Title: STRATEGY IN THE CONTEXT OF SUSTAINABILITY
1STRATEGY IN THE CONTEXT OF SUSTAINABILITY
- we do not inherit the earth from our
forefathers, but borrow it from our children
American Indian leader
2Millennium Development Goals
- Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
- Achieve universal primary education
- Promote gender equity and empower women
- Reduce child mortality
- Improve maternal health
- Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
- Ensure environmental sustainability
- Develop a global partnership for development
3Stern Report on Climate Change (released this
week by UK government)
The Stern Review says that climate change
represents the greatest and widest-ranging
market failure ever seen. And on the basis of
this intellectually rigorous and thorough
report, it is hard to disagree. BBC website
4KNOWLEDGE IN TOURISM WTO PERSPECTIVE
Tourism demand growth
Source World Tourism Organization (WTO)
Figures in millions of international tourism
movements / year
5This?
Or this?
6Tourism is like fire it can cook your food or
it can burn your house down
7Terminology
alternative tourism
Transformational tourism
environmentally friendy tourism
soft tourism
responsible tourism
eco-tourism
minimum impact tourism
8Sustainable Tourism Development
- is tourism which is developed and maintained in
such a manner and at such a scale that it remains
viable over an indefinite period and does not
degrade or alter the environment (human and
physical) in which it exists to such a degree
that it prohibits the successful development and
wellbeing of other activities and processes.
Butler 1993.
9Basics of Sustainable Development
- Sustainable Tourism is part of the bigger effort
of sustainable development - Backlash from the industrialization and
globalization of societies - Requires a long-term perspective
- Need for intervention and planning
- Considers economic, environmental social,
political and cultural concerns
10Milestones
- 1987 World Commission on Environment
Development Brundtland report - Establish ecological limits carrying capacity
- Re-distribute economic activity
- Equitable access to resources
- Population control
- Conservation of resources biodiversity
- Community decision making
- Broad international/national policy framework
- Economic feasibility
- Environmental auditing
11Milestones (contd)
- 1992 - Earth Summit on Sustainable Development,
Rio de Janiero - Agenda 21 Principles for Sustainable Development
- 1997 - World Tourism Organization (WTO) World
Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and Earth
Council - Agenda 21 for Tourism
- 2000 Millennium Development Goals
http//www.un.org/millenniumgoals/ - 2003 - United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)
International Council for Local Environmental
Initiatives (ICLEI) - Tourism and Local Agenda 21
12Who has spurred the interest?
- Pressure groups
- Host communities
- Professional bodies
- Government bodies
- The media
- International organizations
- Educators/experts
- Tourists
- The industry?
13This?
Or this?
14Polar opposites
Continuum
Movement
Convergence
15Critique of Current Thinking
- Value-laden vs. empirically based
- What is and is not sustainable?
- Concept of green tourist (light to dark)
- Carrying Capacity how to measure?
- De-marketing is it feasible?
- Need for measurement by indicators
16What can be done.?
17QUESTIONS
- What is the rationale for private sector firms to
contribute to the sustainability of the
destination? - Are they doing it?
18Tourism companies must examine
- Impact of activities on the environment
- Relations with local community
- Elimination of corruption
- Human resource policies
- Investment policies
- Product safety
- Pricing policies
- Promotion techniques
- Compliance with regulation/legislation
19COSTA RICA, Central America
20(No Transcript)
21Case Study Costa Rica
San Ramón, Costa Rica
22SOME INDICATORS OF SUCCESS
- Existence of numerous research institutions,
qualified human resources and access to
technology ? good information
- 96 literacy of the population, open for new
challenges ? good education
- Civilians and leaders willing to work for the
conservation of natural resources. Leadership on
initiatives to implement Agenda 21 ? good
image
- Transport, telecommunication services, energy,
drinking water and health throughout the country
? available infrastructure
- Dynamic, creative and bold national private
sector ? investment with vision
- Small scale tourism facilities, built mostly in
rural areas ? diversification
Turismo Conservación Consultores S.A.
23MAIN CHALLENGES
- Consolidation of responsible small and medium
scale ecotourism projects needed
- Public Sector role as a regulator needs to be
strengthened, provide better legislation
- Review and reorganize the operation, marketing
and management habits according to the new
demands.
- Ensure hotel chains and large projects are less
abusive to the environment .
Turismo Conservación Consultores S.A.