Sustainable Operations in Tourism: 2
Sustainable Operations in Tourism: 2
Sustainable Operations in Tourism
Introduction
The success of the sustainable development plan depends on the creation of a sustainability management system (SMS), which is a systematic strategy that gives instructions for an organization to evaluate, manage, and improve sustainability through optimizing resource use (El-Haggar and Samaha, 2019). Sustainable tourism is the nature of tourism that considers the entire concept of the contemporary and future economic and environmental aspects. The tourism sector involves significant aspects and services such as transportation of the tourists, accommodation services, recreation services, and their nourishment among their shopping. Sustainable tourism involves the aspects of social responsibility, the duty and the commitment to nature and the environment, and finally, the involvement of the local people in tourism activities in the region (Al, 2015). Therefore, this aspect is important because it entails the development that meets the requirement of contemporary situations while enhancing the protection for the future. It is attributed to the fact that all the resources we have can fulfill the needs such as economic, social, and aesthetic and maintain the integrity, the ecological process, and the biodiversity that sustains life for the future. Therefore, sustainable tourism products operate in harmony while fulfilling new needs and maintaining the future environment, culture, and community.
Several factors have necessitated the need to have sustainable tourism awareness today as the best approach. Among these drivers include increasing pressure to regulate the consumption of the resources to allow future sustainability. Secondly, the awareness about saving on the consumption rate of the resources has become high. Thirdly. For the competitive products and services, the environment should be suitable and reliable at all the time. Therefore, tourism professionals acknowledge that the domain is a quality aspect for the essential competitions. Fourthly, in a sense, tourism can have adverse effects on the environment should it grow beyond the sustainable level by the country. The negative impacts have necessitated the adoption of sustainable tourism by many nations. Finally, the awareness of the community and the locals about their influence on tourism and how they can manage the sector has also led to adoptive tourism because the locals also try to maintain the tourism environment among them. The main reason for the local’s involvement in the tourism sector is to protect the environment and help formulate essential policies that can be used to manage the resources available.
Operationalizing sustainability actions
Many tourist development organizations promote sustainable practices to mitigate the adverse effects of the growing tourism sector. United Nations world tourism organizations propelled many techniques that will minimize these impacts by developing sustainable development goals. Ways in which many of these tourist organizations in conjunction with the United Nations promote these aspects through.
The world economist predicts the continuing growth in tourism depending on the region or the location. Among the most reason that propels tourism development today is the indigenous culture among the people and the many aspects of these cultures, such as ornaments, songs, dances, and the way of life of these people. These cultures promote mass tourism among many visitors who visit these locations. The danger of the growth of the cultures concerning the increasing tourism sector has forced the tourism experts to protect the tourist destinations from getting extinct. Among these vital destinations are the regions with rich cultural heritage. Therefore, sustainable tourism can reduce the impacts by implementing the sustainable goals by teaching them the culture, politics, way of life, and economic heritage of the areas and locations that the tourists visit.
Secondly, they create awareness on anticipations and respect of the people’s cultures that these tourists visit and probably the assumption made by the tourists visiting the locals.
Thirdly, by supporting and enhancing the integrity of the local culture and their contribution to the traditional values. Fourthly, through appreciation by purchasing the goods of the local people, the artifacts will help support the economy of these people through the small business they have.
Finally, conservation of the environment by engaging in environmentally friendly business activities ensures that there is most minor use of non-renewable sources.
Responsible tourism is the correct pathway in mitigating the effects that the growing tourism sector has on the culture and the way of life of the local people (Carr, Ruhanen, and Whitford, 2016). The pillars of sustainable tourism, among them economic development, environmental consciousness, and social integrity, are all ensured to protect the culture of the local people that attract mass tourism (Bloyer, Gustke and Leung, n.d.). The emphasis on the aspect of responsibility when it comes to culture is because it seems no one has taken the initiative to fight for the existing tourist attractions with cultural heritage. Therefore, the need to have a common approach by both the tourism professionals, tourists who visit these areas, and the locals themselves to ensure that sustainable tourism is enhanced when it comes to their culture. In this way, every person will be involved in improving the sustainable system. Different people who play a role in sustainable tourism will entail the stakeholders, those in the transport sector, governments, local governments the people, each playing a different role in the system to ensure that the adverse effects are mitigated.
Another critical aspect of sustainable tourism is ensuring sustainable transport and the tourist movement from one point to the other. Without travel, there will be no tourism, which explains why the concept of sustainable tourism is firmly tied around the movement or the mobility of the tourists from one place to the other, among the factors based on these categories is the use of fossil fuel and the climatic changes that experienced in most of the cases. The threat that emanates from the transportation of these tourists is the emission of gases into the environment. Statistically, 72% of the emission coming from tourist transportations. Based on these, 55% of the emission is due to aviation emission, 24% being accommodation, and only 4% of the pollution emanating from the local activities of the tourists. While considering the release of the gases in the clouds and due to the impact of the greenhouse effect, then the environmental pollution stands at 75% caused by the tourist activities alone. Therefore, the aspect of sustainable transportation of the tourists is brought in as we try to establish the critical issue that has directly affected the world because of the tourism industry, which can be termed as palpably unstainable on its own when it comes to environmental sustainability because aviation is a significant part, and which cannot be alienated from the mobility of the tourists.
To operationalize sustainable tourism on tourist mobility, different strategies have been developed to adopt the fuel efficiency from the designs and how the planes are built. The International Air Transportation Association has always considered increasing the aviation fuel efficiency by 2% annually to attain the natural state. With the two central planes, “The Airbus and the Boeing planes,” their efficiency rate has been increasing annually by 5%, away from the possible expected efficiency rate that has been propelled through sustainable tourism. Predictably, by the year 2050, tourism might be the leading environmental pollutant by almost 40% of the carbon emission in the air. The primary reason for this is the increase in the distance traveled by the tourist from the initial place. Secondly, the nations in Europe have called for the invention and development of the recycling system to build clean energy for the local people. Through this method, the use of the abandoned old techniques such as the old railways for walking and the implementation of non-motorized infrastructures can be seen to be the best for adoption. The connection between the non-motorized ways called the manifesto (Ctc-n.org, 2017) has also requested the green lanes longed by the European countries. This infrastructure will see end-to-end and inline ticketing, which confirms the European union modal shift goals.
Thirdly, development of tourism in growing or the third world countries. The major problem these nations face concerning tourism is the frequent displacement and migration because of the resettlement among the local communities where the tourist visits. An excellent example of such a scenario was with the Maasai community in Tanzania, in which they were forced to migrate from where they initially stayed. The need for the government to preserve the beauty of the environment that this community was living in led to the establishment of the game parks in the area. The Maasai community was finally displaced from the original land they had inhabited for a long time. The primary reason was to make these areas accessible to the visitors and the tourists who will visit the country. Therefore, the impact of the growing tourism industry to the developing countries can harm the local communities staying in the country. among the significant concerns of such effects is that tourism is regarded as a volatile industry in which the visitors or the tourist can be quick to abandon or leave the destinations that they have visited before because of several reasons among them insecurity in these places or getting the new destinations to visit.
The other impact is the environmental degradation associated with the tourism industry in the respective areas that the tourists visit. The role and the entire aspect of tourism sustainability focus on the environment, ecological system, pollution, the degradation or loss of biodiversity, and the natural resources, some of which are found within the destinations that these tourists visit. When we lose biodiversity, the effects are detrimental because, in the end, there would be an increased vulnerability, deteriorated health system among the people and other living organisms, among them the aquatic and terrestrial animals. Among the most affected destinations are the coastal areas, which often experience a high number of tourists annually. However, with the growing number of tourists, the level of pollution in these areas often goes high. Aquatic pollution and local pollution by this tourist are common. To eliminate this, there has been the formulation of many approaches, among them inverted funnel approach and the embedded model that is used to explain the interplay that exists, especially with the essential participants in the sustainable tourism approach among them the government, local community, and other stakeholders or are active participants and proponents of the sustainable tourism.
The mountain and the island tourists are also among the visitors who cause a lot of pollution in their respective destinations. For instance, for mountain tourists, recent overconsumption by the visitors and overgrazing on the foot of Mount Everest have occasionally damaged the home and the habitats for the snow leopards and the pandas. To mitigate the effect, some reafforestation activities have been initiated to restore the environment of the mountain (Hardy and Beeton, 2001). On many occasions, the expiations have cleared the area of the many supplies and equipment deliberately left by the tourists or thrown carelessly by the visitors (Bloyer, Gustke and Leung, n.d.). The operationalization of the mitigating factors is to achieve the goals and the objective of sustainable tourism. Among them, environmental factors are a crucial factor, restoring biodiversity and reducing the level of pollution within the area or the destination by the tourist. Island tourism also puts a lot of strain on the fragile environment of the island. In the early studies, the results and the analysis showed the island environment’s continued deprivation, leading to the loss of the initial features that attracted them. An excellent example of such an effect is the erosion and the disappearance of the Barbados beaches, which were tourist attraction destinations because of the lack of policies and the poor political affiliation that could lead to the formulation of the policies that could have saved the beaches. Therefore, controlling the tourism activities can be a vital mitigating factor to these challenges that led to the destruction of tourist attraction sites.
While basing on this aspect, several characteristics are given on the local approach and effectiveness in managing the local sustainability in the tourism sector. Among these traits, there is; minimizing the adverse social, environmental, and economic impacts due to the growing tourism sector.
Secondly, the generation of benefits to the local people to improve their financial lives and the working conditions of the local people through purchase of their products (Carr, Ruhanen and Whitford, 2016).
Thirdly, involvement of the local people in the necessary decision-making process in addressing the challenges and implementation of sustainable tourism in these local areas.
Fourthly, the provision of memorable moments the visitors who visit the locations as terribly providing of meaningful connections to the places with have attraction sites and a greater understanding of the local cultures and environmental issues.
Finally, enabling the access of the visitors with disability and the cultural sensitivity in maintaining the respect and a good relationship between the tourists and the host and in the process, there will be growth in the local pride and confidence in handling the tourists.
Exemplifying the tourism industries
China International Travel Cooperation is an excellent example of the tourist agent and company that is efficient in helping tourists visit different places in China. Among the services provided by the company entail accommodation services, travel services, entertainment, and other necessary activities or needs that the visitors will require. The company is among the leading tourist services providers locally. This company observes and is aware of sustainable tourism from how it provides the services to the visitors. All factors of sustainable tourism, among them environmental conservation, pollution, and biodiversity, are extensively considered. To meet the goals of sustainable tourism, the company has several mitigating factors among them.
The company ensures suitable disposal of the waste by the tourist. In the hotel rooms, travel coaches, and planes, tourists are asked to dump their waste at disposal points placed in different places. This enhances the effort to cab environmental pollution. Working in park tourism, this company has stipulated rules to observe a clean environment strictly. As a mitigating factor, this company, in conjunction with the government, has continuously enhanced environmental rehabilitation through donations and participation in planting trees in game parks and reserves.
One of the primary reasons why the company is effective in its operations is the existence of biodiversity. The company, among others, has intensified the fight in conserving the biodiversity so that there can be a continued flow of tourists. It is the biodiversity that attracts the visitors, and this means destroying it will lead to a decreased number of tourists. To ensure this, the company has consistently made public awareness to advertise the effect of poaching and destruction of the forest in the ecosystem. This awareness has helped in the enhancement of environmental conservation efforts.
Finally, to mitigate the effect of the growing tourism industry, the company advises the prospective visitors accordingly and helping them to arrange their trips at a time when the company can practically handle them. When it has reached the number of visitors the company operates, it advises those who wish to come to reschedule their visit. This is important because it ensures that the tourists who uses the company are offered high and quality services and regarding the fact that the environment and the resources available are used sparingly for the current tourists and those who will come in the latter days.
This company has for a long time embraced the aspect of sustainable tourism in China. It has been effective in ensuring that even though tourism in China grows, the effects are mitigated s that the adverse impact of growing tourism cannot affect the environment, biodiversity, culture, and the nature of the Chinese nation. This company has stipulated policies to ensure transparency in its operations and to also ensure the satisfaction of the visitors. There are company websites in which the visitors are allowed to post and leave their comments about the company services or adjustment. The operations of the company and the strategic implementation of the programs have helped the company to analyze and assess the impacts that tourism might have to the nation now and in the future therefore leading to company’s implementation of its formulated policies as mitigating factors.
The table below shows how the company has greatly embraced the aspects of the sustainable tourism.
Impacts prioritized
Sustainable target
Causes of the impacts
The company takes actions
Pollution due to solid waste
Reduce pollution due to solid waste by at least 50%
Lack of disposal position or places to dump refuse in animal parks, entertainment gardens and some of the hotels that the visit are accommodated.
Lack of a suitable mechanism for recycling of the solid waste products
Lack of educational awareness on the effects of pollution of the environment by solid waste.
Construction of dust bin in all the places among them animal parks, hotels, and tourists’ entertainment zones.
Creating awareness on the effects of polluting the environment
Energy consumption, especially with the fossil fuels
Reduce the impacts of pollution due to power by 50% by encouraging the use of renewable energy sources.
It emanates from the use of fossil fuel while transporting the tourists to their destinations
Encouraging the use of electric motors or cable cars in the transportation of tourists
Maintenance of the biodiversity
Reduce the rate of biodiversity loss by at least 50% to maintain the effect of damage of biodiversity
It results from the pollution of the environment with toxic substances that eventually lead to the death of the organism both in terrestrial and aquatic life.
Poor agricultural behavior by the locals eventually leads to the destruction of biodiversity.
Creating awareness on the effects of pollution on the aquatic environment and also on the terrestrial environment as they lead to the death of the organism
Enhancement of the cultural diversity
Protect the culture of the indigenous people and enhancing it by at least 75%
Lack of economic benefits and extinction of some of the essential cultures that attract tourists
They were encouraging the tourists to buy the artistic ornaments so that the locals can benefit.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the operationalization of sustainable tourism aspects to maintain the environment, social factors, economic goals, and biodiversity for current and future use has helped achieve responsible tourism worldwide (Haque, 2021). This aspect has also been influential in mitigating the adverse effects of the growing industrial sectors, especially to the countries with low economies. Although several challenges hinder the procedure’s effectiveness, the steps made can be said they have been significant in protecting our environment from pollution. However, in recent days, from the beginning of the covid-19 pandemic, the tourism sector decreased by close to 65% due to continued travel bans and border closure as new policies were put in place to combat the spread of the covid-19 (Haque, 2021). However, concerning tourism, the pandemic has made the goals of sustainable tourism clearer. Therefore, although there is a pandemic, we can now shift our focus in the tourism sector towards sustainable practices that will enhance the restoration of the already deteriorated environment. Rethinking these systems will be essential to relook at during this pandemic time.
Reference list:
Al, E. (2015). Sustainable Tourism. Oxford: Chartridge Books Oxford.
Bloyer, J., Gustke, L. and Leung, Y. (n.d.). Indicators for sustainable tourism development: crossing the divide from definitions to actions ISBN 1-85312-724-8. [online] . Available at: https://www.witpress.com/Secure/elibrary/papers/ST04/ST04009FU.pdf [Accessed 23 May 2021].
Carr, A., Ruhanen, L. and Whitford, M. (2016). Indigenous peoples and tourism: the challenges and opportunities for sustainable tourism. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 24(8-9), pp.1067–1079.
Dodds, R. (2013). Responsible Hospitality. Tourism Management, 35, pp.288–289.
Goodwin, H. (2011). Taking responsibility for tourism: responsible tourism management. Woodeaton, Oxford: Goodfellow Publishers.
Goodwin, H. (2016). Responsible tourism using tourism for sustainable development. Oxford Goodfellow Publishers Limited.
Hall, C.M. (2019). Constructing sustainable tourism development: The 2030 schedule and the managerial ecology of sustainable tourism. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, pp.1–17.
Haque, S.M.S. (2021). The Effects of Covid-19 Pandemic and Recovery Strategies for the Travel and Tourism Sector in Bangladesh. Hospitality & Tourism Review, 2(1), pp.1–13.
Hardy, A.L. and Beeton, R.J.S. (2001). Sustainable Tourism or Maintainable Tourism: Managing Resources for More Than Average Outcomes. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 9(3), pp.168–192.
Higgins-Desbiolles, F. (2020). The “war over-tourism”: challenges to sustainable tourism in the tourism academy after COVID-19. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, pp.1–19.
Higham, J. and Miller, G. (2017). Transforming societies and transforming tourism: sustainable tourism in times of change. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 26(1), pp.1–8.
Lumsdon, L. (2000). Transport and Tourism: Cycle Tourism – A Model for Sustainable Development? Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 8(5), pp.361–377.
Manente, M. (2016). RESPONSIBLE TOURISM AND CSR: assessment systems for sustainable development of SMEs in tourism. Springer.
Nainsnl (2018). Sustainable Tourism. [online] An Educational Portal. Available at: https://tourismnotes.com/sustainable-tourism/.
Sikarwar, E. (2021). Time-varying foreign currency risk of the world tourism industry: effects of COVID-19. Current Issues in Tourism, pp.1–5.
Stanford, D. (2014). Responsible Tourist Behaviour. Tourism Management, 43, pp.4–5..
UNWTO World Tourism Barometer and Statistical Annex, November 2019. (2019). UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, 17(4), pp.1–44.
World Tourism Organization (2015a). Tourism at world heritage sites, challenges, and opportunities: international tourism seminar: Çeşmse (Izmir), Turkey, 26 March 2013. Madrid, Spain: World Tourism Organization.
www.biodiversity.ru. (n.d.). Sustainable Tourism – Concepts – Sustainable Tourism. [online] Available at: https://www.biodiversity.ru/coastlearn/tourism-eng/con_tourism.html [Accessed 23 May 2021].
rariel (2020). China’s Sustainable Travel Alliance. [online] Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). Available at: https://www.gstcouncil.org/china-sustainable-travel-alliance/ [Accessed 24 May 2021].
Ctc-n.org. (2017). Promotion of non-motorised transport | Climate Technology Centre & Network | Mon, 04/24/2017. [online] Available at: https://www.ctc-n.org/technologies/promotion-non-motorised-transport-0 [Accessed 27 May. 2021].
El-Haggar S., Samaha A. (2019) Sustainability Management System. In: Roadmap for Global Sustainability — Rise of the Green Communities. Advances in Science, Technology & Innovation (IEREK Interdisciplinary Series for Sustainable Development). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-14584-2_4
2
The post Sustainable Operations in Tourism: 2 Sustainable Operations in Tourism: 2 Sustainable Operations appeared first on PapersSpot.
