Tourism and the Environment - Tourism: Principles, Practices, Philosophies - page 378

particular destination or site and then working toward meeting these ideals, managers can put in place
a process that will ensure sustainability to the greatest extent possible.
It should be noted in reviewing these sets of indicators that they do not address environments or
ecological goals alone. There are also indicators that seek to ensure desirable levels of visitor
satisfaction and local resident satisfaction, as well as satisfactory levels of contributions to the local
economy. The use of the indicators helps ensure the economic means to support sustainable
ecotourism as well as public (and thus political) support for tourism with a destination.

Ensure Necessary Changes Are Implemented

Failure to make changes that have been identi ed by the monitoring process as necessary to maintain
a sustainable tourism destination can undo years of effort and investment.

Setting an Agenda for Sustainable Tourism

An agenda for sustainable tourism sets out the major aims that destination managers seek
to achieve. This agenda needs to embrace two, interrelated, elements of the sustainability of
tourism:

1. The ability of tourism to continue as an activity in the future, ensuring that the conditions are

right for this

2. The ability of society and the environment to absorb and bene t from the impacts of tourism in a

sustainable way

can be articulated as a set of 12
aims that address economic, social, and environmental impacts. The agenda formulated in this way
can then be used as a framework to develop policies for more sustainable tourism that recognize the
directions in which tourism policy can exert an in uence:

Based on these two elements, an agenda for sustainable tourism

& Minimizing the negative impacts of tourism on society and the environment
& Maximizing tourism

s positive and creative contribution to local economies, the conservation of
natural and cultural heritage, and the quality of life of hosts and visitors

'

The 12 aims for an agenda for sustainable tourism are (see Figure 17.1):

Ensure the viability and competitiveness of tourism destinations
and enterprises, so that they are able to continue to prosper and deliver bene ts in the
long term.
2. Local prosperity:

1. Economic viability:

Maximize the contribution of tourism to the economic prosperity of the host
destination, including the proportion of visitor spending that is retained locally.
3. Employment quality:

Strengthen the number and quality of local jobs created and supported by
tourism, including the level of pay, conditions of service and availability to all without
discrimination by gender, race, disability or in other ways.
4. Social equity: Seek a widespread and fair distribution of economic and social bene ts from
tourism throughout the recipient community, including improving opportunities, income and
services available to the poor.
5. Visitor ful llment:

Provide a safe, satisfying, and ful lling experience for visitors, available to all
without discrimination by gender, race, or disability or in other ways.