Tourism and Development: A Review
2.13 Sustainable Tourism Development
Tourism development will only achieve long term success if careful planning and management are undertaken to deliver a successful tourism product. It is only recently, however, that the negative effects of tourism on a host destination have been
recognised. As a result, concepts like environmentalism and 'green consciousness' have arisen, and the value of tourism to host destinations has been reassessed. This process has also led to the development of the concepts of sustainable tourism and development (Cooper et ai, 1993).
The concept of sustainable development results from the understanding that current generations are imposing too great a demand upon the natural environment to allow it to continue to reproduce and maintain itself at its previous level of stability (Butler, 1998). This concept of sustainable development has been applied to tourism.
Sustainable tourism refers to tourism that is developed and carried out in line with principals of sustainable development (Hunter and Green, 1995; Tribe et ai, 2000).
Sustainable tourism development is reliant upon three conditions. Firstly, the resources of the environment must be protected, secondly, local communities must benefit both economically and in terms of quality of life, and thirdly, visitors must receive a quality experience. The concept of sustainable tourism is a very broad idea that refers to tourism that is long-lasting, integrated at the same time as diversified, participatory, and environmentally, economically, socially, and culturally compatible (Perez-Salom, 2001).
Therefore, sustainable tourism development means planning attractions in such a way that allows tourists to enjoy them while also having minimal impacts on the host
environment and culture. Sustainable development can only occur when the quality of the environment and community life can be preserved indefinitely. To achieve this goal, the local community must be included in all stages of development (Hassan, 2000).
The English Tourist Board (1991, cited in Cooper et ai, 1993, p.87), provides the following principals, which must be considered for the development of sustainable tourism.
• The environment has an intrinsic value that outweighs its value as a tourism asset. Its enjoyment by future generations and its long-term survival must not be prejudiced by short-term considerations.
• Tourism should be recognised as a positive activity with the potential to benefit the community and the host site as well as visitors.
• The relationship between tourism and the environment must be managed so that the environment is sustainable in the long term. Tourism must not be allowed to damage the resources, prejudice its future enjoyment and bring unacceptable impacts.
• Tourism activities and development should respect the scale, nature, and character of the places in which they are sited.
• In any location, harmony must be sought among the various needs of the visitors, the place and the host community.
• In a dynamic world, some change is inevitable, and it often can be beneficial.
Adaptation to change, however, should not be at the expense of any of these principals.
• The tourism industry, local authorities and environmental agencies all have a duty to respect these principals and to work together to achieve their practical real isation.
These principals of sustainable tourism development are primarily based on the theory of carrying capacity (Tribe, et ai, 2000). Even though originally a wildlife ecology term, carrying capacity has been applied to humans and more specifically to tourists. It has been defined for the purpose of tourism as "... the maximum number of people who
can use a site without an unacceptable alteration in the physical environment and without an unacceptable decline in the quality of the experience gained by visitors"
(Mathieson and Wall, 1982; cited in Tribe, et aI, 2000, p.44). This definition implies that tourism's carrying capacity is concerned with the quality of the environment and the quality of the recreational experience. Pritchard (1992) in diversifying the
understanding of carrying capacity, adds to Mathieson and Wall's definition by stating that carrying capacity is also concerned with the social and psychological capacity of the physical setting to support tourist activity and development. In addition, Mclntyre and Hetherington (1991) also include reference to the ability of the local community, economy, and culture to support tourist activity in their explanation of tourism carrying capacity. As a result of all the variables present, it is difficult to accurately measure the actual carrying capacity of a physical setting. Therefore as Ceballos-Lascurain (1996, p.136) states "... actual carrying capacity can be a judgment call as to the acceptable level of change, both in terms of the resource and the satisfaction level of the visitors and the local community".
Finally, in order for present tourism trends to become sustainable, there needs to be a general shift away from short-term to longer term thinking and planning in tourism. "It is no longer acceptable for the industry to exploit and 'use-up' destinations and then move on" (Cooper, et aI, 1993, p.273). An increasing number of tour operators and public authorities are becoming convinced that a change in attitudes and patterns of consumption is unavoidable - otherwise the economic basis of tourism would be undermined. Mass tourism is clearly unsuitable because, firstly, it does not take into account the importance of the conservation of natural habitats, or the rational use of natural resources. Secondly, it does not highlight the cultural and social features of an area as a selling point to tourists, and thirdly, it generally ignores the qualitative
aspects of tourists while emphasizing quantitative growth. In contrast, sustainable tourism ensures that tourism development is compatible with respect for, and the conservation of, natural spaces and cultural and social values, something that favors the reduction of conflict between the tourism industry, the visitors, the residents, and the environment (Perez-Salom, 2001).