The world’s resources are limited and will sooner or later come to an end. This is an undeniable fact as the consequences of decades of reckless exploitation are painfully being brought to our eyes by countless reports on continuing ozone depletion, growing desertification, fatal meltdown of the polar caps and inexorable global warming. Yet the plain realization does not always go hand in hand with immediate action. While there is a new global consciousness towards ecology and the preservation of nature there is still a long way to go in order to avert the earth’s destruction.
The tourism sector - being described by the UNWTO (2012, p. 2) as one of the world’s largest and fastest growing industries – plays a crucial role in this context. The enormous growth not only in the transportation sector holds a major responsibility for increasing CO2 emissions worldwide. But it is not only the environmental destruction that the tourism industry needs to fear and assume responsibility for. Negative impacts of Globalization are being excellerated as the tourism sector continues to grow. The rich become richer on the expense of the poor, local communities are being exploited as tourist attractions, and traditions and social structures get lost due to increasing intercultural contacts. If the tourism industry does not take immediate action it will destroy its most important resources: beautiful nature, traditional culture and the hospitality of local people.
But is it really this easy? Are all globalization effects negative? Do the poor always have to be the losers in this process? Is it exploitation, when local communities show their traditions to foreigners? Or is it a welcome opportunity to generate new income and improve the well-being of the people? Who decides what is good for the world and on what basis? For many tourism businesses the the term “sustainable development” has become a keyword. Can this concept show a way out of the dilemma? Or is it just an empty shell used to improve one’s reputation and boost sales? These are some of the questions that will be addressed in this paper in order to evaluate the future of the concept of “sustainable development” for the tourism industry.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Towards Sustainable Tourism Development
3. “Sustainable Tourism Development” an empty promise or measurable way into a better future?
Objective and Thematic Focus
The document evaluates the effectiveness and future viability of "sustainable tourism development" as a concept. It examines whether this term serves as a genuine framework for positive environmental and socio-cultural impact, or if it functions merely as a marketing tool within a rapidly expanding global industry.
- Analysis of the origins and pillars of sustainable tourism development.
- Critique of current industry certification standards and "eco-labels".
- Investigation into the role of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).
- Challenges of balancing environmental, socio-cultural, and economic interests.
- The responsibility of individual consumers versus industry stakeholders.
Excerpt from the Book
3. “Sustainable Tourism Development” an empty promise or a measurable way into a better future?
As can be seen, the concept of “sustainable tourism development” has become somewhat fashionable and is beeing widely discussed. But it is not just an idealistic concept. Most tourists nowadays when booking a trip expect it to be sustainable. They do not want to feel guilty about anything when on vacation. Prof. Dr. Harald Zeiss, head of sustainability for TUI Germany explained in the ITB 2013 workshop “clueless in the ‘Green’ Sector?”: “If you ask how many people will pay extra for a sustainable holiday, the answer will be ‘not many’. But if you ask how many people will pay for an unsustainable holiday, the answer will be ‘none’.” In Germany travel agencies are the most important booking channel making up 34% of all holiday trips booked for longer than five days (FUR, 2013, p. 4). In order to help clients evaluate the offer we thus need reliable certification systems for sustainable practices. Regarding TUI, Zeiss said, that it has its own certification system and that within two years the TUI mother company in London will only work with TUI certified sustainable hotels.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter highlights the environmental and social risks of the growing tourism industry and introduces the concept of sustainable development as a potential, yet questioned, solution.
2. Towards Sustainable Tourism Development: This section details the historical development of sustainability in tourism, focusing on the three pillars of environmental, socio-cultural, and economic sustainability.
3. “Sustainable Tourism Development” an empty promise or measurable way into a better future?: This final analytical part discusses the limitations of current certification systems and argues for a more integrated, globally comparable approach to sustainability.
Keywords
Sustainable Tourism, UNWTO, Environmental Sustainability, Socio-cultural Sustainability, Economic Sustainability, Tourism Industry, Eco-labels, Certification Programs, Global Sustainable Tourism Council, GSTC, Globalization, Destination Lifecycle Model, Corporate Responsibility, Consumer Behavior, Tourism Management
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper examines the validity of "sustainable tourism development," questioning whether it is a substantive framework for global change or an empty marketing promise.
What are the primary thematic areas addressed?
The focus lies on the environmental and social impact of tourism, the role of certification bodies, and the necessity of defining measurable criteria for sustainability.
What is the central research goal?
The goal is to evaluate the future utility of the "sustainable development" concept for the tourism industry in light of its recent adoption as a corporate buzzword.
Which scientific approach is utilized?
The work employs a qualitative analysis of industry reports, theoretical models like the destination lifecycle, and existing certification frameworks to assess their real-world impact.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body covers the transition from economic-growth models to sustainable ones, the challenges of monitoring industry practices, and the limitations of current "eco-label" initiatives.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
Key terms include Sustainable Tourism, GSTC, Eco-labels, Tourism Management, and socio-cultural authenticity.
How does the author view the "socio-cultural" pillar of sustainability?
The author expresses skepticism, suggesting that terms like "conservation of living heritage" can lead to the artificial musealization of cultures rather than genuine respect.
What role does the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) play?
The GSTC is presented as an emerging accreditation body that aims to create global comparability among various certification programs to improve reliability.
What is the author's stance on consumer responsibility?
The author argues that consumers must move beyond merely expecting sustainability from companies and take personal responsibility for their travel choices and actions.
- Quote paper
- Magister Lotte von Lignau (Author), 2013, Sustainable Tourism Development, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/229808
