Interpretation of sustainability in Hungarian tourism Marton Gergely

Interpretation of sustainability in Hungarian tourism Marton, Gergely Ph. D Senior lecturer, University of Pécs, Faculty of Science, Institute of Sport Sciences and Physical Education; martongergely@gamma. ttk. pte. hu Raffay, Zoltán Ph. D Senior lecturer, University of Pécs, Faculty of Business and Economics, Institute of Marketing and Tourism; raffayz@ktk. pte. hu Socio-economic, Environmental and Regional Aspects of a Circular Economy Pécs, 19 April 2018

Tourism and sustainability in the world and Hungary • Does tourism matter? Is it a considerable factor of sustainability in the world and Hungary? • The role of tourism in the problems • The possible role of tourism in the solutions • The three aspects of sustainability and tourism • Best practices, examples to be followed

Why tourism matters

Huge responsibility of tourism in global problems – and in sustainability • Tourism had an impact on environment after the industrial revolution – for two reasons • Considerable impact from the middle of the 20 th century, with mass tourism and the intensive use of motorisation • Mass tourism entails environmental degradation • Relationship between tourism and environment is reciprocal, but impact of natural environment on tourism far less intensive and frequent as vice versa

Impact of tourism on environment • Especially in most popular tourism destinations: • • Pollution of air, soil, rocks, water Noise pollution Degradation of flora and fauna and of landscape Unwanted societal and cultural changes http: //www 3. epa. gov/climatech ange/ghgemissions/global. html

Appearance of the demand for sustainability in academic circles and societies

Original and more recent concept of the fields of sustainable development Original concept with better proportions (more sustainability) Recent (or desirable) concept

Appearance of the demand for sustainability in tourism • Decades later than in society in general: for a long time positive impacts overemphasised and negative ones underrated (or neglected) • Special thematic years • Initiatives for making the operation of the tourism sector more sustainable • Appearance and conscious development and support of the “mild” forms of tourism (rural tourism, ecotourism)

Appearance of ecology and sustainability in tourism – world tourism day themes 1980 -1991 • 1980: Tourism's contribution to the preservation of cultural heritage and to peace and mutual understanding • 1993: Tourism development and environmental protection: towards a lasting harmony • 1997: Tourism: a leading activity of the twenty-first century for job creation and environmental protection • 1999: Tourism: preserving world heritage for the new millennium • 2000: Technology and nature: two challenges for tourism at the dawn of the twenty-first century • 2002: Ecotourism, the key to sustainable development • 2008: Tourism Responding to the Challenge of Climate Change and global warming • 2010: Tourism & Biodiversity • 2012: Tourism and Energetic Sustainability • 2013: Tourism and Water: Protecting our Common Future • 2015: One billion tourists, one billion opportunities

International initiatives for greening tourism • Green Key • ne. ZEH (Nearly Zero Energy Hotels) • Green Star Hotel Certification Programme • European Destinations of Excelle. Nce (EDEN) • Ecotourism labels

Weight of tourism in the Hungarian economy

Economic and social sustainability of tourism in Hungary • Economic • The foundation of all activities in tourism: it is basically a for-profit sector • No sound economic foundations – no resources for societal and environmental benefits • Social • Much more differentiated in the Hungarian tourism sector than economic sustainability : only the strongest companies can afford to follow principles like CSR, Fair Trade etc. • The use of local products and services, and local labour is more widespread, but also mostly due to economic and not for “charity” reasons

Environmental sustainability of tourism in Hungary • Two sorts of companies: ones whose vested interest is the preservation of the values of nature (rural tourism, angling and hunting tourism, ecotourism) and ones that use nature as a setting of their activities – and refer to their environment friendly activity as a marketing slogan, only • Ecotourism can serve as an example • Ecotourism in the past: tourism done in nature • Now: tourism about nature • Optimum achievement: tourism done for nature • Ecotourism is a product and an attitude: the attitude can be transferred to all other activities of tourism, even mass tourism

Factors of sustainable development in the Hungarian tourism sector Social Environmental Economic

Hungarian initiatives for greening tourism • “Zöld szálloda” (Green Hotel) tender • South Transdanubian Ecotourism Cluster • Qualification system • Baranya Greenway (part of the European Greenways Association) • Ecotourism facility of the year since 2010

Problems of sustainability in Hungarian tourism • Supply side (tourism service providers): • Tourism sector dominated by SMEs, many of them in a short of capital • Low level of environmental awareness • Not enough initiatives for making their operation more sustainable • Demand side (tourists): • Less discretionary income, less willingness to spend more on services that are really ecological (unlike in Germany e. g. ) • Low level of environmental awareness

Thank you for your kind attention!