Chapter one

1. Concept and definition of tourism

1.1 Tourism
“Tourism comprises the activities of persons travelling to and staying in places
outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure,
business and other purposes” (World Tourism Organization (WTO) -Recommendations
on Tourism Statistics).

1.2 Sustainable tourism

Sustainable tourism development meets the needs of present tourists and host regions
while protecting and enhancing opportunities for the future. It is envisaged as leading to
management of all resources in such a way that economic, social and aesthetic needs can be
fulfilled while maintaining cultural integrity, essential ecological processes, and biological diversity
and life support systems.”
Sustainable tourism is environmentally responsible travel and visitation to natural areas, in
order to enjoy and appreciate nature (and any accompanying cultural features, both past and
present) in a way that promotes conservation, has a low visitor impact, and provides for
beneficially active socio-economic involvement of local peoples. (World Conservation Union,
1996).

1.2.1The Role of Government in Sustainable Tourism

Although tourism may be driven by the private sector, government policy instruments, such as requirements for
environmental impact assessments (EIAs) and management plans, can be extraordinarily effective in ensuring that
development takes place in an appropriate manner. In many biodiversity hotspot countries, tourism destinations are
under the influence of various governmental agencies, whose mandates include culture, historical heritage, parks,
coastal protection, economic development, fisheries management, and forestry? Smooth coordination among these
departments and coherence between tourism policy and other government policies, including biodiversity
conservation, are not always the rule, and therefore different policies may undermine rather than support each other.

National governments usually set the framework for tourism development and biodiversity conservation through
policy and legislation. Some examples of these include
Laws and regulations defining standards for tourism facilities, access to biodiversity resources, and land-use
regulation and zoning. This may include requirements for environmental impact statements (EIS’s) before
development.
Infrastructure design, development, and regulation (water, energy, roads, airports, etc.).
Economic instruments defined in policy, such as incentives for sustainable tourism investment and the creation
of private reserves.
Standards for health and safety, including quality controls and regulation of business activities; these are aimed
at protecting consumers and at meeting the needs of residents—including traditional communities and indigenous
people—and protecting their lifestyles.
Establishment and maintenance of protected areas and conservation corridors of interest to tourism. Managers
of public protected areas often are the most effective players for conservation benefits from tourism development.
Allocation of tax revenues for the protection of biodiversity-based tourism attractions, such as national parks and
reserves.
At the destination level, local authorities are often responsible for implementing policies regarding tourism and
biodiversity conservation. Local authorities are well placed to negotiate between the various interests of local and
outside entrepreneurs, civil society, and national government agencies, and they hold essential regulatory and zoning
mandates that allow for the enforcement of guidelines and standards. On the other hand, the capacity of local
authorities to manage this complex and fragmented industry effectively, and to ensure its positive contribution to
local strategies for sustainable development, is dependent on whether local policymaking is coherent with national
policy instruments and agencies.
In many transitional and developing countries, governments may also play a direct role of tour operators and hotel
managers. Either to try to jump-start quality standards or to generate revenue. For example, Suriname has a
government-run tour operator (METS) and there are similar state-run tour operators in China and Vietnam.
1.2.2 The Role of the Tourism Industry in Sustainable Tourism
The tourism industry is massive. It is considered to be the biggest industry in the world. It consists of an enormous
number of small and medium-sized enterprises, and also includes large multinational corporations that control an
increasing percentage of the overall market. In Europe, for example, five companies control over 60% of organized
outbound travel (i.e. tourists who travel on pre-planned tours). It involves a huge variety of people, including tour
operators and travel agents who assemble trips; airline and cruise ship employees; minivan drivers; staff of big
hotels and small family lodges; handicraft makers; restaurant owners; tour guides; and all the other people who
independently offer goods and services to tourists. The complexity of this sector indicates how challenging it can be
for protected-area staff and local communities to learn about and form partnerships with the tourism industry.
Members of the tourism industry are valuable to sustainable tourism for many reasons. First, they understand travel
trends. They know how travelers act and what they want. Second, the tourism industry can influence travelers by
encouraging good behavior and limiting negative impacts in protected areas. Third, the tourism industry plays a key
role in promoting and actually carrying out sustainable tourism. Its members know how to reach travelers through
publications, the Internet, the media and other means of promotion, thus providing a link between sustainable
tourism destinations and consumers.
1.2.3 The Role of the Tourist in Sustainable Tourism
The tourist is the ultimate actor in making sustainable tourism a reality. If tourists do not choose to come to the
MPA, or are not willing to pay fees to support sustainable tourism, the project will fail.
Attracting tourists to sustainable tourism at MPAs usually involves two factors.
1. Communicating to the tourist that the MPA exists and what its attractions are. This is where the marketing
experience of experienced tour operators will be essential. Getting the MPA listed in major travel guides such as
Lonely Planet, Rough Guide, etc. is also helpful, as these guides can help attract independent travelers (those not on
pre-planned tours) to the MPA.
2. Encouraging the tourist to patronize sustainable tourism rather than conventional tourism. The tourist may
need to be willing to pay higher fees to visit a site that is sustainable, rather than attending a similar tourism
experience elsewhere that is less environmentally friendly.
Fortunately, surveys of tourists have shown that, in general, though tourists primarily want to relax when on
vacation, they do not wish to do this at the expense of local people or their environment. As we saw yesterday,
several European surveys indicate that tourists are willing to pay up to 5% more (of their entire trip budget), e.g. for
such extra costs as MPA entrance fees, if they know that the extra money will support the local environment and the
community. However, tourists, like everybody, have limited budgets, and there does come a point past which an
excessively high fee will turn tourists away.
Travel guides, magazines, and newspapers can make huge contributions to raising consumer awareness about
critical issues facing the tourism industry and help to stimulate a demand for change. For example, National
Geographic Traveler magazine routinely highlights issues of sustainable tourism and profiles tourism businesses
that are leading the way in implementing sustainable tourism practices. Audubon magazine has developed a “Tread
Lightly” code of conduct for travel in natural areas. Reaching out to particular market segments of tourists who are
interested in sustainable tourism may be more beneficial than advertising widely to a mass market.

1.2.4The Role of NGO's in Sustainable Tourism

Many conservation-oriented NGOs ("non-governmental organizations", such as Conservation International,
Rainforest Alliance, etc.) embrace sustainable tourism because of its direct link to conservation. Conservation NGOs
frequently act as:
Facilitators between other players, e.g. communities and the tourism industry
Partners with sustainable tourism companies, whether locally owned or not
Trainers and sources of technical information and expertise
Partners with protected area administrators, often helping obtain funding or carrying out some activity, e.g. an
environmental education or interpretation program
Managers of their own private protected areas or, sometimes, of government administered protected areas
Rarely, NGOs may directly provide tourism services, such as promotion, lodging, transportation and food. However,
this can distract an NGO from its primary mission and can remove opportunities for community-based enterprises or
the private sector.

Source: Steps to Sustainable Tourism, 2004

1.3 Conventional and sustainable development

How does sustainable tourism differ from conventional tourism?
Conventional tourism is not necessarily planned to enhance conservation or education, does not
benefit the local community, and can rapidly damage a fragile environment. As a result it can
destroy, or unrecognizably alter, the very resources and cultures on which it depends. In contrast,
sustainable tourism is deliberately planned from the beginning to benefit local residents, respect
local culture, conserve natural resources, and educate both tourists and local residents.
Sustainable tourism can produce the same profits as conventional tourism, but more of the profits
stay with the local community, and the region’s natural resources and culture can be protected. In
many cases, conventional tourism practices of the past have posed a major threat to marine
conservation due to lack of management controls and effective planning mechanisms. In
contrast, sustainable tourism deliberately seeks to minimize the negative impacts of tourism,
while contributing to conservation and the well-being of the community, both economically and
socially. Conventional tourism does not often provide sources of funding for both conservation
programs and local communities, while providing incentives for protecting areas from practices
and development that are harmful to the natural beauty of an area. Opportunities and threats can
only be controlled through well-planned and managed sustainable tourism.
In short;

CONVENTIONAL TOURISM
1. Has one goal: profit
2. Often not planned in advance; “it just happens”
3. Tourist oriented
4. Controlled by outside parties
5. Focus on entertainment for tourists
6. Conservation not a priority
7. Communities not a priority
8. Much revenue goes to outside operators & investors
SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
1. Planned with three goals: profit, environment, and community (triple bottom line)
2. Usually planned in advance with involvement of all stakeholders
3. Locally oriented
4. Locally controlled, at least in part
5. Focus on educational experiences
6. Conservation of natural resources a priority
7. Appreciation for local culture a priority
8. More revenue stays with local community and MPA
The triple bottom line of sustainable tourism
Sustainable tourism has three key components, sometimes referred to as the “triple bottom line”:
(International Ecotourism Society, 2004):
1. Environmentally, sustainable tourism has a low impact on natural resources, particularly in protected areas. It
minimizes damage to the environment (flora, fauna, habitats, water, living marine resources, energy use,
contamination, etc.) and ideally tries to benefit the environment.
2. Socially and culturally, it does not harm the social structure or culture of the community where it is located.
Instead it respects local cultures and traditions. It involves stakeholders (individuals, communities, tour operators,
government institutions) in all phases of planning, development, and monitoring, and educates stakeholders about
their roles.
3. Economically, it contributes to the economic well being of the community, generating sustainable and equitable
income for local communities and as many other stakeholders as possible. It benefits owners, employees and
neighbors. It does not simply begin and then rapidly die because of poor business practices.
A tourism enterprise that meets these three principles will “do well by doing well”. This means running a tourism
business in such a way that it doesn’t destroy natural, cultural, or economic resources, but rather encourages an
appreciation of the very resources that tourism is dependent on. A business that is run on these three principles can
enhance conservation of natural resources, bring appreciation to cultural values, bring revenue into the community,
AND be profitable.