Global Tourism

Managing Tourism ImpactsEnsuring Sustainability

You should be able to: 1. Explain what sustainable tourism is.2. Evaluate the strategies of

sustainable tourism.

By the end of this lesson

Sustainable Tourism

• It refers to :– Tourism that respects both local people and

the traveller, cultural heritage and the environment. (UNESCO)

– tourism activity that can be maintained over the long term because it results in a net benefit for the social, economic, natural and cultural environments of the area in which it takes place.

3 Elements of Sustainable Tourism

1. 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.

3 Elements of Sustainable Tourism

2. Respect the socio-cultural authenticity of host communities, conserve their built and living cultural heritage and traditional values, and contribute to inter-cultural understanding and tolerance.

3 Elements of Sustainable Tourism3. Ensure viable, long term economic operations,

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.

Extended Activity• Stakeholders of tourism must work

together and respect each other for sustainable tourism to be successful

• Each stakeholder can also play their part in making tourism more sustainable

• In your groups, think of how your role can help make tourism more sustainable

Strategies of Sustainable Tourism

1. Establish Laws and Regulations

2. Promoting Ecotourism

3. Promoting Community Based Tourism

Establish Laws and Regulations• Refers to the setting up of guidelines or

restrictions by planning authorities• This is to deter tourists from irresponsible

behaviour• Environmental damage would be

minimised and local cultures and traditions would be respected through such law enforcements

Establish Laws and Regulations

• Law of wildlife conservation in Costa Rica

• Tourists prohibited from taking plants and flowers

• Tourists also prohibited from feeding wild animals to prevent them from being dependent on humans for food

Establish Laws and Regulations

• Photographs of certain sections of the sacred aboriginal landmark of Uluru (Ayers Rock) are not allowed to be taken as a sign of respect to the aboriginal culture and tradition

Establish Laws and Regulations

Problems• Not all tourists conform to the

environmentally-friendly guidelines as many feel the use or overuse of resources is justifiable with payment

• Tourists may also feel self-important and show little respect for local cultures and traditions, hence creating disharmony among the local society

Promoting Ecotourism• Ecotourism refers to environmentally

responsible travel to relatively undisturbed natural areas that promotes conservation and improves the well-being of locals

• Practicing ecotourism will allow tourists to enjoy the experience of being in natural environments, promote conservation and ensure that the locals benefit economically

Promoting Ecotourism

• Sea-Canoe eco-tourism Company (Phuket) limits tourist numbers to 64 per day in consideration of the carrying capacity of the ecologically sensitive region

Promoting Ecotourism

Problems• Tour operators driven by profits may fail to

conduct tourist activities following ecotourism guidelines hence end up degrading the environment

Promoting Community Based Tourism

• Refers to the development and management of tourism that includes, consults and benefits the local community, especially in the context of rural villages and indigenous people

• Giving the locals control over tourist activities will allow the local community to contribute their intimate knowledge of the local environment to tourism projects and help manage the negative impact of tourism

Promoting Community Based Tourism

• National Tourism Authority of Laos consults the communities of the Phou Khao Khouay nature reserves in Laos before making decisions on various tourist projects

Promoting Community Based Tourism

Problems• Many community-based tourism projects

have also failed due to improper management and poor accessibility.

• A survey of 200 CBT projects in Latin America reflected only 5% occupancy for most accommodations.

• Level Descriptor Questions require students to EVALUATE various strategies employed to create sustainable tourism

• Important to understand effectiveness and limitation of each strategy

• An authentic example must also be provided for each of the strategy discussed

What are Level Descriptor Questions?

• Designed to help students structure their answers to answer level descriptor questions

PDEA+/- Format

P PointD DescribeE ExplanationA+ EffectivenessA- Limitations

Level 1 (0 – 3 marks)•No reference to named example(s)•Answer limited to descriptions of measures only•No evaluation OR one-sided evaluation of measures only•Award L1/1 for simple listing of measures only•Award L1/2 for answer that describes measures only•Award L1/3 for answer that evaluates measures without the use of examples

Level Descriptor Questions

Level 2 (4 – 6 marks)• Reference to named example(s) e.g. Law

of wildlife conservation in Costa Rica•At least ONE balanced evaluation of ONE measure •Award L2/4 for answer that evaluates ONE measure only•Award L2/5 for answer that evaluates ONE measure and describes ONE other measure•Award L2/6 for answer that evaluates TWO measures

Level Descriptor Questions

Level 3 (7 – 8 marks)•L2/6 + Balanced argument•Award L3/7 for L2/6 + balanced argument that weighs level of success of measure OR reflect understanding that there is no one best method to ensure sustainable tourism and it depends on where strategies are implemented•Award L3/8 for L2/6 + balanced argument that weighs level of success of measure AND reflect understanding that there is no one best method to ensure sustainable tourism and it depends on where strategies are implemented

Level Descriptor Questions

How to get LEVEL 3

1.Show a balanced argument• Evaluate the strategies you have

discussed based on ONE common factor Cost Feasibility Dependability/ Longevity of Strategy The list goes on….

How to get LEVEL 32. Understand that there is no best method• All strategies discussed above have their

merits and disadvantages and there is no one most successful/best method.

• Countries attempting to implement such measures need to consider the local situation and available resources before implementing a one-best or a set of best-executable methods that best addresses the needs of the area in question.