Lecture responsible tourism unit 7 supporting tourism destinations

Unit outlineObjectives By the end of the unit participants will be able to: • Explain the importance of interacting with destination communities and authorities responsibly • Describe

UNIT 7 SUPPORTING TOURISM DESTINATIONS

Picture source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mai_Chau_-_Haus_im_Reisfeld,_Palmen.jpg

Unit outline

Objectives

By the end of the unit participants will be able to:

• Explain the importance of interacting with

destination communities and authorities

responsibly

• Describe how to introduce responsible tourism

practices into collaboration mechanisms and

agreements with destination communities

• Identify methods to build local capacity about the

importance of sustainable tourism

• List and describe ways to generate funds to support

the development of local tourism destinations and

communities

Topics

1 Overview of responsible support to tourism destinations

2 Incorporating responsible tourism practices into

interactions with destination

communities

3 Promoting sustainable tourism in destinations

4 Helping finance sustainable tourism destinations

TOPIC 1 OVERVIEW OF RESPONSIBLE

SUPPORT TO TOURISM DESTINATIONS

UNIT 7 SUPPORTING TOURISM DESTINATIONS

Picture source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fishing_techniques

What do we mean by supporting

local tourism destinations?

• The provision of assistance

to local communities to

manage their tourism related

resources sustainably

• Requires not only supporting the local people, but

also the local environment, culture and economy

Picture source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/noxstar/5196831438/

The role and benefits of supporting local

tourism destinations

Picture sources: http://pixabay.com/en/together-team-people-circle-hands-235128/; http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brass_scales_with_cupped_trays.png; http://archive.saga.vn/view.aspx?id=17697;

http://vi.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%E1%BB%99i_Gi%C3%B3ng; http://hinhanh.1ty.vn/view-3074/; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiang_Mai_Province

SUPPORTING LOCAL TOURISM DESTINATIONS

Participation & inclusion

The key principles of supporting local tourism

INFORM

the local community about the importance of safeguarding its culture, economy and environment

Implementing effective support to local

destinations for sustainable tourism

Develop mechanisms for

responsible tourism

interaction

Engage with key stakeholders to promote sustainable tourism development

Help finance sustainable tourism

• Organisational policies &

procedures

• Codes of conduct

• Collaboration and partnership

agreements

• Engaging with authorities

• Partnering with the private sector

• Raising awareness & building capacity in sustainable tourism

TOPIC 2 INCORPORATING RESPONSIBLE

TOURISM PRACTICES INTO INTERACTIONS WITH

DESTINATION COMMUNITIES

UNIT 7 SUPPORTING TOURISM DESTINATION

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Managing tourism impacts through a

code of conduct

Picture source: http://luangprabang-tourism.blogspot.com/2010/07/dos-and-donts-in-laos.html

Relationships in a tourism code of conduct

LOCAL TOURISM DESTINATION

Code of Conduct

Destination Management Organisation (DMO)

Tourists

Tourism Organisation

Environment People Economy

Example of a visitor code of conduct 1/2

Source: VNAT, Do’s and Don'ts in Vietnam for Community-based Tourists, VNAT, Vietnam

Example of a visitor code of conduct 2/2

Source: VNAT, Do’s and Don'ts in Vietnam for Community-based Tourists, VNAT, Vietnam

The key steps in developing tourism

Define responsibilities

• Who will do what?

Draft code

of conduct

• What will we communicate?

Key issues to consider in drafting a tourism

code of conduct

TOURISM IMPACTS ON DESTINATIONS

Environmental impacts

Social impacts

Economic impacts

Picture sources:

http://www.flordeplanta.com.ar/categoria/jardin/

http://vi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gi%C3%A1o_d%E1%BB%A5c_Vi%E1%BB%87t_Nam

http://archive.saga.vn/view.aspx?id=17697

Possible impacts of tourism on the

Possible impacts of tourism on the

destination’s local people

How can these become

an issue?

Picture sources: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Young_woman_at_Waikiki_Beach.jpg; http://www.flickr.com/photos/tracy77/1038537421/; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourist_sign; http://www.flickr.com/photos/nogoodreason/3355665500/;

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Annie_Lin_taking_a_photo_at_the_Wikimedia_Foundation_office,_2010-10-25.jpg; http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Beach_from_Le_Royal_M%C3%A9ridien_Beach_Resort_and_Spa_in_Dubai_2.jpg;

Villagers making a living from tourism

Foreign languages

Dressing like at home

Photographing the locals Coastal resorts

Expansion of international food & culture

Possible impacts of tourism on the

destination’s local economy

Picture sources: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Boy_begging_in_Agra.jpg; http://www.flickr.com/photos/jason_weemin/3031278325/; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_with_KFC_franchises;

http://www.flickr.com/photos/da5ide/795541154/; http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidstanleytravel/8590204805/

How can these become

an issue?

Giving to beggars Extreme bargaining

Patronising foreign owned restaurants Paying unfair salaries and rates to local suppliers

Patronising foreign owned hotels

Good practice in developing effective

tourism codes of conduct

Sustainability Do the criteria consider

the environment, economy and people?

Equity Do the criteria reflect the

interests of everyone?

Efficiency & effectiveness Are the

criteria practical and follow best practice in sustainable management?

Relevance Do the criteria directly

connect to the destination’s own sustainability goals?

Formalising roles and responsibilities of stakeholders in tourism destinations

Destination

tourism code

of conduct

Partnership / collaboration agreement

A Responsibilities

of the host community

B Responsibilities

of the tourism organisation

Formalised by

Responsibilities of businesses and host communities in local tourism destinations

AS THE HOST COMMUNITY WE AGREE TO:

• Provide quality tourist products and

experiences

• Provide a safe and secure environment for tourists to

visit

• Be welcoming and friendly to visitors

• Protect local cultures and traditions

• Raise local awareness about the importance of

balancing conservation and economic development

• …what else?

AS A TOURISM ORGANISATION WE AGREE TO:

• Employ local staff and local guides

• Patronise small locally owned businesses

• Discourage our customers offering money to beggars

• Discourage our customers from littering

• Discourage our customers from damaging the natural environment

• Discourage our customers from purchasing protected animals

• Support local social and environmental projects

• Respect local and provincial laws, rules and regulations affecting business operation

• Interpret the environment and culture authentically and accurately

• …what else?

The responsibility of visitors in local tourism

destinations

As a visitor I agree to:

Help the local economy by…

• Using accredited operators

• Buying locally made souvenirs

• Eating at local restaurants

• Staying in locally-owned places

• Purchasing fair trade products

• Supporting responsible tourism

• Not disturbing wildlife

• Putting out cigarettes properly

• Carbon offseting

• Saving energy

• Not purchasing or eating endangered species…

Help the local people by…

• Being considerate of the communities I visit

• Donating via reputable institutions

• Not giving money to children and beggars

• Respecting cultural difference

• Not supporting the illegal drug or sex trade

• Using responsible travel providers

• Using operators with responsible tourism policies.

Communicating codes of conduct to visitors

DURING THE VISIT

• Meet and greet

• Detailed information about destination’s people, culture and environment

• Signs in prominent places

• Tour guides reinforce key issues

BETWEEN BOOKING

& ARRIVAL

• How to prepare

• Pre-departure pack

TOPIC 3 PROMOTING

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM IN DESTINATIONS

UNIT 7 SUPPORTING TOURISM DESTINATION

Picture source: http://vi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cao_B%E1%BA%B1ng

Why the tourism private sector has a responsibility to promote responsible tourism

tourism system giving them power and

influence over how tourism develops

connected to the nature and impacts of

tourism on destinations

authorities, other businesses and the local

community are key areas where the

private sector can influence sustainability

Picture sources: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vietjet_Air_VN-A686_Pepsi_livery_(11100523213).jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C6%A1m_t%E1%BA%A5m

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rex_Hotel

The power and influence of the tourism private

sector

TOURISM ENTERPRISE

(hotel, tour operator, restaurant, attraction, etc) BUSINESS

COMMUNITY

GOVERNMENT

VISITORS

SUPPLY CHAIN ACTORS

Provide employment within their

organisations

Provide revenue through payment of tourism tariffs & taxes

Provide tourism goods & services (enable the “tourism experience”)

Purchase component goods & services to create tourism products

The role and benefits of engaging with

destination tourism authorities

Fosters destination

development

Improves the quality

and range of tourism

services and creates

benefits for local

residents

Enables participation in sustainability.

Provides an opportunity to be involved in addressing broader sustainability issues

Opens doors

Builds trust between with other businesses and individuals in the destination

3 ways the private sector can influence sustainable tourism in destinations

1 Engagement with tourism authorities

2 Working with like-minded organisations

2 Working with like-minded organisations

3 Raising awareness in local communities

3 Raising awareness in local communities

1 Private sector engagement with destination

tourism authorities

A Participate in public sector organised conferences, meetings &

fourms

C Participate in public sector surveys / research

B Participate in destination policy

& planning processes

D Engage in public-private partnerships

Picture sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handshake http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/news/index.php?phrase=heok%20hui&start=10&category=

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mhcseattle/1111568504/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/ilri/7549725204/

A Participating in tourism sector conferences,

meetings and forums

opportunities for the private sector to hear from developments in sustainability and give

recommendations for sensitive development.

B Participating in destination policy & planning

processes

What is it?

• Tourism policies and plans strategically shape the development of tourism in a destination, including its sustainably

How can we

be involved?

• The private sector is often engaged to provide advice and support through workshops and feedback on white papers

What are the

sustainability

benefits?

• Being involved helps safeguard the needs

of industry and provides an opportunity

to get involved in sustainability issues beyond the normal sphere of influence

Private sector

Example of a typical tourism planning structure

• Provincial transport plan

• Provincial land-use planning frameworks

• Biodiversity strategy

• Natural resource management plans

• Marine park plans

• Provincial tourism export strategy

• Tourism industry workforce strategy

• Regional tourism plans

• Individual operator business plans

• Corporate tourism plan

• Tourism marketing plan

• Sustainable tourism plan

• Tourism development framework

• Major events strategy

engagement influence

C Participating in tourism industry surveys and

research

What is it?

• Governments typically engage tourism research institutes to help it to answer policy and planning questions surrounding the strategic development

of research to inform decision making

What are the

sustainability

benefits?

• Being involved provides opportunities for the private sector to give feedback on specific issues that can directly influence the sustainable

development of tourism

D Participating in tourism public-private

partnerships

What is it?

• A contractual arrangement whereby a private sector enterprise performs an institution’s functions, and/or makes use of state property for its own commercial purposes In tourism PPP often relates to product development and infrastructure projects

How can we

be involved?

• Private sector organisations are frequently called upon by governments to help finance, design and construct tourism facilities, and often also manage their operation and

maintenance

What are the

sustainability

benefits?

• Governments frequently call on the private sector to invest

in product development in protected areas and regional areas due to their own limited resources for development This provides the private sector with great opportunities to promote the sensitive development of cultural and eco destinations.

2 Working with like-minded organisations

The tourism private sector can indirectly influence destination development and sustainability by:

Work with business

• Join an industry association

or group and lobby internally and externally for greater sustainability

Work with business

• Join an industry association

or group and lobby internally and externally for greater sustainability

Work with NGOs

• Collaborate with NGOs engaging in sustainable tourism projects to foster positive change.

Work with NGOs

• Collaborate with NGOs engaging in sustainable tourism projects to foster positive change.

The Responsible Travel Club of Vietnam (RTC)

• Informal association of travel

agencies, NGOs and

Workshop on Environmental impacts of tourism

to responsible travel development Hanoi Green Walk

Workshop on Environmental impacts of tourism

to responsible travel development Hanoi Green Walk

Pro-Poor Tourism Project in Quan Ba, Ha Giang

Province, Vietnam

Location Quan Ba District, Ha Giang, Viet Nam

Duration 48 months

Funding Caritas Luxembourg, Caritas Switzerland and Misereor

Objectives Overall Objective: reduce poverty of local communities through establishing an

income-generating activity by -and for the villagers based on available and unique cultural and natural resources, its sustainable management and fostering their cultural identity.

Specific Objectives:

(homestay, services, local products, fees, and others);

tourists a year) for 1 night by 2013;

activities and 10% belong to the poorest category;

(2010).

3 Helping raise awareness in local communities about the importance of sustainable tourism

RAISING AWARENESS

ABOUT SUSTAINABLE

TOURISM

Schools, universities

TOPIC 4 HELPING FINANCE

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DESTINATIONS

UNIT 7 SUPPORTING TOURISM DESTINATION

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hau?PHPSESSID=ab4de0d8b79e146c57a8841865d47478

The private sector’s financial obligation to help

4 Because the private sector profit from the use of the resources they have a business interest in their longevity

5 The private sector

has existing resources

and networks that can

be used to promote

sustainable tourism

destinations, activities

and operators

1 The private sector depend

on a destination’s natural and

cultural resources to create

their tourism products and

experiences

2 The resources are often free or of little cost but the use creates impacts

3 However funding for conservation and

protection is often far less than what is

needed