Sustainable Tourism Planning and Development Laboratory Alliance of National Heritage Areas International Heritage Development Conference Passport to Crossing

Sustainable Tourism Planning and Development Laboratory

Alliance of National Heritage Areas

International Heritage Development Conference

Passport to Crossing Boundaries

June 19, 2007

Detroit, Michigan

MotorCities National Heritage Area

Sustainable Tourism Development Lab

http://www.ihdc2007.org/


The Sustainable Tourism Planning and Development Laboratory

Blackstone River Valley, Rhode Island

Dr. Robert D. Billington

The Tourism Laboratory’s purpose is to educate using sustainable, place-making development principles.

The Laboratory bases it’s work on principles developed by the National Geographic Society, the Business Enterprises for Sustainable Tourism Education Network , the United Nations World Tourism Organization and the Global Sustainable Research Center. Sustainable Tourism Development Lab


Facts Indicating Unsustainability:

Global Warming, Soil Degradation, Deforestation, Species Extinction, Declining Fisheries and Economic Inequity

Facts contributing to Unsustainability:

Over-consumption, population growth, Dependence upon Non-renewable resources, Pollution, Destructive Development Patterns, Inequities in Resource Distribution, Limited Public Participation and the failure to recognize the fundamental limits to the Earth’s ability to withstand alterations to its natural systems, Suburban Sprawl, Loss of Open Space & Agricultural Land, Degradation of Water Resources, Loss of Wetlands, Traffic Congestion & Air Pollution and Exposure to Environmental Hazards.



According to National Geographic Traveler:

•Over half the American traveling public thinks it’s harder to find unspoiled places than it used to be.

•Almost ¾ don’t want their visits to harm the environment at their destinations.

•65 million American households are predisposed to support the National Geographic Center for Sustainable Destinations’ Geotourism Principles.

Can Sustainable Tourism Development Practices help?



Sustainability Definitions



“Sustainable tourism development maintains the delicate balance between the human need to improve our lifestyle, with preserving natural resources and ecosystems on which future generations will depend.”


Sustainable Tourism Laboratory , 2007


“Sustainability is the capability to equitably meet the vital human needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs by preserving and protecting the area’s ecosystems and natural resources.”

American Planning Association




National Geographic Defines Sustainable Tourism as Geotourism.

“Geotourism is defined as tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place-its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well-being of its residents.”

National Geographic Society’s CSD


“For a destination to develop sustainably organizations must adopt business strategies and activities that meet the needs of the enterprise and its stakeholders today while protecting, sustaining , and enhancing human and natural resources into the future.”

BEST Education Network




“Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

World Environmental Commission



“By promoting economic growth strategies based on expanded infrastructure which are environmentally responsible and socially acceptable we are bringing a sustainable future closer to today’s reality.”

The World Bank


“Planning for sustainability requires a systematic, integrated approach that brings together theenvironmental,economic and social goals and actionsdirected toward the four sustainability objectives for acommunity.”

1. Reduce dependence upon fossil fuels, underground metals, and minerals.

2. Reduce dependence upon synthetic chemicals and other unnatural substances.

3. Reduce encroachment upon nature.

4. Meet human needs fairly & efficiently.APA



“Many community's are carrying out sustainable development projects such as green buildings, affordable housing, smart growth or climate change initiatives, but these are largely occurring on a project by project basis.”

“It is recommended to use a systems approach to sustainable development by using widespread community awareness – integrated municipal involvement, and using a common language to identify what sustainability means.”

APA



Key sustainability characteristics include:

Capacities to understand and analyze problems,

Partnering with different resources/organizations to find solutions,

Using local resources for local solutions,

Involving the whole community and all stakeholders with comprehensive participation, Negotiation and consensus-building from within,

Ability to incorporate and adopt external resources within local contexts,

Respect of historical and cultural issues.

Global Research Development Center



The Seven Sustainability Triads

1. Participation 2. Decision-Making 3. Partnership 4. Governance 5. Knowledge and Information 6. Continual Improvement 7. Lifestyles

The Global Research Development Center


http://gdrc.org/sustdev/triads/triad1.html









What is being done to insure sustainability is in our future?

•Eco-municipalities•UNWTO•National Geographic Society’s CSD


Eco-municipalities – Beginning in Sweden

An Eco-municipality is one that has adopted a particular set of sustainability principles as guiding municipal policy and has committed to a bottom up, participatory approach for implementing this.


25% of all communities in Sweden are Eco-municipalities

In 2005, the Wisconsin communities of Ashland, Washburn and Madison became the first eco-municipalities in the United States when their city councils each adopted either the APA sustainability objectives of the original Swedish sustainability framework on which these are based.


The National Geographic Society Center for Sustainable Destinations GeoTourism Principles:

Integrity of Place

International Codes

Market Selectivity

Market Diversity

Tourist Satisfaction

Community Benefit

Protection and enhancement of destination appeal

Land use Sustainable Tourism Development Lab


Conservation of Resources

Planning

Interactive interpretation

Evaluation

Community Involvement



United Nations World Tourism Organization

Principles of Tourism Sustainability

•Tourism planning in the context of overall land-use planning which provides the basis for achieving integrated, controlled and sustainable tourism development.

•Planning is carried out according to a systematic process

•Sustainable tourism development can fulfill economic, social, and aesthetic needs while maintaining cultural integrity and ecological processes. It can provide for today’s hosts and guests while protecting and enhancing the same opportunity for the future.

•Sustainable tourism development involves making hard political choices based on complex social, economic and environmental trade-offs. It requires a vision which encompasses a larger time and space context than that traditionally used in community planning and decision making.



•Tourism should be undertaken with equity in mind to distribute fairly benefits and costs among tourism promoters and host peoples and areas.

•Good information, research and communication on the nature of tourism and its effects on the human and cultural environment should be available prior to and during development, especially, for the local people, so that they can participate in and influence the direction of development and its effects as much as possible, in the individual and the collective interest.

•Local people should be encouraged and expected to undertake leadership roles in planning and development with the assistance of government, business, financial and other interests.

•Integrated environmental, social and economic planning analysis should be undertaken prior to the commencement of any major projects, with careful consideration given to different types of tourism development and the ways in which they might link with existing uses, ways of life and environmental considerations.



•Throughout all stages of tourism development and operation, a careful assessment, monitoring and mediation program should be conducted in order to allow local people and others to take advantage of opportunities of to respond to changes.

•Tourism Planning, development and operations should be part of conservations or sustainable development strategies for a community.

•Tourism should be planned and managed in a sustainable manner, with a due regard for protection and appropriate economic methodologies.

•Agencies and individuals should follow ethical principles with respect to the culture and environment of the host area.


UNWTO

Sustainable Tourism Planning and Development Laboratory Sustainable Tourism Development Lab


The UNWTO, credentials tourism destination management organizations that support sustainable initiatives.

•Destination and Society at large•Principle Stakeholders•Strategic Corporate management•Program Development and Implementation•Human resources•Other Resources, Financial and Infrastructure


The WTO.Sbest Audit, which assesses 240 standards in six key areas to detect the strengths and weaknesses in an organisation’s destination management process.


UNWTO .Sbest certification provides :

Enhanced tourism policy and destination management procedures

•International recognition Tools to make the destination more competitive•Ability to share best practice •Time to collaborate with UNWTO in the design and implementation of specific actions and programmes for the achievement of excellence at tourism destinations•Tools to improve visitor satisfaction levels•Protocols to become immersed in a process of continual improvement



The Sustainable Tourism and Development Laboratory’s purpose is to assist community leaders to develop tourism using tested principles



Blackstone Valley is the birthplace of America’s IndustrialRevolution. It was home to the first river to be polluted in the America’s.

After 150 years of industrial degradation the Blackstone Valley fought back to bring the region into alignment with the regeneration of the community based on the social, environmental, historical, cultural, man-made and commercial resources.

Using this worn landscape and the valuable lessons learned, the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council has created a learning environment to help communities become involved in tourism using proper planning, and sustainable principles as their methodology for development of tourism.


The Sustainable Tourism Laboratory focuses on place-based tourism through an educational platform concerned with supporting whole communities through creative and innovative sustainable tourism development practices, sharing the knowledge it has gained over the past twenty-two years.

Although the primary study area of STPDL is the Blackstone Valley, it is also home to a global network of members seeking to understand and apply new approaches to sustainable tourism.


Subject areas featured at the Laboratory:

General Background AnalysisPerform initial analysis of geographic boundaries, assessing history, culture, climate, natural resources and existing economic patterns to determine potential for tourism development.

Infrastructure Analysis and RecommendationsThis component focuses on evaluating methods to bring audience to the destination and move them within the area. Planned and approved programs, as well as constraints on infrastructure needed for tourism will be evaluated.

Visitor Attractions and Activities, and their ImprovementDetermine primary and secondary attractions (natural, historical, cultural) all required improvements and conservations objectives. Positive and negative impacts on attracting visitors will be considered.



Visitor Facilities and Services and their improvementSurvey existing and planned accommodations, including tour and travel operations, restaurants, banking and money exchange, handicraft, specialty and convenience shopping, medical facilities and services, post offices safety and visitor information services.

Recommended extent and forms of TourismDetermine most appropriate volume and character of tourism, based on an evaluation of visitor attractions and activities, visitor satisfaction objectives, carrying capacity of the area.

Market Analysis and ProjectionsAnalyze visitor arrival patterns and trends in the target area and surrounding areas, as well as the impacts of existing or potential competing visitor destinations.Establish market targets by number of visitors, type/country/region or origin, socioeconomic group, interest groupings, length of stay. Targets project the number, type and quality level of accommodations, facilities, services and infrastructure required.



Recommended Tourism Development Policy and Structure Using the data previously researched, develop time-phased development plan, including types and location of visitor attractions, designated tourism development regions or areas (tourism zones) and transportation linkages. Recommend tour patterns and programs, with visitor excursion routes or circuits.

Economic Analysis and RecommendationsCalculate present and projected economic impact of tourism by the standard measurements of contribution to GNP, GDP, or the regional economy, gross and net foreign exchange earnings, extent and types of national or regional economic leakage, income generated, the multiplier effect, direct, indirect and induced employment generated and contribution to government revenues.

Environmental Considerations Identify environmental problems generated by tourism and recommend ways to lessen them immediately and in the future. Develop environmental protection/conversation policies and programs.



Institutional Consideration and RecommendationsReview/evaluate existing organizational structures and legislations related tourism; develop recommendations required for the effective management of tourism, including capitol resources and development incentives.

Marketing and Promotion RecommendationsDevelop marketing objectives and strategy, with specific promotion programs, cost estimates and possible sources of funding. Evaluate roles of public and private sectors in promotion: recommendation overseas and local promotion representation.

Plan Implementation and MonitoringBring together all the components and create a development action agenda, including demonstration projects, with cost estimates, funding sources and identification of responsible parties.This will specify implementation procedures, including the respective roles of government and other agencies and the private sector, standards for the design and development of visitor facilities, requirements of zoning and other land use constraints, use of incentives or disincentives to encourage development according to the plan, and techniques and procedures to monitor the plan.




Lastly….

The future belongs to the efficient, therefore destination managers must take responsibility to insure their resources are well managed today if we are to have a tomorrow!

Sharing knowledge and educating our communities today, will have a positive impact on future generations to be able to sustain a livable community.



Thank You

Questions?

Sustainabletourismlab.org

Documents

Sustainable Tourism Planning and Development Laboratory Alliance of National Heritage Areas International Heritage Development Conference Passport to Crossing