders.

7. COMMUNITY WELL-BEING: To maintain and strengthen the quality of life in

local communities, including local structures and access to resources, amenities,
and life support systems, avoiding any form of social degradation or exploitation.

8. CULTURAL RICHNESS: To respect and enhance the historic heritage, authentic

culture, tradition and distinctiveness of host communities.

9. PHYSICAL INTEGRITY: To maintain and enhance the quality of landscapes,

both urban and rural, and avoid the physical and visual degradation of the
environment.

10. BIOLOGICAL BIODIVERSITY: To support the conservation of natural areas,

habitats and wildlife, and minimize damage to them.

11. RESOURCE EFFICIENCY: To minimize the use of scarce and non-renewable

resources in the development and operation of tourism facilities and services.

12. ENVIRONMENTAL PURITY: To minimize the pollution of air, water and land
and the generation of waster by tourism enterprises and visitors.

Except the term sustainable tourism there are two other types of
tourism that are also focused on creating a tourism in harmony with
environment and social-cultural aspects:

1. RESPONSIBLE TOURISM
— sustainable tourism is often also referred as responsible tourism, which has been
adopted as a term used by industry who feel that word "sustainability" is overused
and not understood.
— any form of tourism that can be consumed in a more responsible way.
— according to its definition, Responsible Tourism is about making “bteer places
for people to live in and better places for people to visit”: in that order.

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RESPONSIBLE TOURISM puts more emphasis on the responsibility of tourism

industry through generating greater economic benefits for local people and
enhancing the well-being of host communities, improving working conditions,
involving local people in decisions that affect their lives and life chances, making
positive contributions to the conversation of natural and cultural heritage,
providing access for physically challenged people and encouraging respect between
tourists and hosts. It also strives to minimize negative social, economic and
environmental impacts.

2. ECOTOURISM
— according to th International Ecotourism Society (TIES), ecotourism is defined
as: “Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains
the well-being of the local people, and involves interpretation and education.”

Relationship between Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism

ECOTOURISM basically deals with nature based tourism, and is aimed "to
conserve the environment and improves the well-being of local people". On the
other hand, SUSTAINABLE TOURISM includes all segments of tourism, and has
same function to perform as of ecotourism -to conserve the resources and increase
the local cultural and traditional value. Though the goals of ecotourism and
sustainable tourism is much similar, but the latter is broader and conceals within
itself very many aspects and categories of tourism.

Ecotourism and sustainable tourism are closely related concepts and ecotourism
can be seen as a subset of sustainable tourism. Here's the relationship between the
two:
1. Common Sustainability Goals
2. Environmental focus
3. Community and Cultural Consideration
4. Specificity of Ecotourism

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Sustainable Tourism Development

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT refers to the responsible planning and

management of tourism activities in a way that maximizes the benefits of local
communities, preserves environment and ensure the long-term viability of the
tourism industry.

The World Commission on Environment and Development (The Brundtland

Commission) brought the term 'sustainable tourism development' into common
use in its serainal report (1987) called ‘Our Common Future.’

"Sustainable Development is the development that meets the needs of the

present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own
needs."

The definition has within two concepts:

◾The of 'needs, especially the needs of the poor.

◾ Ability to meet the present and future needs.
Basically, when we talk about sustainable development, the easiest definition is
what we, the present generation, have inherited a certain amount of ecology and
environment surrounding in terms of land, water, and air; when we leave it to the
next generation, we should leave it at least in the same condition, of not in a better
condition than what we inherited. This is the sum and substance if sustainable
development, putting it in elementary terms."

Key principles of Sustainable Tourism Development's include:

1. Environmental Conservation
2. Social and Cultural Preservation
3. Economic benefits
4. Community engagement
5. Tourist education
6. Infrastructure development
7. Regulation and monitoring

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Need for Sustainable Tourism Development

The need for sustainable tourism development was driven by the desire to protect
the environment, preserve cultures, benefit local communities and ensure the long-
term success and resilience of the tourism industry.

Until the beginning of last decade tourism was seen as a sector of business with no
obvious constraints to growth, few barriers to entry to the market, an almost
universal welcome from governments and, for the most part, entailing few effective
regulato y requirements to take the environment into account.

Commercial organizations, large and small, act on the Dawkin's principle of self-
interest. They do not make significant changes to the way they do business, which
could be because of exhortations or out of good intentions, except in response to
the pressure of external factors that cannot be avoided or o seize a competitive
advantage.

International tourism has brought in a phase in which the opportunities of making

quick profits from exploiting what was regarded as freely available natural
resources dazzled the eyes of government and businessmen, as well as many local
residents.

As there are many economic, social, ecological and political limits to tourism
development, sustainable strategies are necessary to eradicate these problems.

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Why It Is Important?

On one hand, tourism wields tremendous economic positive outcomes: it is one of

the world's most significant sources of economic outcomes and employment.
However, tourism is a very complex industry involving numerous stakeholders
(sometimes with opposite interests) and requiring significant amount of resources.
As such tourism can have a very opposite effects according to the way activities are
managed. Managed well, tourism can play a positive role in the socio, cultural,
economical, environmental and political development of the destination and as
such represents a significant development opportunity for many countries and
communities. On the contrary, unchecked tourism development can lead to very
damageable impacts on natural resources, consumption patterns, population and
social systems. The need for sustainable planning and management is imperative
for the industry to survive as a whole.

Three Dimensions of Sustainable Tourism

Tourism has environmental, economic and social impacts. Sustainable tourism is
about maximizing the impacts which are positive and minimizing the negative
ones.
It seems that the environmental impacts are negative, the economic effects
positive, and the social impacts a combination of both. However, it is also
important to recognize that there are clear links between the three aspects of
tourism - the environmental, economic, and social dimensions.

Three dimensions of sustainable tourism are:

◾
Environmental
◾
Economic
◾
Social

ENVIRONMENTAL DIMENSION
To many people, sustainability is about the environment, primarily the natural,
physical environment, and its protection. However, there is far more to the
environment than just the natural landscape.

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Five Aspects of the Environment:

The Natural Resources

Tourism makes use of a range of natural resources, and in many cases, the core
attraction of a destination's product may be natural resources such as clean air,
land, mineral waters, and the water in lakes and seas.

The Natural Environment

There are few natural landscape or wilderness areas left in the world. Almost all
natural landscapes have been affected to some extent by the actions of man through
the centuries. Tourism is only one industry or activity which changes landscapes.
The natural landscape represents the core of the tourism product in many areas
including natural forests, mountains, and regions which attract tourists because of
their rivers and lakes.

The Farmed Environment

The farmed environment can cover a diverse range of agricultural systems

including agriculture landscapes, man-made forests, and fish farms.

Wildlife
Wildlife has a number of dimensions such as land-based mammals and reptiles,
flora, birds, insects, fish, and marine mammals. Tourism can clearly be very
harmful to wildlife through the destruction of habitats, affecting feeding habits,
disrupting breeding patterns, fires in woodlands and people picking rare plants.

The Built Environment

We also need to recognize that, in terms of tourism, there are several dimensions to
the built environment such as individual buildings and structures, villages and
townscapes, transport infrastructure, dams, and reservoirs.

ECONOMIC DIMENSION
In the debate over sustainable tourism, the economic dimension is often given
relatively scant attention compared to the environmental issues. Tourism is an
economic phenomenon because:
◾ It is a major industry and foreign currency earner.
◾ It is the basis of the growth of many transnational corporations.
◾ It accounts for a significant proportion of the annual disposable income.

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Economic Benefits of Tourism

Tourism contributes to the economy of a country in various ways. Economic
benefits of tourism are following as:
◾ Job creation
◾ Injection of income into the local economy through the multiplier effect.
◾ Helping keep the local business viable.
◾ Infrastructure development. Attracts the foreign direct investments.

Economic Costs of Tourism

There are many economic benefits of tourism as well as costs. Economic costs of
the tourism are following as:
◾ Many jobs are low paid and seasonal.
◾ Opportunity costs.
◾ Congestion.
◾ The need to invest in expensive infrastructure which may only be required for
part of the year.
◾ Over-dependence on tourism makes the host economy vulnerable.

SOCIAL DIMENSION

The social dimension of tourism has been given less attention in the sustainable
tourism debates, than the environmental impacts of tourism. This is because the
socio-cultural impacts of tourism usually occur slowly over time in an
unspectacular fashion. They are also largely invisible and intangible.
The social impact of tourism is usually permanent with little or no opportunity to
reverse the changes once it has taken place. When the social impact of sustainable
tourism has been considered the focus has normally been upon the host
community.
There are a number of factors that determine whether or not the balance of socio-
cultural impacts will be positive or negative in a particular location including:
◾ The strength and coherence of the local society and culture.
◾ The nature of tourism in the resort.
◾ The level of economic and social development of the host population in relation
to the tourists.
◾ The measures were taken by the public sector in the destination to manage
tourism in ways which minimize the socio-cultural costs of tourism.

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The Impacts of Tourism

The need to apply the principles of sustainable development in tourism sector is

very important from the point of functioning of this sector, as it is directly and
indirectly dependent on natural resources and their quality. Meanwhile tourism
activities contribute to both positive and negative effects in all aspects of
sustainability.

ECONOMIC IMPACT

The development of tourism in a country or region is recognized as a huge

economic opportunity to reduce poverty by generated income and employment.
However, if tourism is not developed and managed responsibly, taking into account
local needs and concerns, the actual economic benefits may be substantially less
than expected.

THREE (3) MAIN ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF TOURISM:

1. Reduction of unemployment
2. Development of infrastructure
3. Financial and non-financial income to the region

Tourism as every other industry needs a well-developed infrastructure network.

This means not only roads and rail tracks, but also social and cultural
infrastructure, such as restaurants, pubs, hospitals, theaters, cinemas,
entertainment centers, etc.

DIRECT BENEFITS are all money that comes to the region in a form of
expenditure by tourists at the destination for food, souvenirs, excursions, tips, etc.
It also include money paid by tour operators to local suppliers, including hotels and
local transport companies.

INDIRECT BENEFITS include income generated by goods and services provided to

the tourists.

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The key manner in which local populations fail to benefit from tourism is through
REVENUE ‘LEAKAGES’—when the goods and services used in tourism are
produced and purchased outside the country or region.

In addition, government expenditure on tourism infrastructure, such as sanitation,

roads, airports or health facilities, may mean that less funds are available for basic
services for the local population.

Other potential costs include the expense of addressing air and water pollution,
generated by tourist activities, losses to the economy caused by illness related to
pollution, and an increased cost if living for local people, as tourist.

Moreover, an inflation of prices of goods and services in high-season can be

noticed. Labor barrier occurs in the absence of an adequate numbers of workers
willing and have the relevant qualifications to work in tourism.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The environmental impact of sustainable tourism development is intended to be
positive focusing on conservation responsible resource use and the mitigation of
negative effects on ecosystems and natural resources.

Tourism can have wide-ranging and sometimes irreversible negative impacts on

the environment. In some of the most extreme cases, long-term environmental
degradation has destroyed the very features that once attracted tourists to a place,
leading tour operators and their clients to abandon the older destination in favor of
new, undamaged ones. Not properly planned tourism can lead to landscape
degradation and biodiversity loss through the conversion of natural habitats and
damage to coastal areas, forests, coral reefs and other ecosystems. Most vulnerable
to degradation are considered particularly vulnerable areas with high natural
values, including coastal areas, alpine areas freshwater ecosystems and Antarctic
and Arctic coasts.

Tourism contributes to the disorder of water balance generates the waste produced
by tourism enterprises and tourists themselves. Transportation to tourism
destinations has global impact through the carbon dioxide emissions of airplanes
and other forms of transportation that contribute to human-induced climate
change.

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Although tourism can lead to environmental costs, it can also be a source of

benefits for the environment. The revenues generated thanks to tourism sector can
contribute significantly to preservation of protected areas, such as: coral reefs or
forests. ecotourism can help promoting eco-friendly way leisure. Corporate social
responsibility introduces standards that will conserve water and energy and reduce
waste generation etc.

At this it should be noticed that tourism will always have negative influence on
environment like every other industry. Nevertheless it should be a priority to lower
the negative effects as much as possible, even if they cannot be all eliminated.

SOCIO-CULTURAL IMPACT

Sustainable tourism development can have various socio-cultural impacts both

positive and negative on destination communities and their cultures.

Positive Socio-cultural Impacts:

1. Cultural Preservation
2. Cultural Exchange
3. Community Empowerment
4. Revitalization of Communities
5. Preservation of Traditional Skills
Negative Socio-cultural Impacts:
1. Cultural Commodification
2. Social Disruption
3. Loss of Cultural Identity
4. Cultural Conflicts
5. Unequal Distribution of Benefits
Negative consequences of tourism development are associated with changes in the
local social environment. Foreign guests often disturb in local way of life and social
structures and practices. Local culture is commercialized, authenticity of the
regional culture diasporas. There is an increasing number of social conflicts and
pathology of the local population.

Tour operators can help encourage positive cultural changes and prevent negative
impacts by supporting local enterprises and encouraging appropriate behavior by
tourists. Disseminating information on appropriate t havior to clients and reducing
the opportunities for them to display inappropriate behavior may help to reduce
the chances of conflict and cultural disruption.

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How Can We Measure Sustainable Tourism?

While sustainable tourism has many positive goals, there must be a concrete
measurement system that enables the business to determine their progress towards
sustainability. In order to measure results and progress, benchmarks are used.

BENCHMARKING
— is “the comparison of a business's performance in a given area (such
as water consumption) with those of a similar business.”

Benchmarking does not only put a business's activities in a perspective with that of
its competitors, but also contributes too many positives internal improvements.

For example, in tourism sector, commonly used benchmarks are:

▪️ Electricity and energy consumption in kilowatt hours (kWh) per square meter of
serviced space.
▪️Fresh water consumption in liters and cubic Meyers (m³) per guest per night.
▪️Waste production (kg per guest per night and/or liters per guest per night)

With these benchmarking categories, achieving sustainability in the tourism

industry is not just a rhetorical goal; it is tangible, providing measurable benefits
and potential economic savings to those businesses who strive for improvement in
their daily performance.

By beginning to benchmark activities, businesses can engage in sustainable

development while simultaneously reaping the tangible and economic benefits of
internal improvements.

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Principles of Sustainable Tourism

With the increased footfalls of tourists, the deep need today is that tourism like
other sector be planned and managed suitably. Sustainable development of
tourism is possible only if it follows some of its guidelines and principles.

◾ Tourism ought to be initiated at any location with the help of local community.
The involvement of local community helps maintaining the appropriate tourism
development.

◾The local community has to meet the direct benefit of flourishing tourism in their
area. Link between local business and tourism enable local people to gain
economically as well.

◾ To cause large growth in sustainable development, there is need that codes,

ethics and some fair guidelines to be appointed.

◾ In order to heighten the importance of heritage and natural resources, and

managed them better, training and education program should be instituted.

Bramwell and Lane outlined four basic principles of sustainable ecotourism

development in line with the sustainable development concept:

◾Holistic planning and strategy making;

◾Preservation of essential ecological processes;
◾Protection of both human heritage and biodiversity; and
◾Development to ensure that productivity can be sustained over the long term for
future generations.

Tourism Concern has developed ten (10) sustainable principles for sustainable
ecotourism in association with the World Wildlife Fund for Nature:

1. USING RESOURCES SUSTAINABLY. The conservation and sustainable use of

resources — natural, social and cultural — is crucial and makes long-term business
sense.

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2. REDUCING OVER-CONSUMPTION AND WASTE. Reduction of over-

consumption and waste avoids the costs of restoring long-term environmental
damage and contributes to the quality of tourism.

3. MAINTAINING BIODIVERSITY. Maintaining and promoting natural, social and

cultural diversity is essential for long-term sustainable tourism and creates a
resilient base for the industry.

4. INTEGRATING TOURISM INTO PLANNING. Tourism development which is

integrated into a national and local strategic planning framework and which
undertake environmental impact assessments increases the long-term viability of
tourism.

5. SUPPORTING LOCAL ECONOMIES. Tourism that supports a wide range of

local economic activities and which takes environmental costs and values into
account, both protects these economies and avoids environmental damage.

6. INVOLVING LOCAL COMMUNITIES. The full involvement of local

communities in the tourism sector not only benefits them and the environment in
general but also improves the quality of the tourism experience.

7. CONSULTING STAKEHOLDERS AND THE PUBLIC. Consulting between the

tourism industry and local communities, organizations and institutions are
essential if they are to work alongside each other and resolve potential conflicts of
interest.

8. TRAINING STAFF. Staff training which integrates sustainable tourism into work
practices, along with recruitment of personnel at all levels, improves the quality of
tourism product.

9. MARKETING TOURISM RESPONSIBLY. Marketing that provides tourists with

the full and responsible information increases respect for the natural, social and
cultural environments of destination areas and enhances customer satisfaction.

10. UNDERTAKING RESEARCH. Ongoing research and monitoring by the

industry using effective data collection and analysis are essential to help solve
problems and to bring benefits to destinations, the industry, and customers.

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These principles suggest proper care, planning and monitoring of ecotourism

destinations.

The view of sustainable tourism development is one that uses resources

sustainably, that reduces over consumption and waste, that maintains cultural,
social, and natural diversity and that integrates tourism development into national
development policy. The concept of sustainability generally is one in which a new
development does not damage natural, social, economic or cultural diversity.

Ecotourism very well imbibes into sustainable tourism as a means of maintaining

the social, cultural, and natural environment of the community. Ecotourism
sustainability also aims to increase the awareness and understanding of local
cultures and local environments through the participation of local people.

Strategies of Sustainable Tourism

Sustainable tourism is different from conventional tourism and accordingly the
strategies also differ.
CONVENTIONAL TOURISM plans are mostly dominated by the growth
requirements of the tourism industry. They are either marketing plans or capital
investment plans and both are usually designed to increase traffic, visitor numbers,
and turnover and job creation. Further, they seek to exploit national and
community resources with little regard for community, culture or enterprise.

On the other hand, SUSTAINABLE TOURISM plans are based on a wider, more
holistic, regional analysis. The plans are based on the concepts which have been
refined and tested in practice in many places.

Their hallmarks are:

◾ An analysis of an area's social, economic, ecological and cultural needs.
◾ An analysis of an area's tourism assets and the constraints on future tourism
development.
◾ A discussion of how best tourism could be used as a tool for social, economic,
ecological and cultural regeneration.
◾ A strong measure of local participation in both the plan-making process and in
any ongoing decision-making.

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◾A careful consideration of the visitor carrying capacities and the type and scale of
developments suitable for each part of the region. This may include decisions to
allocate some areas for intensive use, to make some areas less accessible on
conservation grounds and to set overall limits to growth

Sustainable tourism strategies should be produced keeping in view some key issues.
The person or team formulating the strategy should have skills not only in tourism
development but also in economic, ecological and social analysis. While local
knowledge is useful, impartiality is much more vital if trust is to be maintained
amongst the many parties taking part in the strategy-making process.

Wide consultations amongst all interest groups are essential and these
consultations should include trade and business, transport, farmers, administrators
and the custodians of the natural and historic asses of the area. Glasnost
("openness") has a very special role to play. Tourism relies on local goodwill more
than any other industry.

The local population must be happy with their visitors, and secure in the knowledge
that the visitor influx will not overwhelm their lives, increase their housing costs
and impose new and unwelcome value systems on them. Openness can be achieved
by public discussions, by careful use of the press, radio and television, and by the
development of a two-way dialogue with the community.

The strategy-making process should not be a once-only affair. It has to be an

evolving, long-term enterprise, able to cope with change, and able to admit to its
own mistakes and shortcomings. It is the beginning of a partnership between
business government and cultural and conservation interests. With these key issues
included sustainable tourism strategies would produce rewarding results and
sustain tourism benefiting all.

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