The Implication of Sustainable Tourism Practices - Essay Example

Sustainable Destination Introduction Presently, tourism is presently one of the fastest growing industries inthe world and several developing countries are investing more effort and resources in the expanding industry in an attempt to boost or develop their foreign investments and financial reserves. Whilst conceding that, the uncontrolled growth of the industry can result to serious problems such as environmental and social problems, organizations such as the United Nations argue that the negative effects brought by the growth needs to be reduced and controlled and can only be done through sustainability of tourism. In several people’s mind, they would interpret sustainable tourism as sustaining attraction in ensuring that there is a continuous flow of visitors, but according to Leslie (2012), sustainable tourism is the development that meets the necessities of the present environment with no compromise in the capability of the prospect generations to attain their own necessities. Primarily, sustainable tourism advocates for the intelligent use and maintenance of resources with the intention of upholding their long-term feasibility. Therefore, this paper will critically evaluate tourism practices also how the practices align with principles of sustainability; it will also evaluate two tourism operations in order to analyze their sustainability practices. Sustainable Tourism In Light Of Current Debates According to Leslie (2012), sustainable tourism is an industry committed to making a low impact on the environment and the society while generating income and employment for the community. Tourism frequently relies on high quality and stimulating destinations environment, therefore, tourism is the security to the economy, environment, and the social agenda to the government, since it plays a role in the conservation as a justification for the preservation and upgrading of cultural and natural heritage (Leslie, 2012). From the time when the Agenda 21 was the development intended for the Travel and Tourism Industry, the term sustainability has become commonly used word several debates in tourism. The idea of sustainability in tourism has stirred past the common definition of ecotourism to embrace several other concepts of tourism. However, the implication of sustainable tourism practices are far from universal and researchers have expressed their frustration at the slow pace of change (Leslie, 2012). While some industries and companies have changed considerably in the adjustment of behaviors in becoming more socially, economically, and environmentally responsible, it appears that the tourism industry is becoming less sustainable. This is because of the rapid growth and their unwillingness to change travel behaviors or to engage in operational and business behavioral changes that are more fundamental. For example, the industry goes beyond profitable measures because of resource saving, branding benefits, or improving customer relations in both private and public text of the tourism industry (Leslie, 2012). According to the World Tourism organization (Leslie, 2012), sustainable development in the tourism industry have been reorganized by defining sustainable tourism as fulfilling the needs of the tourists also the local community at large while still protecting and boosting the tourist attractions for the future concurrent to the national economic supply. Sustainable tourism is visualized as leading t management of the resources in a manner that economic, aesthetic, and social needs are fulfilled in the effort of maintaining ecological processes, cultural integrity, and biological variety and life support system (Leslie, 2012). Sustainability Issues Facing the Tourism Operations Principles of tourism ranges from natural, cultural, historical, and other resources in the tourism industry are conserved for constant use in the future while still sustaining benefits to the society. However, several challenges or issues surround the sustainability of tourism in the various tourism operations such as business travel, holidays, conferences, ecotourism, and adventure travel, and as we move further into the 21st century, it is worthy to consider challenges that face these operations. In this section of the essay, there will be a full examination of sustainability issues facing ecotourism (Lu J, Nepal SK, 2009). Ecotourism From the past, the environment has been receiving threats from tourism, thus in the effort of maintaining sustainable tourism, there have been efforts that promote ecotourism as a form of sustainable tourism. Ecotourism is the encouragement of conservation also providing benefits to the local community. In an attempt to trim down the negative effects of tourism, more environmentally and socially, thorough approaches to tourism have been promoted. Thus, according to The International Ecotourism Society, ecotourism is defined as responsible travel to natural areas that conserve the environment also improving the well-being of the local people (Ruhanen, 2008). According to research, ecotourism is seen as a profitable role in the wider market, bringing economic benefits to the developing countries without the need of providing costly infrastructure for many visitors. Ecotourism can create opportunities in developing countries for spreading the economic benefits of tourism to national parks and remote areas, and this is achievable if the country’s policy aim is to welcome more tourism and involve the local community in the process. Despite the benefits in ecotourism, several sustainable issues face the efforts of the operation to remain sustainable (Ruhanen, 2008). Additional to the other challenges facing the ecotourism industry, for example, as how to harmonize efforts and the manner to ensure equal opportunity for tourism providers of all sizes, the major issue facing ecotourism continue to revolve around increasing consumer awareness and demand. In this case, ecotourism certification will be successful if tourist’s desire and support are socially and environmentally accountable in businesses, but eco-certification in tourism has not yet attained a majority of visitors due to lack of a globally conventional framework implemented to measure the developed certification programs. The actual extent of consumer demand for sustainable tourism remains an area of considerable uncertainty and debate among researchers. The other main challenge ecotourism face is a lack of concrete strategies for ecotourism development in several developing countries. In order to encourage an active participation in all the interested stakeholders, there should be concrete leadership and a strategy that will facilitate communication among stakeholders, local capabilities to maintain ecotourism, local support and participation, and control over natural resources (Lu J, Nepal SK, 2009). Industry Certification Standard of Sustainable Tourism Tourism is a large part of the economy and has a large impact in the country’s economy; on the other hand, ecotourism is a concept that came from the awareness of this impact and the need to protect fast and to disappear ecologically sensitive areas. Therefore, certification of the ecotourism was developed for the businesses that undertook tourism operations (Conroy, 2002).Certification is defined as an approach of making certain that the service, an activity, or a product passes the set standards. Within the tourism industry, different organization have developed certification programs that ensure different aspects of tourism, for example quality, sustainability, and ecotourism for sustainable tourism, which takes place in natural, fragile, or protected ecosystems. Tourism certification is a voluntary procedure that monitors, assesses, and gives written assurances that a business, product, or services conform to specific requirements. In this case, the certification ascertains the scope within which an industry offering tourism operation or practices meets the tourism industry nominated standards (Conroy, 2002). Additionally, several certification schemes relate to the environmental performance in tourism and on the general term, they are referred to as ecolabels, specifically related to the environment. In the context of ecotourism, the Eco Certification Program is based on the principles of ecotourism and was implemented to ensure they meet the requirement of a true nature and businesses that carry out ecotourism activities. In this case, several of the principles highlighted in eco certification program were in line with the objectives of a business in the protected areas (Conroy, 2002). Additionally, according to Conroy (2002), the ecotourism industry has increasing turned into ecotourism certification as a tool to increase its visibility and legitimacy, but the fast rise of countless of certification schemes has increased consumer confusion about the meaning of ecotourism and has reduced consumer confidence in the sector. Consequently, in the recent past there have been efforts trying to complement certification schemes thus creating a global accreditation body. Primarily, certification programs have been used increasingly in the ecotourism industry in an attempt of enhancing the integrity of the sector also raises consumer awareness. STEP-Sustainable Tourism Eco-tourism Program is a certification program since the tourism industry was not moving in the right direction and as fast as it was needed (Conroy, 2002). STEP was developed in 2002 as part of the launch of a nonprofit organization whose agenda was to promote a sustainable development and eco-friendly travel by providing program that help tourists and the companies involved in travelling protect the socio-cultural, economic, and environmental needs within the places they visit. The certification aims to benefits the consumers, host communities, resource managers, and travel tourism providers through the enhancement of triple-bottom line of financial profitability in respect to the social and environment responsibility (Conroy, 2002). Recommendation on How to Improve Sustainability Practices There is a necessity for sustainable tourism strategies in all forms of tourism. Countries encounter several challenges and constraints, therefore, every possible action should be taken to ensure there is an improvement in the tourism industry, to a more sustainable industry, such as the following: One, there should local participation for the distribution of cost and benefits of tourism that preserve culture and environmental management (Seba, 2011). Additionally, there should be an encouraging participation in sustainable tourism development for the local people. Through organizing tourism related activities that generate new income, pressure can be created on the social factor between operations for the traditional and contemporary business management. In this case, people in the local communities may need government incentives. However, developing countries faces several problems that create barriers from having adequate regulations and law that are implemented for the protection of the environment and cultural heritage. On the other hand, a sustainable tourism development goal is related to the decision making on the use of resources and land for tourism purpose. Thus, the government is required to fit a role that help raise the awareness of the benefits acquired through the participation in nature-based activities, for example, social aspects, managing stress, and economic in the sense that, physical fitness leads to a higher environmental awareness and job (Seba, 2011). According to Seba (2011), in order to diminish the negative effects contributed by tourism to the environment, strategic and reasonable measures are needed. Moreover, tourism is said to have the capability that allow important contribution in the social aspect, therefore, the costs incurred should be shared equally, thus, the need for additional efforts will result to positive benefits to the society. Another recommendation is that, efforts need to be put into foster community-based tourism that will certainly welcome new social and economic roles for the members in the community. In addition, technical support should be provided to the local people on the techniques that would lead to achieving equitable distribution of the benefits got from the tourism industry. On the other hand, environmental protection role context, the society may need an extra effort to help them understand the impacts of tourism and effective methods for protecting the environment and stopping damages to the natural resources. Thus, to ensure tourism development, strategic planning and policies must be adopted, in this case, socio-cultural and economic, and environmental aspects have to be included in the process (Seba, 2011). Conclusion In conclusion, the main problem is the creation of tangible and working local partnership. Tourism businesses need to recognize and give support to the social conditions, cultural, and environmental wealth that make a community, an activity, a place an attractive tourist destination. Despite the challenges identified in the paper, the application of sustainability in ecotourism model remains important to the future tourism industry. Although there are several developments of various models, there is still no viable definition of sustainable tourism, for instance, ethical tourism and other forms of tourism consist of supported arguments, as there is alternative for existing methods and directions of tourism. Therefore, developing countries need to solve, for example, ethical implications of tourism, through making their practices more socially and environmentally responsible. Finally, long-standing sustainability goals and risk assessments need to be undertaken to protect resources for the future that as well can result to significant economic benefits for developers. References Conroy M. E. (2002). Certification Systems for Sustainable Tourism and Ecotourism: Can they Transform Social and Environmental Practices? In Honey M. (ed.), Ecotourism &Certification: Setting Standards in Practice. Washington DC, Island Press, pp.102-132. Leslie, D. (2012). Responsible tourism: Concepts, theories and practices. Cambridge, MA: CAB International. Lu J, Nepal SK (2009). Sustainable tourism research: An analysis of papers published in the Journal of Sustainable Tourism. Journal of Sustainable Tourism 17: 5-16. Ruhanen L (2008). Progressing the sustainability debate: A knowledge management approach to sustainable tourism planning. Current Issues in Tourism 11: 429-455. Seba, J. (Ed.). (2011). Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism: New Perspectives and Studies. CRC Press. Read More