Tourism Topic 3.4 (ways for tourism to continue developing sustainably)

tourism can continue to develop sustainably when there is

1. sustainable tourism production

2. sustainable tourism consumption

3. equitable distribution of tourism benefits

sustainable tourism production

1. demands on ecosystem services do not exceed the supply of resources

2. different stakeholders work together and adopt responsible long-term approaches

sustainable tourism production : demands on ecosystem services do not exceed supply of resources

• Tourism heavily dependent on ecosystem services

• To ensure sustainable tourism development, demands on ecosystem services should not exceed supply of resources available 

• Ecosystem services negatively affected

• Example : 

  • In Bali, Indonesia, many hotels and resorts were developed and they use a lot of water

  • In the long run, water supply may be depleted, negatively impacting the tourism industry and rice farming which uses a lot of water

  • These farms are also tourists attractions → if affected, may reduce tourists visiting, hindering sustainable tourism development 

sustainable tourism production : different stakeholders work together and adopt responsible long-term approaches

• To ensure sustainable tourism development, stakeholders need to work together and adopt long term approaches

• If stakeholders ensure energy and water conversation, demands on ecosystem services will not exceed the supply of resources available 

• Example : in sentosa, singapore, the authorities bring together different stakeholders, comprising businesses, the authorities and locals to develop a series of long-term plans to enable the islands to become more sustainable. To achieve carbon-neutral status, the authorities are working together with businesses and locals to increase the use of locally-sourced produce, as well as adoption renewable energy solutions

sustainable tourism consumption

1. destination regions manage demand and when tourism is consumed responsibly by tourists

2. policies give local communities primary attention while considering the needs of tourists

sustainable tourism consumption : destination regions manage demand and when tourism is consumed responsibly by tourists

Tourist can ensure that tourism is consumed sustainably by making responsible choices about : 

Where they visit and stay and the resources they use,

• Tourists can choose to stay in hotels that embrace sustainability 

• Choose to purchase tour services from tour operators who have a low carbon footprint and prioritise local communities when employing staff

• Make responsible decisions about their use of energy water and food (switch off the lights and air con when not in hotel) 

• Example : the Inkaterra Hotel chain in Peru is built with local materials. The company invests in environmental conservation and education efforts, and train locals in hospitality and environmental care

Destination regions should also manage demand,

• Can be done by controlling access to or limiting the number of tourists to the destination region 

• Ensures that the carrying capacity of the destination region is not exceeded, and therefore damage to environment is minimised 

• Example : Maya Bay, Thailand is very popular with tourists which led to destruction of the coral reef ecosystem due to its pollution from boat engines and trampling by tourists. In 2018, the beach was closed completely to allow it to recover and reopened in 2022 when the environment had recovered and corals were able to grow and thrive 

Sustainable tourism consumption : policies give local communities primary attention when considering the needs of tourists

• Local communities need to be involved

• Enables tourism policies to address the needs of the local communities while balancing the need to meet the demand of tourists

• Can be done by implementing rules and regulations to protect the needs and practices of local communities 

• By enforcing strict dress code for tourists when entering sacred places, tourists fulfill their need to learn more about other cultures, while ensuring local customs are not disrespected 

equitable distribution of tourism benefits

can be achieved by :

1. implementing effective tourism management to ensure the tourism benefits are enjoyed by all stakeholders

2. minimizing negative tradeoffs within or between economic, social and environmental dimensions

equitable distribution of tourism benefits : implementing effective tourism management to ensure the tourism benefits are enjoyed by all stakeholders

• Tourism development may not always benefit all the stakeholders involved

• When tourism does not benefit all stakeholders, may lead to tensions, resulting in unbenefited stakeholders being not supportive of future policies and regulations

• Example : ppt aims to reduce poverty and improve the livelihoods of the poor but can be difficult to channel the benefits to poor

  • may widen the income gap btw poor and non-poor

equitable distribution of tourism benefits : minimizing negative tradeoffs within or between economic, social and environmental dimensions

• Due to conflicting priorities and differing understandings of sustainability, negotiations between stakeholders on developing tourist sites may be challenging 

• Example : In Maya Bay, locals and tourism businesses may have to accept the trade off of a decrease in economic activity in exchange for a healthier environment brought about by the implementation of a quota on visitor numbers.