🌲 Environmental Sustainability
Focuses on conserving natural resources, reducing pollution and protecting biodiversity. This includes waste management systems, renewable energy use and conservation efforts.
Features of Destinations and Their Appeal » Sustainable Provisions
What you'll learn this session
Study time: 30 minutes
- Understand what sustainable tourism provisions are and why they matter
- Learn about different types of sustainable tourism practices
- Explore how destinations can balance tourism development with environmental protection
- Examine real-world case studies of sustainable tourism success stories
- Understand how sustainable provisions enhance destination appeal
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Unlock This CourseIntroduction to Sustainable Provisions in Tourism
Tourism is one of the world's largest industries, but it can put enormous pressure on environments, cultures and communities. Sustainable provisions are the measures destinations take to ensure tourism can continue long-term without damaging what makes these places special in the first place.
Key Definitions:
- Sustainable Tourism: Tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities.
- Carrying Capacity: The maximum number of people that can visit a destination without causing unacceptable damage to the environment or decreasing visitor satisfaction.
- Ecotourism: Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of local people and involves education.
🏠 Socio-cultural Sustainability
Ensures tourism respects local cultures, preserves heritage and benefits local communities. This includes involving locals in decision-making and promoting authentic cultural experiences.
💰 Economic Sustainability
Ensures tourism creates long-term economic benefits that are fairly distributed. This includes local employment, supporting local businesses and reinvesting tourism revenue in the community.
🔧 Management Sustainability
Involves effective planning and governance to ensure tourism is developed responsibly. This includes monitoring impacts, setting limits and adapting strategies as needed.
Why Sustainable Provisions Matter
Sustainable provisions aren't just good for the planet they're increasingly important for attracting tourists. Modern travellers are becoming more environmentally conscious and often seek out destinations that align with their values.
Did You Know?
According to Booking.com's 2023 Sustainable Travel Report, 76% of global travellers want to travel more sustainably over the coming year and 41% choose destinations based on their sustainability efforts.
Types of Sustainable Provisions
Resource Management
How destinations manage their natural resources is crucial for sustainability. This includes water conservation, energy efficiency and waste reduction.
💦 Water Conservation
Low-flow taps, rainwater harvesting and water recycling systems help reduce water consumption in hotels and tourist facilities.
⚡ Energy Efficiency
Solar panels, energy-efficient lighting and smart building designs reduce carbon footprints and operating costs.
🗑 Waste Management
Recycling programmes, composting and plastic reduction initiatives help minimise waste sent to landfills.
Protected Areas and Conservation
Many destinations establish protected areas to preserve their natural attractions while still allowing controlled tourism access.
🏞 National Parks
Protected areas managed by governments that balance conservation with visitor access. They often use zoning to create areas of varying protection levels.
🌊 Marine Reserves
Protected ocean areas that limit fishing and other activities to preserve marine ecosystems while still allowing activities like snorkelling and diving.
Case Study Focus: Costa Rica
Costa Rica has become a world leader in sustainable tourism. The country protects over 25% of its land as national parks or reserves and has developed a Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST) programme that rates businesses based on their sustainability practices. Tourism businesses can earn leaves (similar to hotel stars) based on their environmental policies, conservation efforts, community involvement and cultural preservation. This system helps tourists identify genuinely sustainable options and incentivises businesses to improve their practices. As a result, Costa Rica has successfully positioned itself as an ecotourism destination, attracting environmentally conscious travellers from around the world.
Sustainable Transport Options
How tourists move around a destination significantly impacts its sustainability. Many destinations are investing in green transport infrastructure.
🚲 Cycling Infrastructure
Bike lanes, rental schemes and cycling tours reduce emissions while offering tourists a healthy way to explore. Amsterdam and Copenhagen are famous for their cyclist-friendly infrastructure.
🚌 Public Transport
Efficient public transport systems reduce congestion and pollution. Many tourist destinations offer special passes for visitors to encourage public transport use.
Community Involvement and Benefits
Sustainable tourism should benefit local communities, not just external businesses. This creates a more authentic experience for visitors while ensuring tourism's economic benefits are widely shared.
🍱 Local Food
Farm-to-table restaurants and local food markets reduce food miles while giving tourists authentic culinary experiences.
🎲 Local Guides
Employing local guides provides jobs while ensuring tourists receive authentic information about the destination.
🎁 Local Crafts
Supporting local artisans preserves traditional skills and provides authentic souvenirs for tourists.
Case Study Focus: Bhutan's "High Value, Low Impact" Tourism
Bhutan has taken a unique approach to sustainable tourism with its "high value, low impact" policy. Visitors must pay a daily Sustainable Development Fee (currently $200 per person per day), which funds free healthcare and education for all Bhutanese citizens. This approach limits tourist numbers, reducing environmental impact while ensuring tourism significantly benefits the local population. Bhutan also requires tourists to travel with licensed Bhutanese tour operators, ensuring tourism income stays within the country. The country measures success not by GDP but by Gross National Happiness, with environmental protection as a key pillar.
Certification and Standards
Various certification schemes help tourists identify genuinely sustainable options and encourage businesses to improve their practices.
🌍 Global Sustainable Tourism Council
Sets global standards for sustainable travel and tourism. Their criteria are used as the basis for certification programmes worldwide.
🏴 Green Key
An eco-label awarded to accommodation providers that meet strict environmental criteria, including water and energy conservation and waste management.
How Sustainable Provisions Enhance Destination Appeal
Sustainable provisions can significantly enhance a destination's appeal in several ways:
- Preserved Attractions: By protecting natural and cultural assets, destinations ensure they remain attractive to visitors in the long term.
- Unique Selling Point: Sustainability credentials can differentiate a destination from competitors and attract environmentally conscious travellers.
- Authentic Experiences: Sustainable tourism often emphasises authentic local experiences, which many modern tourists seek.
- Improved Visitor Experience: Less crowding, cleaner environments and better-preserved attractions generally lead to higher visitor satisfaction.
- Future-Proofing: Destinations that invest in sustainability are better prepared for future challenges like climate change and changing tourist preferences.
Case Study Focus: Slovenia's Green Scheme
Slovenia has successfully branded itself as a green destination through its "Green Scheme of Slovenian Tourism." This national certification programme evaluates destinations against 100 criteria covering environmental, cultural and social sustainability. Ljubljana, Slovenia's capital, has been named European Green Capital and has transformed its city centre into a pedestrian-only zone. The country promotes outdoor activities like hiking and cycling in its pristine natural environments. Since implementing this green strategy, Slovenia has seen increased tourism numbers and higher visitor satisfaction. In 2016, Slovenia was named the world's first Green Destination country, significantly boosting its international profile.
Challenges and Limitations
While sustainable provisions offer many benefits, implementing them isn't always straightforward:
💲 Cost Concerns
Sustainable infrastructure often requires significant upfront investment, which can be challenging for developing destinations or small businesses.
📋 Measuring Impact
It can be difficult to accurately measure the effectiveness of sustainable initiatives, making it hard to demonstrate their value.
Conclusion
Sustainable provisions are increasingly essential for tourism destinations. They help preserve the very attractions that draw visitors while meeting the growing demand for responsible travel options. Destinations that successfully implement sustainable practices can enhance their appeal, attract more conscientious visitors and ensure their tourism industry thrives for generations to come. As climate change and environmental awareness continue to grow, sustainability is likely to become even more central to destination appeal in the future.