Assessing Sustainable Tourism: Insights from Four Regions in Quebec

Yasmine Benbelaid, PhD*

Chaire éco-conseil, Département des sciences fondamentales, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi,

555, boulevard de l’université, Chicoutimi, QC, G7H 2B1, Canada

*Corresponding author: ybenbelaid@etu.uqac.ca

Abstract: This communication proposes to share the outcomes of a comprehensive sustainable

tourism diagnosis conducted in four distinct regions of Quebec, namely Monteregie, Mauricie,
Lanaudiere, and the Magdalen Islands. The study encompasses a diverse range of 45 tourism
enterprises operating across various sectors within the industry. This project represents the results
of my postdoctoral internship.

Keywords: Sustainable tourism, Diagnosis, GPC-ODD, Quebec regions, Tourism enterprises,

SDGs, Best practices.

Context

The United Nations has been organizing World Summits on Sustainable Development since 1972,
and sustainable development (SD) strives to balance social needs, environmental sustainability,
and fair economic practices. In 2015, the UN adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
with 169 targets applicable to the tourism sector. Villeneuve et al.'s (2017) methodology led to the
development of the SDG Target Prioritization Grid (GPC-ODD) in 2018. This tool connects local
initiatives to SDG targets, diagnoses, prioritizes targets operationally, analyzes potential synergies
or antagonisms among proposed actions, and establishes action plans and indicators at all levels,
promoting continuous improvement and effective accountability.

The GPC-ODD is a versatile tool across sectors, addressing the dual challenge of the tourism
industry being vulnerable to climate change (CC) and contributing significantly to greenhouse gas
(GHG) emissions. GHGs primarily come from transportation, food, waste management, and the
life cycle of infrastructure and goods for tourists. Despite emission reductions during the COVID-
19 pandemic, the post-2020 recovery has surpassed 2019 levels. Coordinated efforts are crucial to
mitigate CC impacts, reduce GHG emissions, and enhance resilience to CC effects. The UNWTO
advocates shifting towards lower-emission tourism to align with the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C
warming limit.

Reducing GHG emissions is one facet of sustainable development in tourism. The 169 targets in
the 2030 Agenda create a complex network of interactions, analyzed through sustainability
systemic analysis (Villeneuve 2016, Villeneuve et al. 2017, Tremblay et al. 2020). Sustainable
practices involve measures such as renewable energy use, energy efficiency, eco-friendly
transportation, circular economy integration, short supply chains, responsible water management,
and support for ecosystem conservation. These actions help alleviate CC impacts, reduce
vulnerability, educate stakeholders on CC, and preserve the natural allure of destinations. The
GPC-ODD tool aligns with multiple SDG targets, and can be adapted for various domains,
showing promising results during ongoing field validation.

Methodologie

My project allowed for adapting the GPC-ODD to the tourism sector and testing it in four
destinations in Quebec with various stakeholders, such as managers of regional tourist associations
and tourist businesses operating in different sectors like accommodation, events, outdoor activities,
etc.

The study utilized a methodology previously proven successful by the Chaire en éco-conseil in
other sectors, ensuring its applicability and effectiveness within the tourism domain. By
implementing this tool, we assessed and evaluated the current state of sustainable tourism practices
within the targeted regions and across various tourism-related enterprises.

Objective:

The primary goal of this presentation is to offer a detailed diagnostic overview, including the
identification of challenges, prioritized targets, associated actions, success stories, and key
findings. The project's core involved the adaptation of the Sustainable Development Goal Target
Prioritization Grid (GPC-ODD) to the tourism sector, transforming it into a powerful diagnostic
tool for businesses in the industry.

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