Sustainable Tourism Essays

Sustainable Tourism Essays Sustainable Tourism Essay Sustainable Tourism Essay Name: Course: Instructor: Date: Sustainable Tourism Sustainable tourism is defined as tourism initiated to provide tourism with the lowest environmental impact and cultural alterations of a location. This ensures that there is the presence of sustainable development while ensuring the development of future employment of local populations. There are numerous aspects of sustainable tourism, which could be actualized, in the contemporary society (Swarbrooke, 5). They include eco-tourism, green tourism or travel, environmentally and culturally sensitive tourism fair trades and ethically sensitive traveling for the tourists as well as for the tour operators. Other definition of sustainable tourism include the use of tourism as a means for management of resources for the overall economical, societal and aesthetical fulfillment of the needs of the populace of an area engaged in tourism as an income generating action. The tourism industry is considered as one of the largest industries in the world given the high incomes generated from the industry. However, as an income generating industry and size it is considered as one of the most demanding industries due to the need for quality infrastructure for access by the tourists. Hence, countries with inadequate resources for establishing high end or adequate infrastructure are unable to tape sufficiently into the tourism industry (Swarbrooke, 13). Establishment of infrastructure is considered as one of the main prerequisites by authorities into tapping into the tourism industry adequately. However, establishment of infrastructure plays a significant role in the degradation of the natural surroundings of an area as well as disruption of economic and cultural aspects in a given community. On the other hand, tourism plays a great role in improving the economic conditions of areas or countries, which are involved in sale of tourism products to the international, as well as the local markets. Tourism according to the World Travel council (WTTC) accounts for the provision of more than 255 million jobs around the world, which translates, to 10.7% of the total global labor force. This is an impressive figure in that numerous numbers of people rely on tourism as a sole source of livelihoods to support themselves as well as their families (Stakeholder Forum’s Towards Earth Summit 2002, pp. 3). Aspects of tourism such as ecotourism in the past were not considered adequately by tourism authorities around the world. There have been negative perceptions about the effects of ecotourism and other conservative forms of tourism around the world. This is because authorities need to use the channels, which they consider as appropriate for generating the most revenue without consideration for their surroundings, as well as the diminishing cultures of the various communities in the tourists’ sites or areas. There is a dire need for sensitization of communities as well as governmental agencies involved in promotion of the various tourism products. However, aspects such as ecotourism could not fully discover the ability of transforming the tourism industry into a conservative medium for both culture and environment. Tourism in developing countries constitutes more than half of the GDP accrued from such entities. In addition, this is also the same for lower middle-income countries around the world. This is evidenced by the presence of the top tourists destinations around the world situated in low incomes countries where majority of their populace live under the minimum wage. Between the years 1990 and 1997, the economic growth of many countries identified as tourist destinations accounted for more than 50% of the total revenues of the countries identified as key destinations (Stakeholder Forum’s Towards Earth Summit 2002, pp. 7). It is evident that tourism could be used as a platform for propagating conservationism. However, it is also a means for damage of the environment because of the numerous developments needed to ensure that the tourists have adventure in the course of heir visits. Environmental damage usually takes place in the form of new infrastructure developments as well as the burden placed on a location due to the increase in the populace. Higher populations necessitate the need for development of new social amenities as well as other infrastructure. The consequences of such investments in infrastructure have a great negative impact on the society, as well as the environment. Tourism has a strong disruption especially on the culture and societal structures of a certain community (Swarbrooke, 25). Such negative impacts include the financial leakages associated with the increased income and inflows of funds in a community resulting in an increase, in the costs of living in an area engaged in tourism and related activities. In addition, it also results in other negative societal impacts such as gender bias in terms of access to the various resources such as societal amenities. Other impacts include sexual exploitation resulting in commercial sex industry growth, imbalances in the formal ad informal sectors, imbalances in domestic and international tourism leading to bias among the various communities due to the need to fight for resources. Tourism usually depends on the natural environment to accrue revenues from tourist visits. Increase in urbanization in the various tourist destinations around the world, results in the destruction of the natural flora and fauna of a destination because of the need to create space for new settlements and the processes of industrialization. Sceneries, cultural heritage, natural features and biodiversity usually constitute the main attractions to tourists. It is essential for tourist authorities to ensure that the various tourists’ sites are protected from pollution in terms of both the environment, as well as the cultures of their respective communities or countries. Efforts for safeguarding the environment should be placed as a high priority for governments as this would ensure that the countries are able to sustain and uphold their heritages. This is essential, as it would accrue long-term societal and economic benefits to the governments as well as their respective populations. Areas or locations where there is minimal human interference are usually considered as fragile and susceptible to degradation by little or any other level of human interference. Areas such as small islands, coastal locations, wetlands, mountainous regions, as well as deserts usually are among the main attractions for tourists in the numerous venues around the world. However, the identified natural areas are usually fragile areas, which are susceptible to changes in the surroundings because of interference by any form of human activity. Hence, any form of degradation by human activity is usually considered as a start to the reduction of allure of a tourist attraction. Marketers and tour operators usually use the term â€Å"ecotourism† as merely a â€Å"greenwash† marketing tool for attracting environmentally sensitive tourists. Tour operators usually use unsustainable forms of tourism, which materially affect the environmental conditions of tourist locations. Fragile areas usually appeal to tourists who want to witness nature at its best, which has not been polluted by human activities (World Tourism Organization, 26). High wastage traits of the foreigners or tourists into a natural habitat usually pose a threat to the environment irrespective of the guise of conduct of ecotourism or sustainable tourism. Such could also happen in areas where there are inadequate social amenities such as waste management resources to accommodate the unprecedented influx in the number of individuals. Unsustainable tourism usually incorporates various possibilities of degradation of the environment, cultures within a given tourist attraction. The gradual degradation of areas, which are considered prime attractions of the tourists could result in negative impacts on the society, provided if the communities rely on the areas for sustenance. The resultant effects could include new means of accrual of income for the community, if the areas become unattractive for the tourists if the areas are degraded by the influx of visitors and other human activities. Such could be an increase in crime, adoption of prostitution as a means of accrual of incomes, child labor and sexual exploitation of children as well as adults. Hence, it is essential to ensure that such areas are sustained and accrue long-term benefits to the respective communities (Miller, Twining-Ward, 33) Ecotourism is one of the main approaches, which could be assumed for the achievement of sustainable tourism and accrual of both societal and economic benefits. Another assumable and common approach that is gaining popularity around the world is responsible and pro-poor tourism. Poverty alleviation through tourism is a new approach as that assumed by the World Tourism Organization, which aims at reduction of poverty among communities around the world situated in the major tourist locations. The adoption of sustainable tourism could enable the attainment of the goals of sustainable development coupled by the presence of other benefits such as revitalization of economies, support to local communities in tourist locations. Others include protection of the environment as well as protection of the environment and generation of savings in terms of the costs and efficient tourism for the tour operators as well as their respective companies (Herremans, 29). Attainment of sustainable tourism could be achieved through the development of policy tools, awareness programs, and local participation of the communities in sustainable tourism and the implementation of plans for attainment of sustainable tourism goals. Main strategies for achievement of sustainable tourism in the contemporary society should be an incorporation of the various goals and needs of the community, the environment and the tourism industry. The governmental tourist agencies could ensure that the host communities within the various tourist locations are able to manage the visitation of their respective tourist locations (Ioannides, Apostolopoulos, Sevil, 17). Such would ensure that they are able to accrue maximum financial benefits are accrued to the communities. In addition, this would ensure that such communities are able to reduce the negative cultural implications, which could be resultant from the new forms of tourism, which are developing, in the modern society. It is also essential for governmental agencies responsible for tourism as well as other stakeholders to ensure the presence of productivity and diversity of the various tourist habitats through the implementation of the various conventions and agreements adopted for the achievement of sustainable tourism goals (Middleton, Hawkins, 37). Cooperation and coordination between the various agencies involved in tourism is needed. Enhanced coordination and cooperation would ensure the presence of foreign direct investments and partnerships with interested parties in either public or private sectors for investments in new means of sustainable tourism. Investment support is usually essential for the establishment of programs as well as infrastructure for sustainable tourism. This is aimed at promotion of new plans for the development of new strategies by defining the responsibilities to be assumed by the various agencies and stakeholders. Such ensures that all the involved parties have defined responsibilities in the attainment of sustainable development and tourism practices. In addition, there is also need for the ratification of the international as well as national agreements for the implementation of legal mechanisms, which would ensure that the tourism communities accrue maximum benefits as well as the achievement of sustainable development and adoption of better and naturally sensitive forms of tourism. This involves the evaluation of the current legal frameworks, regulatory frameworks, for development of new strategies for the needed changes to ensure transition from the existing frameworks to new frameworks for the achievement of sustainable tourism (Font, Ralf, 33). The participation of the citizens and respective communities in their respective tourist locations is paramount to ensure that the communities share ideas, which they would want, factored in the new forms of tourism. The community would be able to ensure that the new policies are in line with their needs and wants as well as their best interests are factored in the proposals. They would also become part of stakeholders in the assessment of the environmental impacts posed by the various tourism activities (Eagles et al, 41). Such assessment is essential as it ensures that the community is able to understand the necessity of the conservation efforts to ensure long-term benefits for the community. In addition, it is also essential for the establishment of initiatives and programs, which promote the interaction between the host communities and the tourists (Budruk, Rhonda, 32). This is essential as it creates a better understanding of the needs of the other party; the tourists understand the needs of the host community whereas the community understands the needs of the tourists. Such an understanding enables cooperation in terms of the developmental and tourism initiatives for achievement of sustainable forms of tourism. The main strategy for the establishment and identification of a path to be assumed in the establishment of sustainable forms of tourism is based on designing and planning of a plan for achievement of sustainable development and tourism. This involves set up of countrywide policies, which would ensure the achievement of development. It also involves in the examination of various factors such as the potency of influence on the economical, political, societal and cultural implications associated with the introduction of new tourism products, which are essentially sustainable. Work Cited Budruk, Megha, Rhonda Phillips. Quality-of-life Community Indicators for Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management. Dordrecht: Springer, 2011. Print. Eagles, Paul F. J, Stephen F. McCool, Christopher D. Haynes. Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas: Guidelines for Planning and Management. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN–the World Conservation Union, 2002. Print. Font, Xavier, Ralf Buckley. Tourism Ecolabelling: Certification and Promotion of Sustainable Management. Wallingford, Oxon: CABI Pub, 2001. Print. Herremans, Irene M. Cases in Sustainable Tourism: An Experiential Approach to Making Decisions. New York: Haworth Hospitality Press, 2006. Print. Ioannides, Dimitri, Yiorgos Apostolopoulos, Sevil F. So?nmez. Mediterranean Islands and Sustainable Tourism Development: Practices, Management and Policies. London: Continuum, 2001. Print. Middleton, Victor T. C, Rebecca Hawkins. Sustainable Tourism: A Marketing Perspective. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann, 1998. Print. Miller, Graham, Louise Twining-Ward. Monitoring for a Sustainable Tourism Transition: The Challenge of Developing and Using Indicators. Wallingford, UK: CABI Pub, 2005. Print. Stakeholder Forum’s Towards Earth Summit 2002. â€Å"Sustainable Tourism-Turning the Tide† Economic Briefing, No. 4, 2002. Print. Swarbrooke, John. Sustainable Tourism Management. Wallingford, Oxon, UK: CABI Pub, 1999. Print. World Tourism Organization. Sustainable Tourism Management at World Heritage Sites: Enhancing Inter-Agency and Stakeholder Coordination for Joint Action. Madrid: World Tourism Organization, 2009. Print.