What exactly does “sustainable tourism” even mean?
To most people, “sustainable” is synonymous with “eco-friendly.”, though it’s true that being environmentally-conscious is a big part of being sustainable. But it’s not the only thing to consider. An attraction or destination can be as “green” as green can be, and still not be sustainable. Sustainability takes it one step further, by combining the previous mentioned values, and the idea of conserving the resources as much as possible so that it can be experienced and enjoyed by generations to come.
When it comes to sustainability, there are three founding “pillars” to consider: environmental, economic, and socio-cultural. In order for the tourism sector to be truly sustainable, it has to be proactive in all three areas. Just dealing with the problem at hand is beneficial no doubt, but the idea is to think of long-term solutions.
Environmental Sustainability
The environment element of the “pillars” is quintessential to tourism. Both the natural environment (such as beaches, forests, waterways) and the built environment (such as historic buildings and monuments) must be preserved for an area to be environmentally sustainable. Preservation may include minor renovations to maintain the structural integrity of the built environment. Environmental sustainability means making sure resources in an area (whatever they may be) can be preserved for use by future generations. It’s much more than just being “green.”
Socio-cultural Sustainability
When an area starts being frequented by tourists, there are bound to be some social and cultural impacts of those tourists on the host community. This has been experienced by many tourist hotspots globally. Bali, Indonesia known as being a popular tourist destination, has seen their local economy be majorly influenced and catered to the tourism sector. Locals may see increased congestion and overcrowding in towns and cities, perhaps an increase in crime, the introduction of new languages and values, and perhaps even an influx of migrant workers to be employed in the tourist industry. Socio-cultural sustainability, then, means minimizing these negative impacts and focusing on more positive ones, such as promoting cultural exchange and preserving local traditions. In Bali, their local art scene has received massive attention by the export of their artwork internationally. This is an example of positive socio-cultural effects on the local community, making their artwork more desired and valued. This can usually be achieved by getting the locals involved in the tourism industry. Having the community involved will not only offer visitors a more genuine experience, but the locals will be more likely to see tourism in a positive light due to the abundance in resources generated to the local socio-cultural demographic.
Economic Sustainability
The last pillar of sustainability revolves around perhaps the most important part – the money. Many people don’t consider economics when thinking about sustainability, but it’s really the key to making a tourism venture sustainable. Economic sustainability means building linkages and reducing leakages – essentially, by keeping the money local. A hotel or company owned and operated by a foreign entity will not likely be motivated to contribute much to the local economy thus, the money will likely be repatriated instead. This is not sustainable practices. Not only should the community be involved in tourism, but instead they should also all share in the financial benefits gleaned from it in a fair and equitable approach.
… but Why Does it Matter?
So why should we care about sustainability?
At the core of it, the fact is, sustainable tourism actually benefits every party involved, and not just one half of the equation. Unsustainable tourism might be fine from the point of view of the tourist, but it’s unlikely to benefit or gain support from the host community. To create a fair and equitable solution, sustainability is the only way forward for those currently involved and also not forgetting future generations to come.
Ultimately, at the end of the day, tourism should not be a one-way street in terms of benefits. Everyone involved should be benefiting from it in one way or another, whether, it be the concierge worker at the hotel, to the hotel owner, to even the local man .
So, the next time you’re torn between two attractions or destinations or hotels or tour companies, consider these points: Which one is locally-owned? Which one is more eco-friendly? Which one employs local people? Which one contributes the most to the local economy? Which one is more sensitive to its impacts on the host community?
Basically, which one is more holistically sustainable?
Considering these points just might change the way you travel.