Ethical / Responsible Tourism
If studying tourism, please have a look at my i-book 'Tourism A Unit of Work for KS3, GCSE & IGSCE' by Alison Potter
What is Ethical Tourism?
Ethical tourism simply means tourism which benefits people
and the environment in different destinations. It can offer a better income to
families living in the area, by sourcing products and services locally.
A brand-new role for consumers in the tourism market has
emerged from three trends:
- first, there is a thirst for different and more
‘exciting’ holidays;
- second, there is a growing realisation of the negative
impacts of tourism – its clod-hopping footprints in other people’s homes in the
deserts, forests, seashores and mountains of the world;
- third, of course
is climate change.
All tourism has the potential to be more sustainable and
could have the following characteristics:
Economic prosperity
Long term competitive and tourism businesses, who offer
fair pay and conditions for all employees. There is maximum
economic benefits to local communities, when products and services for tourism
are sourced locally. Sustainable tourism should be relevant to every holiday
sold and should offer an opportunity to customers concerned about their
travel making a difference.
Social equality
Sustainability offers great benefits to customers keeping
destinations special, offering safe, and satisfying new experiences whilst
having the opportunity to interact with happy locals, who are truly benefiting
from their visit. More of you are concerned about sustainable travel and want
to make a positive difference on holiday.
Environmental and cultural protection
It gives resources and incentive for destinations to
conserve ancient culture and traditions, as well as wildlife and the natural
environment. It helps reduce carbon emissions, by encouraging accommodation
providers and holiday makers to conserve energy. Most importantly it helps
ensure there will be great destinations for us all to visit for generations to
come.
Keeping destinations special is important to everyone.
Terms related to Sustainable Tourism
Responsible Tourism
Refers to the consumers’ choice of destination and mode of
transport based on their ethical, political and racial sensitivities as well as
being concerned for the environment and local culture.
Green Tourism
Historically the definition
of this term has been travel which is environmentally friendly or benign that
in general does not concern itself with cultural or economic elements of the
destination. Current uses of the term are becoming broader to incorporate full
sustainable tourism principles.
