The changing face of tourism

The changing face of tourism

01

Tourism and sustainability

• People have more leisure time, more disposable income + early retirement and longer life expectancy

• Travel has become easier and cheaper Competition in the market has increased, with travel agents offering deals and packages. Low-cost airlines, which became hugely successful, opened the market for tourists on a budget and for lesser/known destinations. The Internet and other media have contributed to this increased competition (for ex. with online travel agencies) has allowed tourists to organise their own holidays independently

• Modern telecommunication technologies make bookings faster + more efficient; they have stimulated people's interest, knowledge and understanding of other countries

• More destinations have opened up to tourism and investments in infrastructure and tourism facilities (roads, airports, hotels, etc) have increased

The reasons for its continued growth can be attributed to the following factors:

Tourism today - one of the largest and fastest-growing industries in the world

• Tourism CAN help preserve the environment! --> RAISE AWARENESS; many destinations promote ECOTOURISM and SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

Development of the area

• Depletion of natural resources:

- overuse of water due to influx of people - land degradation --> deforestation; damage of wild habitatsTourists behaviour

• Air pollution due to traffic congestion
• Destruction of nature due to littering and disregard
• Wildlife relocating due to increased noise levels
• Higher consumption of energy
• Plastic pollution in the ocean affecting sealife

• Preserving local culture
• Strenghtening communities
• Improving understaning of different cultures and traditions
• Commercialising art and culture
• Preserving heritage including architecture and natural sites

• Social change
• Globalisation
• Standardisation

• Economic development --> tourism expenditures generate income to the host economy; the money raised by tourism are then reinvested in different fields
• Employment generation
• Contribution to local economies

• Infrastructure cost
• Increase in prices

In order to ensure that sustainable tourism aims are met, tourism needs to consider its positive and negative impacts.According to the UNWTO, the impacts of the tourism industry can be categorised as follows:

The economic, social and environmental impact of tourism

Environmental

Social

Economic

''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 host communities. It refers 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''The United Nations World Tourism Organisation

What is sustainable tourism?

The main responsibilities of sustainable tourism include:

• protecting the environment, natural resources and wildlife
• providing socio-economic benefits for communities who live in tourist destinations (employing local people, paying fair wages and offering training)
• respecting the socio-cultural authenticity of host communities, conserving their cultural heritage and traditional values and contributing to inter-cultural understanding and tolerance
• creating inclusive and accessible tourist opportunities
• recycling
• conserving energy increasing use of renewable energy

Search

Play

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM ( part of 2030 Agenda)

As the tourism industry grows, it must act in a responsible way to protect our planet and ensure the positive effects outweights the negative ones National tourist boards and the World Tourism Organisation are looking at alternative ways to manage development

Sustainable Development Goal 8: DECENT WORK AND ECONOMIC GROWTH

The year 2015 has been a milestone for global development as governments have adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, along with the Sustainable Development Goals.Tourism has the potential to contribute, directly or indirectly, to all of the 17 goals. In particular, it has been included as targets in Goals 8, 12 and 14 on inclusive and sustainable economic growth, sustainable consumption and production and the sustainable use of oceans and marine resources, respectively.

Play

Tourism is one of the driving forces of global economic growth and currently provides jobs worldwide. By giving access to decent work opportunities in the tourism sector, society (particularly youth and women) can benefit from increased skills and professional development. Responsible and sustainable management of tourism will unlock tourism’s potential to stimulate job creation, particularly for vulnerable groups, contribute to rural development, promote cultural awareness and inclusiveness, and help preserve local cultural traditions. The sector’s contribution to job creation is recognized in Target 8.9 “By 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products”.

Sustainable tourism in the 2030 Agenda

Coastal and maritime tourism rely on healthy marine ecosystems. Thus, tourism development should be an integral part of the management of these environments, in order to help conserve and preserve fragile marine ecosystems and serve as a vehicle to promote a blue economy, contributing to the sustainable use of marine resources. In some destinations, marine resources are the main source of income, therefore their protection is crucial. The economic benefits of tourism in relation to life below water have been further solidified by the explicit mention of tourism in Target 14.7.

Sustainable Development Goal 14: LIFE BELOW WATER

Sustainable Development Goal 12: RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION

Play

A tourism sector that adopts sustainable consumption and production practices can play a significant role in accelerating the global shift towards sustainability. It is necessary to identify key points of intervention to optimize the use of natural resources and reduce environmental impacts caused by production and consumption. To do so, as set in Goal 12, it is imperative to “Develop and implement tools to monitor sustainable development impacts for tourism which creates jobs, promotes local culture and products”.

Play

Although there are not as many positive environmental impacts of tourism as there are negative, it is important to note that tourism CAN help preserve the environment! ECOTOURISM VS SUSTAINABLE TOURISM While SUSTAINABLE TOURISM places emphasis on responsible travel, which doesn't have a negative impact on the environment and on local communities, ECOTOURISM is a niche segment of tourism in natural areas. It is more focused on the ecological conservation and places more emphasis on educating tourists about nature and the local environment. “Ecotourism is responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people, and creates knowledge and understanding through interpretation and education of all involved (visitors, staff and the visited).” the Global Ecotourism Network (GEN)

Positive environmental impacts of tourism

Responsible Travel is a term referring to the behaviour and style of individual travellers. Its aim is to create a positive interaction between the tourist industry, local communities, and travellers. Tourism should therefore transform any destination into 'a better place for people to live, and a better place for people to visit.'

Sustainable Tourism, Ecotourism and Responsible Travel

Sustainable Tourism does not refer to a specific type of tourism, rather it is an aspiration for the impacts of all forms of tourism to be sustainable for generations to come.

Ecotourism is a niche segment of tourism in natural areas.

How to become a sustainable traveller

Sustainable Tourism does not refer to a specific type of tourism, rather it is an aspiration for the impacts of all forms of tourism to be sustainable for generations to come. It takes therefore a long term approach. It considers needs of the future, not only the present. It has close ties with a number of alternative forms of tourism such as responsible tourism or ecotourism. Tourist that take part in sustainable tourism activities have a desire to help and support local communities and environments while avoiding any negative impacts their visit might bring. Many tourists now are far more aware than they used to be and society is a lot more aware of the impacts of their actions.

Conclusions

The world's most sustainable hotels

Tourism in Buthan

1. Feynan Ecolodge – Jordan Feynan Ecolodge is located in Dana Biosphere Nature Reserve, Jordan, and has developed a reputation as one of the best examples of sustainable tourism in the world. The accommodation operates in partnership with the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature, and is solar-powered, greatly reducing the overall carbon footprint. As a result, guests can stay in the lodge knowing that they are doing their part to protect the environment. 2. Sustainable Tourism in Bhutan Bhutan in South Asia is one of the most unique tourist destinations in the world and the entire country operates a “high value, low impact” model, in order to maximise economic benefits while minimising any negative impact. To enforce this, the country has strict entry requirements and charges a daily tariff. Some of the money generated from this policy then goes to conservation efforts and investment in the country’s infrastructure, culture, and public services.

Examples of sustainable tourism

Thanks!