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UNIT 2: TOURISM, HOSPITALITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT – IMPACTS AND SOLUTIONS
11) Industry networks within and between the service sectors of tourism
(transport, tour operators, hospitality, travel agents and the leisure
sectors) are critical, as they will provide for the sharing of
experience and expertise and the establishment of mutually beneficial
environment projects.
Examples of Good Practice
The Tour Operators’ Initiative for Sustainable Tourism Development was
launched in March 2000. Supported by UNEP, UNESCO and the World Tourism
Organisation (WTO), the Initiative comprises 20 members who have committed
themselves to adopting good environmental, social and economic practices
in the management of their internal operations and in working with their
suppliers and at destinations. Through the Initiative, members are able to
share information on best practices and explore new ways of addressing
environmental, cultural and socio-economic issues.
The Tourism Council of the South Pacific compares the tourism experience
of member countries and produces guidelines for environmentally-sound
tourism.
12) Tourism revenues must be visible and equitably spread. All
stakeholders – the international and local tour operator and travel
agent, the accommodation provider, the natural park tour guide and
the small-scale farmer whose produce the tourist consumes – must
receive a fair income in return for their goods and services. The tourism
industry must make a positive difference to the lives of its employees
and service providers.
Examples of Good Practice
The Campfire Project in Zimbabwe helps rural villages to develop tourism and
benefit from the revenues.
Ruins of a Mayan city were discovered during the restoration of Tekax, a
group of villages in Yucatan, Mexico, after a hurricane in 1998. With assistance
from government authorities and the tourist board, the local people excavated
the site, designated zones of archaeological significance that needed extra
protection, developed a local education programme on the importance of
preserving the site, improved water availability, and set up a small hotel
designed on traditional architectural principles. Tourists began arriving and the
revenues generated remained with the people of Tekax.
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13) Tourists must be informed of the natural and cultural values, as well
as the impacts they cause during their stay. They must also be told
what they can do to ensure these destinations can still be visited and
enjoyed by their children and grandchildren.
14) Regular environment monitoring of tourist sites and business
operations is essential. Monitoring provides the data to anticipate
future impacts and plan the mitigation measures to avoid them.
15) Realistic indicators for environment improvement and sustainable
development need to be established, from which overall progress can
be monitored and assessed.