Sustainable Tourism free essay sample

Introduction As defined by the World Tourism Organization (WTO), tourism comprises the activities of persons travelling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business, and other purposes. Key concepts of sustainable development and sustainable tourism, values and ethics of sustainable tourism and the needs of sustainability in all form of tourism shall be discussed in this essay. 2. 1 Sustainable Tourism Since World War II, tourism has developed from a relatively minor activity to the worlds largest industry. The travelling within more developed countries as well as from more developed countries to less developed countries generally increased. It also consists of the majority of middle classes travelling among less developed countries but also to the more developed countries. The term sustainable tourism emerged from a broader discourse on the idea of sustainable development (Bramwell and Lane, 1993). It aims to obtain economic, socio-cultural and environmental benefits and helping to conserve the environment. We will write a custom essay sample on Sustainable Tourism or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Tourism which is developed and maintained in an area (community, environment) in such a manner and at such a scale that it remains viable over an indefinite period and does not degrade or alter the environment (human and physical) in which it exist to such a degree that it prohibits the successful development and well-being of other activities and processes (Butler 1993 in Wahab and Pigram 1997, p44). According to Jafari, the global tourism sector has been influenced and described by a few model platforms, advocacy, cautionary, adaptancy and knowledge-based platforms. At the later stage, Macbeth (2005) rethought the model and proposed the other 2 models, sustainable and value full platforms. These distinct perspectives provide a useful structure for understanding the outgrowth and development of sustainable tourism. However these platforms do not represent a pure type or ideology but rather be used for understanding for stakeholders on tourism and it is not mutually exclusive. 2. 1. 1 Advocacy platform The advocacy platform was the first to appear in the post-war period during the 1950s to 1960s and was characterized by the strong support for tourism. There were a few factors leading to the appearance and ascendancy of this pro-tourism. The tendency to travel for recreational purposes of the middle class in the more developed countries grew after World War II. The cost of travel was reduced and the accessibility to more destinations was opened to a larger market. Less developed countries was made favorable to economic development judging the inexhaustible supply of resources such as the local culture, scenery and beaches. Economic benefits Tourism generates direct revenues as well as indirect revenues to the country. In this case it creates a large number of employments to the direct or indirect sectors for the unskilled labor force. It also serves as a generator of infrastructure. Socio-cultural and environment benefits Tourism promotes cross-cultural understanding and, ultimately, world peace, through direct contact between host and guest (DAmore, 1988). It also provides an incentive to conserve the tradition, natural and man-made environment. The iconic heritage sites such as the Great Wall of China, Egyptian pyramids of Giza and Machu Picchu of Peru would seriously be the tourism attraction of the countries. Therefore a portion of the revenue can be allocated for maintenance or restoration purposes. 2. 1. 2 Cautionary platform Cautionary platform was emerged in the late 1960s to 1970s due to several factors contributing it. It has been argued that unrelated tourism development ultimately rises in unacceptably high economic, environmental and socio-cultural cost for the locals of the destinations, who are losing out as a result of these costs. For less developed countries, the intensification of tourism development had been developed where negative impacts became increasingly visible. Economic costs Cautionary platform showed that tourism employment generate low wages, part time, unskilled, seasonal job and employee does not have the opportunity to entitle to benefits as well as upward mobility. In the long-run pattern of seasonal nature of tourist demand, it creates a respectively under-capacity and over-capacity which resulted instability to the country economy. Socio-cultural and environmental costs With the increased of tourism development, the country has to destroy part of the natural environment to build large scale resorts, golf course or marina to attract the tourists. Natural environments such as beaches, forest or lakes are being destroyed due to the over-populated and over-congestion. The culture and the locals are also being commoditized by the visitors as the residents have to adapt products and services to the tourists demand rather than their own community. With the increased of tourism activities, illegal and criminal activities are inevitable which disrupt the structure of the host society. Advocacy and Cautionary platforms are largely concerned with imparts of tourism which leads to the third platform of adaptation where alternative platform of tourism. 2. 1. 3 Adaptancy platform The appearance of adaptancy platform was introduced in the late 1970s and early 1980s. This platform was introduced after cautionary platform identified the potential negative impacts of tourism but did not implement solutions to avoid these negative effects. It favored new form of tourism responsiveness to the host community, man-made environment, natural environment and socio-cultural. Employing of locals, utilizing local resources, being less destructive can be beneficial to the host community and guests. 2. 1. 4 Emergence of alternative tourism By supporting locally owned small-scale enterprises than externally owned and large scale enterprises leads to alternative tourism. Eco-tourism special interest tourism appeared as alternative tourism that attracts based on the natural environment. . 1. 5 Knowledge-Based platform Several factors gave rise in the late 1980s and 1990s according to Jafari (2001) which he terms the knowledge-based platform. It is based on scientific foundation, research-based to provide objective analysis. This platform emphasize on holistic, system-based approached. By studying the whole tourism system, understanding its underlying structures and functions so that proper assessment can be done to manage the touris m sector. 3. 1 Sustainable Development Sustainable development is defined as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (Brundtland Report, 1987). Essentially, sustainable development advocates the wise use and conservation of resources in order to maintain their long-term viability (Eber, 1992, p. 1). The principles of sustainable development are ecological sustainability, economic sustainability, social sustainability and cultural sustainability (Jamieson, et al, 2000). Ecological sustainability refers to the direction towards ecological principles and biological diversify. Economical sustainability refers to development economically efficient within generations. Social sustainability refers to the increase of peoples control over their own lives; maintain and strengthen community identity. Cultural sustainability refers to development compatible with the culture and values of affected people. The above-mentioned shows the need for sustainability in all form of tourism in order to sustain. 3. 2 Eco-Tourism In the mid-1980s, eco-tourism is closely associated. The International Ecotourism Society (TIES, 1990) defined that responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people. Ecotourism is about conservation of environment with minimum impart, build environmental and cultural awareness and respect, providing positive experience for both host and visitors, provide financial benefits for the host and raising sensitivity to host countries political, environmental, and social climate. Singapore Environment Council (SEC), foster greater appreciation of the environment amongst the community as a whole. The objective of the non-profit organization is to promote greater public awareness concerning the living and natural environment in Singapore, encouraging public to be more environmentally conscious and display a greater sense of environmental responsibility. They also organized environmental promotion and protection in Singapore or the purpose of conserving the nature areas such as Bukit Timah Reserve, Pulua Ubin, Sungei Buloh Nature Park. 4. Local Conditions The economic, socio-cultural and environmental factors play an important part in a country. The interplay of social, economic and environmental conditions can have a profound impact on the perceived importance of tourism and the relative power of different interest groups within the destination (Dredge 2001b, 2006a). Economic factors refer to the assets and revenues of a country. For instance, the more developed countries will have the ability to supply or inject more money to conserve their natural or man-made environment, or even build large-scale resorts and golf course to attract tourists to the country. For less-developed countries, due to their low standard of living and undeveloped infrastructures, the countries do not have the ability to invest the money for conserving the environment. Socio-cultural factors refer to the socio structure, the values and cultures of a society. The culture of a community can be very different from other community. For example, Singaporeans are more conservative compared to the westerners. Environmental factors refer to the environment, nature and location of a country. The natural structure of a country is hard to change. For example, Singapore is a small island with neither forest nor mountain whereas the Himalayas Mountain in Tibet is a natural resource. Therefore planning is important, as good tourism planning can sustain the environment more successfully. Reciprocally, poor tourism planning can result harm to the natural habitat, overcrowding in a place and creates pollutions. 5. Values Jafaris knowledge-based platform took a scientific and objective view of tourism and a system approach to the industry. However, Macbeth confidently believes that knowledge, policy, planning and development decisions are value-based. Concluding that no matter how many scientific facts, priorities and decisions made will be based on what the stakeholders believe. Hence, Value-Full or ethics-based platform was proposed (Macbeth, 2005). It encourages the stakeholders to question the motives, ethics and morality during the consideration of the consequences of tourism within a economic, socio-cultural and environmental framework. The United Nations, the general assembly adopted the Millennium Declaration on 8 September 2000, recognizing it as a collective responsibility to uphold the principle of human dignity, equality and equality at the global level. Fundamental values essential to international relations include freedom, equality, solidarity, tolerance, and respect for nature and shared responsibility are considered. Freedom refers to human rights to live their lives without the fear of violence or injustice. Equality refers to the equal rights and opportunities of different genders, race or religion to benefit from development. Solidarity refers to the sharing of costs and burdens between those who benefit more or to those who benefit less. Tolerance should also be respected within human beings in the difference of belief, culture and language. Respecting of nature must be shown of all natural resources and living species in order to sustain for the future generation. Responsibility must be shared to manage worldwide economic, social development as well as threats to international peace and security. 6. Global Code of Ethics The Global Code of Ethics is a set of principle which is used to guide the stakeholders as well as visitors in tourism development. The Global Code of Ethics for Tourism is believed to help minimize the negative impacts of tourism on the environment and on cultural heritage while maximizing the benefits for residents of tourism destination (WTO). The stakeholders in tourism development should implement the principles and follow closely to it. Mutual understanding between peoples and societies, the respect of cultural and religious traditions should be observed. For example, Lijiang Ancient Town, China, acquiring World Heritage status in 1997 and since then four million tourists has passed through the town. According to X. Su and P. Teo, a questionnaire survey was used to ascertain the local perceptions on heritage and the state (2008: p. 153).