Sustainable tourism - Research Paper Example

? Sustainable Tourism Sustainable tourism con s tourism that maximizes benefits ascribed to tourism while at the same time minimizing costs borne by the natural environment as well as the local communities, and has the capacity to be undertaken indefinitely without jeopardizing the resources that facilitate its operation (Page, 3). Tourism emerges amongst the greatest global industries, with the focus of the vast majority of the growing market’s focus revolving around natural environments of pristine value such as marine and coastal protected areas. Marine protected areas continually attract foreign visitors’ interests as well as that of local residents. Local communities and these protected areas can benefit from tourism through employment and revenue generation. Tourism can however also threaten resources in marine protected areas through habitat destruction, impacting the water quality and wildlife disturbance. It can potentially threaten communities through overcrowding, excessive development, and local culture disruption. Moreover, in conventional tourism, local communities do not benefit in the event that revenue from tourism leaks to entities operating outside the tourism regions. As such, tourism can decimate the same resources which facilitate its operation (Page, 12). Conversely, sustainable tourism involves deliberate planning to see to it that natural resources are conserved, local residents benefit from it, the local culture is respected and conserved, more profits are directed to the protected tourism areas, and the local residents together with the tourists are educated on the pertinence of conservation. Stakeholders; individuals with stakes or interests with regard to decisions made, need to be actively involved at every stage of management and planning endeavors within the protected areas, which includes sustainable tourism within and around the protected tourism areas, such stakeholders include the government, members of the local community, non-governmental organizations, the tourists themselves, and the tourism industry at large. The first step in sustainable tourism planning is identifying stakeholders and consequently opening consistent communication with them. The tourism industry, local communities, and NGOs need to collaborate with each other to facilitate the production of enterprises of sustainable tourism that are of both economic value and local benefit. In planning for sustainable tourism is essential to visualize the best possible situation for tourism the community and protected area. This ultimately underpins the overall course of sustainable tourism initiatives in light of objectives that ensure sustainability is achieved (Page, 24). Sustainable Tourism’s Triple Bottom Line Three prime components known as the triple bottom line drive sustainable tourism. First is the Environmental tenet. Environmentally, this kind of tourism has very limited impact on the natural resources, specifically within the protected areas. It limits environmental damage (living resources in marines, habitats, water, fauna, flora, contamination, use of energy) and fundamentally makes an attempt to impart benefit to the environment. Second is social and cultural conservation. Culturally and socially, sustainable tourism does not destroy the fabric of the community within which it is situated. It instead respects local traditions and cultures, stakeholders such as communities, individuals, tour operators; as well government institutions are involved in all the phases involving planning, developing, and monitoring sustainable tourism. It also creates awareness and builds the capacity of stakeholders on their specific roles. Third is economic prosperity. Economically, sustainable tourism contributes to the well-being of community by generating equitable and sustainable income for the local communities, together with all other stakeholders. It amasses immense benefits for the employees, owners and neighbors. It is not easy for sustainable tourism to simply start up and rapidly die, since it does not possess attributes allied to poor business practices (Page, 32). Tourism enterprises that satisfactorily fulfill the triple bottom line principle end up doing well by doing well in society. As such, the business enterprises are run in a manner that does not compromise natural, economic, or cultural resources, and encourage the proliferation of the resources on which tourism is dependent. A tourism business enterprise run on the basis of these principles can lead to the appreciation of local cultural values, generate revenue for the community, and conserve its natural resources. Sustainable tourism therefore leads to three-fold profitability. Demand levels for Sustainable Tourism In terms of appeal, tourists enjoying adventure travel, nature tourism or ecotourism; tourism focused on the appreciation of local cultures, wildlife, and wild areas, are also attracted to sustainable tourism. Tourists exuding high interest in nature-based and sustainability travel predominantly come from the United States, the UK, Germany, Australia, France, Sweden, Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. The trend in sustainable tourism affiliation is ascribed to the increase in global interest towards the environment. With the increase in knowledge as regards how fragile the environment is, the tourists get more in touch with global conservation developments. From the comfort of their homes, they are quite willing to make additional payments for green services and products and take some actions towards conservation like recycling. Out of their own interest, they are keen to gain knowledge regarding habitats under threat of annihilation and endangered species. They also desire to comprehend the intricate challenges ascribed to conservation, looking forward to experiencing these challenges first hand (Page, 43). Local Communities and Sustainable Tourism Not only does tourism have an economic impact to the local residents, but it also affects their personal lives in terms of culture, tradition, lifestyle, and livelihood. In contrast to other stakeholders within the tourism industry, the local communities are obliged to deal with touristic aspects whether they chose to or not. Some once-quiet rural communities now find themselves under the invasion of international tourists, a majority of whom merely pass through without staying to interact with local residents. With regard to conventional tourism, some of the local residents do not want anything to do with the visiting tourists, whereas for others, there is an intrigue about the employment opportunities. Community members have an essential role in sustainable tourism. They may take up direct tourism roles such as running independent tourism-based programs in the community, forming mergers with some private operators in tours and travel, renting out land for purposes of development, and working as full-time or part-time staff for the private operators in tours and travel. Local land owners have an important role when it comes to the area’s ecological health, especially within major protected areas’ buffer zones, around the river mouths, and along beaches. One of the greatest contributions associated with sustainable tourism is the extent to which it has the potential to change the impact that tourism has on local communities from ‘threatening’ to ‘beneficial’. Local residents’ prime purpose in sustainable tourism is attributed to two key reasons. First is that their places of domicile and workplaces are an attraction to nature travelers. Second, the input of effort by local residents to support sustainable tourism is exigent in facilitating conservation efforts (Page, 53). Experience has demonstrated that the top-down approach in managing protected areas that excludes local people from management initiatives undermines conservation efforts for biodiversity. For instance, the Maasai in Amboseli National Park in Kenya speared wildlife I the protected area in protests over the removal of their watering and grazing rights within the park. Similarly, tourism development approaches that fail to take into consideration the priorities of locals can face threats of civil unrest, tourist hostility, and unsafe conditions for tourist visitation. In general, involving the community has four essentials. First is identifying the stakeholders within the protected areas and forming partnerships with them. Second is community organization which entails pooling the community members to increase their participation in sustainable tourism. Third is involving the community in the planning process by engaging them in management activities. Fourth is building the capacity of the community through education and communication on imminent activities. Involving the community is bound to elevate conservation efforts and harmonize the tourist, locals and nature, hence lead to an ecologically sound tourism venture. Work cited Page, Stephen. Sustainable tourism: critical concepts in the social sciences.. 1. publ. ed. London [u.a.: Routledge, 2008. Print. Read More