Sustainable Tourism

Sustainable Tourism Cynthia Messer December 3, 2007 A collaboration of the University of Minnesota Extension & the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences Overview Travel & tourism  Definition  Travel types  Magnitude Sustainable tourism  Why?  Expected & unexpected occurrences A collaboration of the University of Minnesota Extension & College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences What is Tourism? A collaboration of the University of Minnesota Extension & College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences What is Tourism? Tourism comprises the activities of persons traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes. UN World Tourism Organization A collaboration of the University of Minnesota Extension & College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences The processes, activities, and outcomes arising from the relationships and the interactions among tourists, tourism suppliers, host governments, host communities, and surrounding environments that are involved in the attracting and hosting of visitors. Goeldner & Ritchie A collaboration of the University of Minnesota Extension & College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences Tourism involves: • Tourists • Businesses supplying services / goods • Government • Host community – resources Each with different motivations and goals Definitions such as: tourist, traveler, visitor, excursionist, domestic, international etc. may vary in perceived importance A collaboration of the University of Minnesota Extension & College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences Tourists Domestic  Within a country, a person traveling for pleasure within the country other than residence for 50 miles one way from home International  a person visiting a country, other than that in which they reside, for 24 hours not workers not passing through Keys = Purpose, duration USTDC also reports on all trips involving 1+ nights from home    Keys  Distance, Duration, Motivation A collaboration of the University of Minnesota Extension & College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences Tourism facts Internationally (2005)  800 million travelers spend $525 billion worldwide (+5.5% from 2004) Minnesota    28.6 million visitors $10+ billion gross sales    $24 million/day 45% residents 44% Metro US –3rd most freq destination Total US Visitors spend  $1.6 billion a day  $68 million an hour  $1.1 million a minute  $19,000 second Generates $100 billion in tax revenue for local, state& fed gov’t 87% pleasure   ~242,000 jobs Scenic touring, shopping, fishing, visit friends/family (30% + visitors participate) Source: WTO, 2005 & TIA 2005 A collaboration of the University of Minnesota Extension & College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences What is sustainable tourism? Contributes to responsible recreation / travel with sustained  economic benefits at the local level  environmental & cultural protection  local community involvement & education  influence on visitor behavior & education  Participants actively engaged in learning & support ….meets the needs of present tourists & host regions while protecting & enhancing opportunities for the future… UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) A collaboration of the University of Minnesota Extension & College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences Sustainable vs other forms Nature  Tourism in which the main motivation is the observation & appreciation of nature (UNWTO) Eco  responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment & improves the well-being of local people (International Ecotourism Society) Responsible  Means of individual & collective fulfillment-irreplaceable factors of self-education, mutual tolerance, and learning about the legitimate difference between peoples and cultures & their diversity (UNWTO) Geo  Travel that sustains or enhances the geographic character of a place being visited - its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, & the well being of its residents (Travel Industry Association) A collaboration of the University of Minnesota Extension & College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences Why sustainable tourism? • Increasing interest in the environment & natural resources Dissatisfaction with mass tourism Reaction to negative impact of mass tourism • • A collaboration of the University of Minnesota Extension & College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences www.flickr.com Increasing Market Demand 2/3 consumers—  130 million indicate that if price & quality are equal, they are likely to switch to brands or retailers associated with a good cause (Roper Survey, 2004)  in 2000, this market represented $546 billion globally and $226.8 billion in the U.S. (Lifestyles of Health & Sustainability Journal) Specific to travel  58.5 M (38%) would pay more to use travel companies that strive to protect & preserve environment (61% say 5-10% more; TIA, 2006)  Geotourists represent 1/3 travelling U.S. public  51% U.S. feel tourism industry in U.S. is NOT environmentally friendly (Orbitz, 2007)  ever louder call for responsible business practices (HVS intl, 2006) A collaboration of the University of Minnesota Extension & College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences Addressing market demand Businesses: Labels/Certification > 60 initiatives, 20 + (TIES, 2003) Australian tour operators: 9.2% w/ renewable energy supply, 71% interested Lodging: ‘1’ by Starwood Leading Green Initiative STI & Leading Hotels A collaboration of the University of Minnesota Extension & College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences Communities: Marketing as ‘sustainable meeting place’ Geotourism Charter via National Geographic: destination Sustainable Tourism Jordan Hawaii Minnesota A collaboration of the University of Minnesota Extension & College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences Unexpected: Jordan Geography  Cross in 4 hours by auto; Indiana  No oil, phosphates/ potash export  86% desert & steppe  6 mo rain, 6 mo dry Social-political  70% live in urban  Monarchy  Regional peacekeeper Tourism history  Cultural - Petra  Nature reserves A collaboration of the University of Minnesota Extension & College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences Dana as ecotourism model: ‘Wild Jordan’ Support local $  Create opportunity  Jewelry, organic farming, guiding, employment  Return $ to area Protect env/culture  Reserve  Preserve arch resources  Craft buildings in local style Involve/ed locals  Train to make jewelry, farming, guiding  Identify & meet needs Influence visitor behavior  Education/ interpretation  Academic stays A collaboration of the University of Minnesota Extension & College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences Hawaii Outdoor tourism 5 categories:      helicopter/airplane tour boat tour/ submarine/whale watching tour bus excursion private limousine/van tour self-guided • • • Geography Social-political  1.2 million residents Cultural tourism 5 categories:      historic site museum/art gallery Polynesian show/luau art/craft fair festival Tourism  6.4 million visitors  9.19 day stay  $10.1 billion $ impact A collaboration of the University of Minnesota Extension & College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences Tourism associations/mgmt Tourism  Visitor Bureau 1903  Ecotourism Association 1994  Hawaii Tourism Authority 1998 (state agency)  To strategically manage the growth of Hawaii's visitor industry in a manner consistent with our economic goal, cultural values, preservation of natural resources A collaboration of the University of Minnesota Extension & College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) The Hawaii Tourism Authority was established in July 1998. Its mission statement is:  To strategically manage the growth of Hawaii's visitor industry in a manner consistent with our economic goal, cultural values, preservation of natural resources and community interests. PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT GOALS    To support the overall HTA mission and goal by expanding, enriching, and diversifying Hawaii's tourism product. And, more specifically: To inspire a shared vision of sustainable tourism through increased education, awareness and involvement of Hawaii's entire community. http://www.hawaii.gov/tourism/ A collaboration of the University of Minnesota Extension & College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences Legislative action & outcomes HTA Request for increased budget $  7 million visitors  Awarded $114 million for marketing Sierra club brings suit, 2000 3 pronged study develops 2001  Infrastructure/env (2002)  Modeling  Socio-cultural/public input HI State Supreme Court ruled in favor of HTA on 2002 A collaboration of the University of Minnesota Extension & College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences Minnesota Ecotourism Association members  Preferred Adventures Ltd  Ecoquest Green Hotel Association:  Hampton Inn Rochester Sustainable Development Partnerships  Identify models of effective community assessment teams, particularly rural/sustainable tourism  Adopt/adapt models  Implement in NE MN A collaboration of the University of Minnesota Extension & College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences Development: NE SDP Tourism Resource Team Process Application process  Selection based on criteria Site visit  Team meetings  Draft recommendations  Respond to input Report compilation Final presentation Monitoring & evaluation  Immediate, 3, 6, 12 month How to manual online Formal application process including a checklist, detail of support, a community team & written narrative Nominal monetary costs to the community required to demonstrate commitmentLodging, meeting space, etc. TRT comprised of five or fewer members based on community needs Action plan crafted by the coordinator & based on the expert tourism team members’ observations & recommendations A collaboration of the University of Minnesota Extension & College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences International Falls, MN Success Short term      Community awareness re consequences of MTD Community leader enlightenment re sustainability Need for public involvement identified Support for acquisition & development Site acquisition & development  Residential park redesigned to have storm water runoff filtering, visitor interpretation, river access Collaboration Longer term  A collaboration of the University of Minnesota Extension & College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences Thank you. Questions? A collaboration of the University of Minnesota Extension & College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences