Sustainablity as a new product requirement

Travelife Management system

Naut Kusters

Contents

1. Sustainable tourism principles 2. Instruments to make tourism more

sustainable 3. Certification schemes 4. Sustainability and the market 5. Int. Tour operators and

sustainability6. The Travelife Management system

1. Sustainable Tourism principles

Definition UN-WTO (1988):

"Sustainable tourism meets the needs of present tourists and destinations while protecting and enhancing opportunity for the future”

1. Sustainable tourism principles

It is not a niche market

All tourism types and products can and should become sustainable !

Sustainability = Quality +

1. Sustainable Tourism principles 12 Aims (Report UN-WTO, Making Tourism More Sustainable, 2006)

Economic viability Local prosperity

Employment quality Biological diversity

Visitor fulfilment Environmental purity

Community wellbeing Cultural richness

Physical integrity Social equity

Resource efficiency Local control

2. Sustainable tourism instruments How to reach these goals?

Legal instruments

A. Regulation (legal standards)

B. Land use planning and control of developments

C. Taxes and fees (economic instruments)    

2. Sustainable tourism instruments How to make tourism sustainable?

Voluntary (business) instruments

A. Guidelines and code of conducts

B. Sustainability management system

C. Eco-labels

2. Sustainable tourism instruments Voluntary (business) instruments

A. Guidelines and code of conducts

- List of do’s and don’t- No external control, self commitments

Guidelines for Whale watching ECPAD Code of conduct on sexual exploitation of children

2. Sustainable tourism instruments Voluntary (business) instruments

B. Management system

- Commitment for improvement- Policies and action plan in place - No performance standards- External evaluation (certification)- ISO 14001

2. Sustainable tourism instruments Voluntary (business) instruments

C. Ecolabelling

- Do’s and don’t (20-100 criteria)- Minimum requirement - Performance based (e.g.50 % energy saving lamps)

- External (third party) control- Certification

3. Certification in sustainable tourism

 

UN-WTO (2002): Voluntary Initiatives for Sustainable Tourism: Worldwide Inventory and Comparative Analysis of 104 Eco-labels, Awards and Self-Commitments.

2009 70 Ecolabels worldwide

1987………...1990………..…..2000……............2009.....

More than 40 Tourism

Ecolabels in Europe

(mainly accomodations)

(5000 products)

Europe

Latin America

• Since 2000• First certificate in Costa Rica (TSC)• Schemes in most Latin American countries • 700 certified accommodations• Regional network of certification initiatives

3. Certification in sustainable tourism

 

Members Certification Network of the America’s

Certification for Sustainable Tourism Costa Rica Green Deal GuatemalaCertification programme for ST PeruCertificação em Turismo Sustentável BrazilSmart Voyager EquadorCertificación de la STdel Perú PeruCertificación de Turismo Rural Sostenible UruguayPrograma Nacional de Auditoría Ambiental MexicoGreen Globe 21 Caribbean

3. Certification in sustainable tourism

Africa 

• Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa (80 products) • Eco-rating Kenya• Green Hotel, Egypt • 180 certified hotels

3. Certification in sustainable tourism

Asia  

• Green Leaf, Thailand• Green Globe 21 – China, New Zealand, Bali• 400 entities certified (mostly Australia)

3. Certification in sustainable tourism

3. Certification in sustainable tourism

Global Sustainable Tourism Standard (2008)

Supported by UN-WTO and UNEP 35 Criteria with indicators Based analysis of 100 certification schemes Consultative process

Tourism Sustainability Council (TSC) (2010)Global accreditation system MSC, FSC

Are consumers looking for sustainability?

• In most European countries 3 – 10 serious consumer studies were conducted between 1995 and 2009

.... they provide a clear and growing trend

4. Sustainability and the marketEnvironment  

• 87 % of the British (2002) find it very or fairly important that holiday does not damage the environment. 

Local communities

• 71 % of British consumers would like to benefit local communities

4. Sustainability and the marketAccommodations  

• 46 % of the German’s think ‘it is an added value to stay in an environmentally friendly accommodation’ 

• The majority of German (74 %) travellers favour hotels who employ local staff and guarantee good wages and working conditions

 

4. Sustainability and the marketWillingness to pay for environment and community

well-being

• 61 % are willing to pay 5-10 % more (UK). 

Explain clearly how the extra bonus us used

Need for information

• 80 % of the Dutch want information on ethical issues in their travel information.

4. Sustainability and the market

Expectations from tourism operators

• Ethical standing of company is an important selection criteria for 45 % of the British consumers.