Sustainable Tourism

Development
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABLE
TOURISM

• Sustainable Development
- development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of the
future
generations to meet their own needs
- development without sacrificing the needs of the future generation
• Sustainable Tourism
- achieving quality growth in a manner that does not deplete the environment (natural and built)
and preserves the culture, history and heritage of the local community
- developing the world tourism industry without adversely affecting the environment
The key to sustainable tourism is to balance the number of visitors with the capacity of a given
environment in a manner that allows the greatest interaction and enjoyment with the least
destruction.
CARRYING CAPACITY
Carrying capacity is the largest number of people a destination can
efficiently manage within its given environment and management
capabilities. When too many people gather in an area which cannot be
handled by the facility, the destination, the local residents and the
economy are harmed.
Types Of Carrying Capacity
1. Environment or Physical Carrying Capacity-
2. Ecological Carrying Capacity
3. Perceptual Carrying Capacity
CARRYING CAPACITY
Environment or Physical Carrying Capacity
• refers to the acceptable number of tourists that can be accepted in a certain
area, which can not only meet the needs of tourists and benefit the tourism
industry, but also protect the environment and reduce the impact.
Ecological Carrying Capacity
• the number of visitors or visits an area can sustain without degrading natural
resources
Perceptual or Social Carrying Capacity
• the social and cultural impact by tourism and on the local populationaims to
find the number of visitors to a tourist destination that the visitor is willing to
accept before deciding to prefer traveling to another tourist destination. which
measures the maximum number of visitors tolerated by tourists themselves,
after which their level of satisfaction with their experience would decrease,
affecting their desire to visit an alternative
What is sustainable tourism and
why is it important?
Sustainable tourism can be defined as a kind of tourism that has more
benefits than negative impacts, especially relating to the environment,
the economy and communities. Truly sustainable and responsible
tourism should make destinations better for people to live in as well as
visit.
Sustainable Tourism
Managing sustainable tourism depends on sound policies that include a
harmonious relationship among local communities, the private sectors
and governments to protect the natural, built and cultural
environments.
The key to sustainable tourism is to manage the destination effectively
to provide benefit to the local population, to enrich visits of the tourists
and to preserve the tourism products for future generations to enjoy.
The main responsibilities of
sustainable tourism include:
1. Protecting the environment, natural resources, and wildlife
2. Providing socio-economic benefits for communities who live in
tourist destinations
3. Conserving cultural heritage and creating authentic tourist
experiences
4. Bringing tourists and local communities together for mutual benefit
5. Creating inclusive and accessible tourist opportunities
How sustainable tourism is
providing a solution
It’s not just local communities that live in tourist destinations that are feeling
the negative effects of tourism.
As tourists ourselves, many of us prefer to visit places that are clean, not too
crowded, and safe. We also usually want to preserve local cultures, traditions,
religions, and buildings, rather than experience an inauthentic ploy for money.
Therefore, we all have a lot to gain from alternative forms of tourism,
including sustainable forms.
The best places for sustainable tourism to be developed are regions with
natural resources, landscapes, or cultural buildings – all features that attract
tourists who might want to explore and admire local destinations and cultures
in an environmentally friendly way
The goals of sustainable tourism
The World Tourism Organization and the United Nations Environment Program suggested twelve
main goals for sustainable tourism in 2005. These will help to demonstrate the ways in which
sustainable tourism can provide a solution to some of the global challenges facing the industry today:
1. Economic Viability: To make sure that tourism destinations and businesses are viable, competitive,
and able to achieve long-term success.
2. Local Prosperity: To ensure that tourism activities help local communities thrive economically and
retain a large amount of the economic contribution.
3. Employment Quality: To increase the number of local jobs created in the tourism industry and
ensure that the pay and working conditions are fair, safe and offered to workers without
discrimination.
4. Social Equity: To ensure that tourism increases the amount of economic and social benefits being
distributed across local communities, improving all areas of life.
5. Visitor Fulfillment: To create a safe and fulfilling holiday experience for tourists without
discrimination based on race, gender, sexuality, disability or other.
The goals of sustainable tourism
6. Local Control: To empower local communities to have a role in planning and
decision-making regarding tourism in their neighbourhoods.
7. Community Wellbeing: To improve the quality of life and wellbeing of local
communities, ensuring they have access to resources and are not disrespected
or exploited in the name of tourism.
8. Cultural Richness: To respect the cultural heritage, traditions, authenticity
and uniqueness of host communities.
9. Physical Integrity: To look after all landscapes, whether urban or rural, and
ensure that they are not degraded physically or visually as a result of tourism.
10. Biological Diversity: To conserve natural areas, wildlife, and unique habitats,
protecting them and ensuring they are not damaged.
The goals of sustainable tourism
11. Resource Efficiency: To use sustainable and renewable resources
when possible in the development and operation of tourism facilities
and services.
12. Environmental Purity: To protect the land, air and water from
pollution, littering and other waste that may come as a result of
tourism businesses or visitors.
Examples of Sustainable Forms of
Tourism
Rural tourism
One kind of sustainable tourism is rural tourism. It must occur outside of an urban environment
and tends to focus on actively participating in a rural lifestyle. With rural tourism, tourists tend
to stay with local people, understand their lifestyles, and even help out with manual labor. Rural
tourism is sustainable because it helps to support local people, focuses on the rural
environment, and doesn’t involve vast numbers of tourists all being in the same place at once.
Community tourism
In a similar vein, community tourism can also be a great example of sustainable tourism. This is
because it’s at the opposite end of the spectrum to mass tourism. Normally, local residents and
communities invite tourists to stay with them, and they may offer different events, activities and
experiences. While this could be similar to rural tourism, it doesn’t have to focus on natural
surroundings. Instead, the purpose of community tourism is more about empowering local
communities to plan, implement and be responsible for tourism activities in their home
destinations. While they will gain economic benefits, tourists will enjoy authentic experiences.