SUSTAINABLE TOURISM (WEEK 8 - LESSON 8)

Tourism Impact

refers to the actual economic, environmental and socio-cultural changes (positive or negative) caused by visitor activity on a destination.

Economic Impacts

Socio-Cultural Impacts

Environmental Impacts

3 Types of Impacts of Tourism

Tourism Impact Assessment

refers to the systematic, proactive proces of identifying, predicting, and evaluating these consequences before or during development to facilitate sustainable planning and ensuring that the benefits of tourism are maximized while its cost are minimized.

Importance of Tourism Impact Assessment

It forces planners and developers to foresee what could possibly go wrong and take precautions to prevent such fortunate consequences from happening.

Importance of Tourism Impact Assessment

It compels the parties involved in tourism development to participate in a consultative process to iron out kinks prior to the actual implementation of a project.

Importance of Tourism Impact Assessment

It fosters coordination among stakeholders and encourages public discussion of alternative approaches.

Constitution and existing laws

Tourism development must follow the country’s constitution and legal framework.

• Ensures tourism projects are legal and authorized

• Protects environmental, cultural, and human rights

• Prevents illegal land use or business operations

Land use plans and spatial planning

This refers to how land is organized and allocated for different uses.

• Determines where tourism facilities can be built

• Prevents conflict between tourism and residential/agricultural areas

• Promotes organized and sustainable development

Zoning laws, zones of tourism value

Zoning divides areas based on their purpose or function.

• Identifies areas suitable for tourism (e.g., beaches, heritage zones)

• Controls overcrowding and environmental damage

• Protects sensitive areas from overdevelopment

Regulations on tourism investments, enterprise zones, and tourism enterprises

These are rules governing how tourism businesses operate.

• Ensures fair competition among businesses

• Regulates tourism enterprise zones

• Encourages responsible and sustainable investments

Building code (various permits, standards for various types of structures)

These are technical standards for constructing buildings.

• Ensures safety of tourists and workers

• Requires permits before construction

• Promotes environmentally friendly designs

Business registration requirements

Tourism businesses must be legally registered.

• Ensures legitimacy of operations

• Allows government monitoring and taxation

• Protects consumers from illegal businesses

Requirement for public consultation

Local communities must be involved in tourism planning.

• Gives residents a voice in decision-making

• Identifies possible social and cultural impacts

• Builds community support for tourism projects

Foreign equity laws

These laws regulate foreign ownership and investment in tourism.

• Controls how much of a business foreigners can own

• Protects local businesses and industries

• Encourages balanced economic development

Protected area laws

These laws safeguard natural and conservation areas.

• Prevents tourism development in sensitive ecosystems

• Regulates activities in national parks and marine reserves

• Ensures biodiversity protection

Indigenous people’s rights, including their to ancestral domains

Tourism must respect the rights of indigenous communities.

• Protects ancestral lands from exploitation

• Requires consent before tourism projects

• Preserves indigenous culture and traditions

Gender and development provisions

Tourism should promote gender equality and inclusivity.

• Equal opportunities for men and women

• Protection against discrimination and exploitation

• Inclusive participation in tourism jobs and leadership

Minimum wage laws

Tourism businesses must follow fair wage regulations.

• Ensures workers are paid properly

• Protects employees from exploitation

• Improves quality of life for tourism workers

Labor laws

These laws protect the rights and welfare of workers.

• Covers working hours, benefits, and safety

• Prevents child labor and unfair practices

• Ensures ethical employment in tourism

Environmental law

These laws regulate the protection of the environment.

• Controls pollution (air, water, land)

• Requires environmental impact assessments

• Promotes sustainable practices

Tourism act

This refers to national laws governing tourism development.

• Provides policies for tourism growth

• Defines roles of government agencies

• Encourages investment while ensuring sustainability

Critical habitat zone

These are areas essential for wildlife survival.

• Protects endangered species and ecosystems

• Limits tourism activities in sensitive habitats

• Prevents biodiversity loss

Buffer zones

These are areas surrounding protected or sensitive zones.

• Acts as a protective barrier

• Limits human activity near critical areas

• Reduces environmental impact from tourism

1. Constitution and existing laws

2. Land use plans and spatial planning

3. Zoning laws, zones of tourism value

4. Regulations on tourism investments, enterprise zones, and tourism enterprises

5. Building code (various permits, standards for various types of structures)

6. Business registration requirements

7. Requirement for public consultation

8. Foreign equity laws

9. Protected area laws

10. Indigenous people’s rights, including their to ancestral domains

11. Gender and development provisions

12. Minimum wage laws

13. Labor laws

14. Environmental law

15. Tourism act

16. Critical habitat zone

17. Buffer zones

What are the 17 Basic Considerations in Tourism Impact Assessment

Triple Bottom Line Approach

TIA categorizes impacts (positive impacts and negative impacts) into three pillars: economy, socio-cultural and environment.

Tourism Carrying Capacity Assessment

determines the maximum number of people who can visit a location at the same time without causing unacceptable damage to the environment or a decrease n the quality of the visitor experience.

Triple Bottom Line Approach

Tourism Carrying Capacity Assessment

2 Types of Tourism Impact Assessment Tools

Physical Carrying Capacity

refers to the tangible limit of a destination. It is the maximum number of people who can physically fit into a space at one time while still allowing for movement and safety.

Perceptual Carrying Capacity (Psychological Carrying Capacity)

this is measured from the tourist's perspective. It relates to the quality of the visitor experience.

Social or Sociocultural Carrying Capacity

this focuses on the host community (the locals). It is the limit of tolerance that local residents have for tourist presence and behavior.

Economic Carrying Capacity

this measures the destination's ability to absorb tourism without negatively impacting other local industries.

Political or administrative CC

this refers to the governance and management side of tourism. It looks at the capacity of local authorities to provide services.

1. Physical Carrying Capacity

2. Perceptual Carrying Capacity

3. Social or Sociocultural Carrying Capacity

4. Economic Carrying Capacity

5. Political or administrative CC

5 Various types of carrying capacity assessments Lundberg (2011)

European Tourism Indicator System

is a management and monitoring tool developed by the European Commission to help destinations measure their sustainability performance. Unlike many certification schemes, ETIS is a voluntary, self-assessment system designed to be locally owned and managed.

European Tourism Indicator System

The Four Pillars of ETIS: Destination Management, Economic Value, Social and Cultural Impact, and Environmental Impact.

Destination Management

Economic Value

Social and Cultural Impact

Environmental Impact

What are the Four Pillars of ETIS?

Destination Management

Focuses on sustainable planning, visitor satisfaction, and the presence of sustainability labels in local businesses.

Key Indicator

Percentage of the destination covered by a sustainable tourism strategy.

Visitor Satisfaction

Percentage of visitors who are satisfied with their overall experience.

Sustainability Awareness

Percentage of local tourism enterprises that have a recognized "Green" or sustainability label/certification.

Economic Value

Tracks the volume and value of tourism (e.g., daily spending, occupancy rates) and its impact on local employment and supply chains.

Tourism Flow

Number of nights spent by tourists (occupancy) and the average daily spend per tourist.

Local Impact

Percentage of tourism enterprises that source at least 25% of their food/supplies from local producers.

Employment

Percentage of jobs in the tourism sector that are permanent (versus seasonal or temporary).

Social and Cultural Impact

Measures the quality of life for residents, gender equality in the workforce, and the protection of local heritage and culture.

Community Well-being

Percentage of residents who are satisfied with the impact of tourism on their identity and culture.

Gender Equality

Percentage of tourism businesses headed by women or with a significant percentage of female employees in management.

Heritage Protection

The number of historical or cultural sites that have a formal management plan to prevent damage from tourism.

Environmental Impact

Monitors resource efficiency, including energy use, water consumption, waste management, and the carbon footprint of transport.

Resource Consumption

Daily water consumption per tourist compared to daily water consumption per resident.

Waste & Recycling

Percentage of tourism generated waste that is recycled or composted.

Carbon Footprint

Percentage of tourists using "soft" transport (walking, cycling, or public transit) to move around the destination.

Sustainable Livelihood Approach (SLA)

is a holistic framework used to understand how people particularly those in vulnerable or rural communities make a living. In tourism, it is often used to ensure that a new project doesn't just provide "jobs," but actually improves the overall resilience and well-being of the local population.

Human Capital

Skills, knowledge, ability to labor, and good health. (e.g., training locals to be tour guides).

Social Capital

Networks, memberships in groups, relationships of trust, and access to wider institutions. (e.g., a local tourism cooperative).

Natural Capital

Natural resource stocks from which resource flows and services useful for livelihoods are derived. (e.g., clean beaches, forests, or fertile land).

Physical Capital

Basic infrastructure and producer goods needed to support livelihoods. (e.g., roads, water supply, and telecommunications).

Financial Capital

The financial resources that people use to achieve their livelihood objectives. (e.g., savings, credit, or remittances).

Human Capital

Social Capital

Natural Capital

Physical Capital

Financial Capital

Rather than just looking at income, the SLA looks at five types of assets (often called the Livelihood Pentagon)

The Philippine Environmental Impact Assessment System (PEIAS)

is the primary regulatory framework used to ensure that tourism and other development projects are environmentally sound and sustainable. It was formally established under Presidential Decree No. 1586.

The Philippine Environmental Impact Assessment System (PEIAS)

The system is managed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) through the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB).

The Philippine Environmental Impact Assessment System (PEIAS)

is the "legal teeth" of tourism impact assessment in the Philippines.

Encroachment

Building structures too close to the shoreline (easement zones).

Waste Mismanagement

Ensuring large hotels have their own Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs).

Sewage Treatment Plants

STP means?

Social Conflict

The system requires Public Hearings or consultations, ensuring local communities have a say in the development.