Approaches to Sustainable Tourism - Literature review Example

?Tourism industry has experienced tremendous growth around the world with millions of tourists moving in and out of countries every year. The movements of the tourism to new environments have certain impacts on the destinations, it is through this realization that the concern of sustainability stems in. Sustainable tourism endeavours to ensure that the impact of tourism activity exerts the lowest effect on the environment as well as the local culture where it takes place. Sustainable tourism is also concerned about the impact that the tourism activity have on the local people and strives to generate employment opportunities for the local people so that they can benefit following tourism activities that takes place in their immediate ecosystem. Some of the internationally leading hotels where tourists spend time have implemented sustainability program so that they can check on the impact of tourism on culture and nature. They have adopted the greener hotels movement and have implemented the policies of sustainable tourism education. Through the international body of Global Sustainable Tourism Council, several factors that promote sustainable tourism have been identified and most of the hotels are advised to adopt the recommendation given. According to Girard, and Nijkamp (2009, p. 37) several programs have been proposed to help achieve the envisaged results of sustainability. Some of the diverse programs proposed by Girard, and Nijkamp includes; Education and Training, Accreditation, International Standard Setting, and Destinations. They informs that GSTC body provides a detailed global sustainable tourism criteria that is supposed to be adopted by all the stakeholders in the tourism sector so that they can realize the full potential of tourism as a means of alleviating poverty as well as a tool for conservation- both cultural and natural resources. Through the GSTC body that promotes reduction of negative impact contributed for by tourism, the criteria given to the hotels and tour operation can be subdivided into certain areas of concern as stated below Demonstration of Effective Sustainable Management A comprehensive reference has been availed by the GSTC body for sustainable management of the resources in the tourism destination. As reported by Branson in his Approaches towards a Sustainable Tourism Development a Strategic Concept, these concerns look into among other issues; social, cultural, health, quality, economic, and safety (2009, p. 62). All the tourism activities are expected to observe the mentioned criteria in its endeavour to make tourism sustainable. The international tourist destinations are all bound to abide by the provision so these regulations for the sustainability of tourism industry. The sustainable aspect in this relation as proposed by Branson take into account planning and construction activities related to tourism, activities related to demolition, renovation design, planning and construction must respect the cultural and the natural heritage that surrounds the immediate environment (2009, p. 67). This is proposed to be done through careful planning, designing, siting, and sound impact assessment. There are also concerns of using the locally available sustainable practices and materials, the design and construction should provide accessibility for people with special need so that they can access and utilize the facilities. The guidelines as provided by Branson (2009, p.71) do not also provides for involuntary resettlement of the indigenous people, construction of the hotels are supposed to be done in tandem with the communal and the indigenous rights and states that there has to be free prior and informed consents from the indigenous people. Maximize the Social and Economic Benefits with Minimal Impact to the Local Community According to Seba in Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism: New Perspectives And Studies, the international hotels through the provision given by the sustainability body have to ensure that the local community benefits the most but with minimal negative impact on the natural and cultural elements (2012, p. 28). The hotels are involved in cooperate social responsibility in which they should provide certain infrastructural facilities to the immediate surroundings, these includes health facilities, schools, and sanitation (Seba 2012, p. 33). In addition to this, Brebbia also states that there should be equal consideration of human resource from the area for employment in the hotels as well as that of goods and services coming from the catchment area (2006, p. 49). He proceeds to inform that the purchased of the services and the products locally produced should be made following fair principles of trade (Brebbia, 2006, p.58). The Hotels also ensures asserts Brebbia, that tourism activities does not affects adversely the manner in which the local people access some of the basic services which includes; water, energy, food, sanitation, and to neighbouring communities (2006, p. 66). There are also concerns as to whether tourism activity affects the provision of certain basic services that are essential to the local people and that in the event that they can have effects it is advisable that other option be explored. Maximize Benefits to the Environment and Minimize Negative Impacts To promote sustainable tourism, it is also the responsibility of the hotels to ensure that there is maximum benefit to the environment through conservation of resources. Some of the resources that are conserved in this relation include water and energy, sourcing for these essentials should be ensured to be sustainable and that it does not affect adversely the environmental flow (Branson 2009, p. 71). With reference to the energy use, Seba proposes that only renewable sources should be used but with stringent control of usage to minimize wastes (2012, p. 83). Reduction of Pollution Pollution, particularly emission of the greenhouse gases is one of the most concerns that the hotels look into as stated by Brebbnia (2006, p. 56). It is understood that the emission of the greenhouse gases are the precursor to increased global warming hence the need to ensure that their release is highly controlled and minimized. There is also elaborate used water treatment that is proposed for the hotels to minimize the impact of used water pollution to the environment. Related to this as given by Girard and Nijkamp, the hotels should also ensure that certain chemical substances are not released to the environment that may results to pollution (2009, p. 48). Conserving Biodiversity, Ecosystems, and Landscapes According to Seba, the hotels also have the responsibility to ensure that wildlife are not used in a manner that is not consistent with the established laws and regulations, in this regard, wild animals are not supposed to be harvested, displayed, consumed, sold or traded and is only allowed if the use is regular and conforms to sustainability. In reference to this, the hotels are supposed to demonstrate support for conserving biodiversity, which also includes protected areas. There is also the regulation that limits the hotels and the tour guides from capturing wildlife outside the context of the law (2012, p. 59) References Branson, Thomas. Dominican Republic - Approaches Towards a Sustainable Tourism Development A Strategic Concept. MuI?nchen: GRIN Verlag GmbH, 2009. Brebbia, Carlos A. Sustainable tourism II: Second International Conference on Sustainable Tourism. Southampton [u.a.: WIT Press, 2006. Girard, Luigi, and Peter Nijkamp. Cultural tourism and sustainable local development. Farnham: Ashgate, 2009. Seba, Jaime A. Ecotourism and sustainable tourism: new perspectives and studies. Toronto: Apple Academic Press, 2012. Read More