Understanding the Concept of Sustainable Tourism Development Dr

Understanding the Concept of Sustainable Tourism Development Dr. Janne J. Liburd Center for Tourism, Innovation and Culture University of Southern Denmark Dr. Janne J. Liburd

Outline 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Conceptual origins Tourism and Sustainable Development Critical reflections Challenges and opportunities Literature suggestions Dr. Janne J. Liburd

Antecedents § Western environmental movements § Linking environment to development § One decade, 3 UN commissions Dr. Janne J. Liburd

World Commission on Environment and Development - The Brundtland Commission § Sustainable development as proposed in the 1987 Brundtland Report, Our Common Future, hinges on integrated environment/development challenges of “the global commons” § It is approached through economic growth, effective international cooperation, strategic long-term planning and maintenance of the resource and productivity base beyond narrow institutional and national concerns Dr. Janne J. Liburd

Defining Sustainable Development § Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (World Commission on the Environment and Development, 1987: 43) § Old principle on limits to growth, balance or wiseuse of finite, natural resources, pro-active conservation and stewardship Dr. Janne J. Liburd

Interestingly… § Few development proposals, if any, have been met with similar enthusiastic support from government and nongovernment agencies, academic endorsement and evident public sympathy - at least in the First World § The widespread approval at multiple levels is easily established through the very generality of the concept § Gap: Theory versus practice Dr. Janne J. Liburd

Agenda 21 for the Travel and Tourism Industry § Several measures and objectives are specified for governments and the tourism industry worldwide § Agenda 21 recognises tourism as a model form of economic development that should improve the quality of life of the host community, provide a high quality of experience for the visitor, and maintain the quality of the environment on which both the host community and the visitor depend. (World Travel and Tourism Council, the WTO and the Earth Council, 1995) Dr. Janne J. Liburd

Feeling bad about mass-tourism? § Negative impacts well-documented § Visible need for ressource management and economic linkages § ‘Eco’, ‘nature’, ‘sound’, ’alternative’, ‘rural’, ‘culture’, heritage’, ‘responsible’, ‘sound’, ‘green’, etc. small scale & green Dr. Janne J. Liburd

Sustainable tourism development "Sustainable tourism development meets the needs of present tourists and host regions while protecting and enhancing opportunities for the future”. “Sustainable tourism is envisaged as leading to management of all resources in such a way that economic, social and aesthetic needs can be fulfilled while maintaining cultural integrity, essential ecological processes, biological diversity, and life support systems” (UNWTO, 2001) Dr. Janne J. Liburd

Critical reflections § Sustainable Tourism versus Sustainable tourism development § Is sustainable tourism development achievable? Dr. Janne J. Liburd

Complex adaptive systems § A managerial philosophy: Transformation towards doing ’better’ § Adaptive management of complex adaptive systems § Stakeholder participation – interand intra generational equity Dr. Janne J. Liburd Complex Adaptive Systems (Gunderson et. al, 2005).

Challenges and opportunities § How can we make a business case for STD? § Role of CSR § How can consumers drive sustainable tourism development? § Role of social media, web 2. 0 § How can governments drive STD § Role of policy-making, governance? § Need for ongoing, critical analysis, case studies 12 June 2009

Review questions 1. What is the difference between sustainable development and sustainable tourism development? 2. Can sustainability be achieved? 3. What is a complex adaptive system? 4. What are some of the drivers of sustainable tourism development? 13 June 2009

Literature suggestions § § § Dr. Janne J. Liburd Miller, G. , Rathouse, K. , Scarles, C. , Holmes, K. and Tribe, J. (2010) Public understanding of sustainable tourism and leisure. Annals of Tourism Research Vol. 37 (3), 627– 645. Schellhorn, M. (2010) Development for whom? Social justice and the business of ecotourism. Journal of Sustainable Tourism Vol. 18 (1), 115– 135. Jamal, T. and Watt, E. M. (2011) Climate Change Pedagogy and performative action: toward community-based destination governance. Journal of Sustainable Tourism vol. 19 (4 -5), 571588. Moscardo, G. (2007) Sustainable Tourism Innovation: Challenging basic assumptions. Tourism and Hospitality Research vol. 8 (1), 4 -13. Miller, G. and Twining-Ward, L. (2005) Monitoring for a sustainable tourism transition. CABI Publishing. Carlsen, J. and Butler, R. (eds) (2010) Island Tourism: Sustainable perspectives. CABI Publishing.