STRATEGY IN THE CONTEXT OF SUSTAINABILITY

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STRATEGY IN THE CONTEXT OF SUSTAINABILITY

• we do not inherit the earth from our
  forefathers, but borrow it from our children

American Indian leader
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Millennium 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

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Stern 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
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KNOWLEDGE IN TOURISM WTO PERSPECTIVE
Tourism demand growth
Source World Tourism Organization (WTO)
Figures in millions of international tourism
movements / year
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This?
Or this?
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Tourism is like fire it can cook your food or
it can burn your house down
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Terminology
alternative tourism
Transformational tourism
environmentally friendy tourism
soft tourism
responsible tourism
eco-tourism
minimum impact tourism
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Sustainable 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.

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Basics 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

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Milestones

• 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

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Milestones (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

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Who has spurred the interest?

• Pressure groups
• Host communities
• Professional bodies
• Government bodies
• The media
• International organizations
• Educators/experts
• Tourists
• The industry?

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This?
Or this?
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Polar opposites
Continuum
Movement
Convergence
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Critique 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

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What can be done.?

• By the private sector

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QUESTIONS

• What is the rationale for private sector firms to
  contribute to the sustainability of the
  destination?
• Are they doing it?

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Tourism 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

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COSTA RICA, Central America
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(No Transcript)
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Case Study Costa Rica
San Ramón, Costa Rica
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SOME 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.
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MAIN 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.