UNIT 12. RESPONSIBLE TOURISM POLICY ANDPLANNING FOR TOURISM AUTHORITIES
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Unit outline
ObjectivesBy the end of this unit, participants will be able to:• Explain the importance of tourism to governments and the
challenge of sustainable growth• Describe how to incorporate sustainability into tourism
plans• Explain the importance of adopting a participatory planning
approach in policy and planning• Explain the function of impact appraisals in tourism
planning• Identify policy areas to create an enabling environment for
Responsible Tourism• Identify instruments for achieving Responsible Tourism
policies
Topics1. Tourism and its
importance to government
2. The challenge of sustainable growth
3. Incorporating sustainability into tourism plans
4. Using impact appraisals in tourism planning for sustainability
5. Identifying policy areas to create an enabling environment for Responsible Tourism
TOPIC 1. TOURISM AND ITSIMPORTANCE TO GOVERNMENT
RESPONSIBLE TOURISM POLICY & PLANNING FOR TOURISM AUTHORITIES
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Seminar overview: the role of governments in building responsible tourism
How can we use impacts appraisals to achieve responsible tourism objectives?
TOPIC 4
What is the current importance of tourism to
governments and why should we change what we
are doing? TOPIC 1
How can responsible tourism help maintain
growth but create greater sustainability?
TOPIC 2
How can we best incorporate responsible
tourism into tourism planning? TOPIC 3
What policy areas should we address to make
tourism responsible and what instruments are
relevant? TOPIC 5
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Tourism’s contribution to the economy of Vietnam
VND129,969.0bn VND140,179.0bn VND268,761.0bn
2012 2013 2023
DIRECT CONTRIBUTIONS OF TOURISM TO GDP IN VIETNAM:CONSTANT VND
Source: World Travel & Tourism Council 2013, Travel & Tourism Economic Impact 2013: Vietnam, WTTC, UK
Tourism’s contribution to the economy of Vietnam
TOTAL CONTRIBUTION OF TRAVEL & TOURISM TO GDP
CONSTANT VNDbn % WHOLE ECONOMY GDP
Source: World Travel & Tourism Council 2013, Travel & Tourism Economic Impact 2013: Vietnam, WTTC, UK
Tourism’s contribution to employment in Vietnam
‘000 JOBS % WHOLE ECONOMY EMPLOYMENT
Source: World Travel & Tourism Council 2013, Travel & Tourism Economic Impact 2013: Vietnam, WTTC, UK
The total economic value of tourism to Vietnam in 2013
US$3.7bnin capital investment or 8.3% of total
visitor exportsor 4.6% of total
US$5.9bnDIRECT JOBSor 3.8% of total
1,831,300
US$6.2bnin direct GDPor 4.5% of total
Source: World Travel & Tourism Council 2013, Travel & Tourism Economic Impact 2013: Vietnam, WTTC, UK
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Tourism is spurring on infrastructure development in Vietnam
RoadsAirports
ElectricityWater
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Tourism is driving investment in Vietnam
“Hue invests 9 billion VND in restoring traditional trade villages” (09/10/13)
“HA GIANG INVESTS VND 66 BILLION IN RESTORING DONG VAN
ANCIENT QUARTER” (03/10/13)
“Vingroup builds major ecotourism hub in Binh Dinh” (19/09/13)
“POLAND HELPS PRESERVE HUE’S KING TU DUC TOMB” (12/08/13)
“VND47 billion to upgrade dock station on Titov island” (24/07/13)
“Australia helps protect Ba Be National Park” (16/09/11)
“PHU YEN LICENSES TWO TOURISM PROJECTS” (07/09/11)
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Tourism is contributing to local economies and rural development in Vietnam
Picture sources: http://www.flickr.com/photos/calflier001/6943300353/; http://www.flickr.com/photos/dalbera/4411151036/; http://www.fotopedia.com/items/flickr-197185820; http://www.flickr.com/photos/marfis75/404877169/; http://www.flickr.com/photos/breweruk/6464624651/;
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stilt_house_by_Muong_people_in_Mai_Chau-Hoa_Binh-Viet_Nam.jpg
Carvers
Weavers
Farmers
Homestay families
Women
Local guides
Tourism is also contributing to the protection of natural & cultural heritage in Vietnam
TOPIC 2. THE CHALLENGE OF SUSTAINABLE GROWTH IN TOURISM
RESPONSIBLE TOURISM POLICY & PLANNING FOR TOURISM AUTHORITIES
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Compromising sustainability compromises tourism’s competitiveness
?
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The challenge of balancing sustainability and growth
GROWTH SUSTAINABILITY
Some reasons why sustainable tourism has been hard to achieve 1/2
Economic growth prioritised
Misconceptions about value of investment
and foreign exchange in sustainability
Limited funds for maintenance
Limited sustainable development frameworks
Inadequate control mechanisms
Insufficient rural planning
Tourism in the wrong place and reason
Limited awareness
Lack of commitment
Limited local community influence
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Some reasons why sustainable tourism has been hard to achieve 2/2
…and…sustainable tourism
did not ask anyone to do anything!
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The evolution from sustainable tourism…
ENVIRONMENT
SOCIAL ECONOMIC
SUSTAINABLETOURISM
1. BEACCOUNTABLE
2. HAVECAPACITY
…to responsible tourism
ENVIRONMENT
SOCIAL ECONOMIC
SUSTAINABLETOURISM
1. BEACCOUNTABLE
3. TAKEACTION
2. HAVECAPACITY
RESPONSIBLETOURISM
We must accept that every decision and action we make
in our daily lives has an impact.
We must take responsibility for our actions and acquire the knowledge, skills and resources to make change.
Being responsible is not just an intent. It requires action. And that action must be
for good - based upon the law, our ethics and
morals.
Responds to market demand
The benefits for governments in adopting a responsible tourism approach
More attractive destinations
Better use of natural and cultural resources
Creates viable, long-term economic benefits for all
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The influence of government in tourism destination development
Exploration
Involvement
Development
Consolidation
Stagnation
(Rejuvenate)
(Stable)
(Decline)
Developmentthreshold
TIME
NU
MBER O
F VISITORS
MY SON SANCTUARY
HUE
HOI AN
HA LONG BAY
Conceptual diagram of stage of development for key
heritage sites in Vietnam
Implementing responsible tourism will keep destinations
stable or even rejuvenate
7 key areas where governments can foster responsible tourism
41 Co-ordinating sector activities to enable responsible tourism
2 Managing natural and cultural resources responsibly
3 Setting responsible tourism standards
Building capacity in responsible tourism
5 Implementing responsible tourism legislation
6 Providing leadership in responsible tourism
7 Promoting responsible tourism activities
Increasing seasonality in tourism
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http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/818858
Tourism hot spots / benefits not reaching poor
Picture source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slum
Reduction in the quality of local amenities and services, and compromises safety
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/j-cornelius/2989147380/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbey_Road_Studios
http://www.flickr.com/photos/archer10/5187399563/
Cultural commodification and loss of authenticity
Picture sources:http://www.flickr.com/photos/runran/6885362990/
www.pixabay.comhttp://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vietnamese_Dancers.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Vietnam
…is that dance really traditional? …water puppets are now
souvenirs but do the tourists understand the cultural significance?
Tourism development and changes to natural and social systems
…but who lived there before?
Looks nice…
…and what about the importance of coastal areas for protection from extreme weather events?
Picture sources:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benidorm
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/5314774452/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthquake_engineering
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hoi_An_Fish_Market,_Vietnam).jpghttp://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:House_of_fisherman_Vietnam.jpg
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lecount_Hollow_Private_Beach_Access_Sign.jpg
Pollution affects important ecological processes and human health
Picture sources:http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Smoking_cruise_ships_Nile.JPG
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_B-47_Stratojethttp://www.flickr.com/photos/kk/4712861851/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landfill
TOPIC 3. INCORPORATING SUSTAINABILITY INTO TOURISM PLANS
RESPONSIBLE TOURISM POLICY & PLANNING FOR TOURISM AUTHORITIES
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The old days of tourism planning – localised, site specific
HOTEL
Transport
MARKET
GOVERNMENT
Promotion
Site selectionApply site planning, landscaping, & engineering design standards
Today’s tourism planning – integrated, strategic
HOTEL
TransportMARKET A
GOVERNMENT
Promotion
Site impactsAND impacts on surroundingenvironment,community & economy
Community
Environment
Economy
MARKET B
MARKET C
The role and importance of tourism planning in responsible tourism development
TOURISM PLANNING
Beneficiaries
Types
Form
Timing
Location
Effects of not incorporating sustainability into tourism planning process
lost opportunitiesto maximise positive impacts
activities and processesCONFLICTINGmore
to find support
morechallenging
on the environment, community and economy
ADVERSE IMPACTS Greater
Why traditional tourism plans often fail
Lack of flexibility
Lack of strategic
thinking and vision
Ineffective top-down planning
Poor linking of formulation
and implementatio
n
The logical and rational plans are often too
rigorous and unable to adapt to changing
conditions
Logical and rational plans often lack leadership vision in formulation
processes
Only involving planning officials or outside
planning experts may not represent the needs of
all stakeholders
Traditional planning often fails to link plan
formulation to the outcomes to ensure accountability and measure success
Key principles for integrating sustainability into tourism plans
ACHIEVING SUSTAINABILITY IN
TOURISM PLANNING
Economic objectives
Social objectives
Environmental objectives
Politicalobjectives
Tourism vs development goalsPlan integration
Top-down vs. local
Ecological balanceDevelopment pace
Environmentally costedImpacts assessed
Costs vs. benefitsBenefit distribution
Community compatibilityBenefit balance
Tourism seasonalityEmployment
Living standardCultural appreciationCompatible designs
Visitor-community needs
Integrating sustainability into tourism plans
NATIONAL
REGIONAL
DESTINATION TOURISM PLANS
Principal organisations
Legislative framework
Stakeholder roles & functions
Market environment
BACKGROUNDANALYSIS
IMPLEMENTATIONREQUIREMENTS
Financing
Marketing
Human resources
PRINCIPALELEMENTS
Infrastructure
Facilities and services
Attractions
TOURISM PLANS
Principal organisations
Legislative framework
Stakeholder roles & functions
Market environment
BACKGROUNDANALYSIS
IMPLEMENTATIONREQUIREMENTS
Financing
Marketing
Human resources
PRINCIPALELEMENTS
Infrastructure
Facilities and services
Attractions
Integrating sustainability into tourism plans
NATIONAL
REGIONAL
DESTINATION
integratesustainability
here
TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE
Planning for sustainability in tourism infrastructure
A. Transport
C. Waste management
D. Recreation & entertainment
E. Health & safety
B. Utilities
A. Key principles for tourism transport planning
Well connected international air
services
Provision of water transport options and experiences
Development of major land transport circulation systems linking attractions
Comprehensive network of domestic
airports
Sustainability issues to consider in planning tourism transport
Destruction of natural areas in infrastructure construction and operation
Tourism volume vs destination carrying
capacity
Creation of new adverse social quality
of life impacts
Others?
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B. Key principles in tourism utilities planning
Ensuring sufficient water to meet
demand
Ensuring sufficient electricity supply to
meet demand
Ensuring effective water storage and
distribution
Collecting water appropriately
according to location
Sustainability issues to consider in planning tourism utilities
Overuse of water to maintain high visitation sites
Environmental impacts from construction & operation
Adequate and continuous supply of
safe drinking water and electricity
High water use by holiday-makers
Others?
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C. Key principles in tourism waste management
Minimising the volume of liquid
waste and ensuring proper treatment before discharge
Developing structures and
systems to monitor waste management
practices
Implementing recycling systems for paper, plastic, glass
and metals
Ensuring treatment of solid waste and proper
disposal
Sustainability issues to consider in planning tourism waste management
Impact of water and land pollution on visitor satisfaction
Impact of poor waste storage, collection,
treatment, and disposal on human and
ecosystem health
Ability of waste management facilities to deal with additional tourism related waste
Others?
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D. Key principles in planning of recreation & entertainment facilities
Providing a range of recreational and entertainment
options
Development of effective recreation and entertainment
areas
Sustainability issues to consider in planning recreation and entertainment facilities
Impact of large-scale facilities on
the local environment
Social disturbance from traffic, noise, crowding
and anti-sociable behaviour
Creation of new social problems from local participation in new recreational activities
Others?
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E. Key principles in planning tourism health & safety services
Ensuring provision of full range of health care and safety services
Ensuring health care and safety services
are easily accessible
Ensuring good systems are in place to ensure proper hygiene and
sanitary standards in F&B outlets
Sustainability issues to consider in planning health & safety services
Impacts of mass tourism on
accessibility of services to locals
Ability of local services to handle demand from
additional visitors Impact of social services taxes on local community’s standard of living
Others?
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FACILITIES AND SERVICES
Planning for sustainability in tourism facilities and services
A. Accommodation
C. Shopping
D. Travel and tour services
B. Food and beverage facilities
A. Key principles for accommodation planning
Understand existing offer
Ensuring suitable accommodation
development
Understand projected demand needs
Sustainability issues to consider in planning accommodation
Geographical positioning impacts
Tourists’ demands vs community’s interests
Oversupply / undersupply
impacts
Scale, height and concentration impacts
Waste, power and water use impacts
Design impacts
Others?
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Promoting supply of a range of F&B
outlets
Promoting design parameters
Encouraging sector development
through incentives and supporting
services
Enforcing standards of hygiene, service and
quality
Determining suitable locations
B. Key principles for F&B services planning
Sustainability issues to consider in planning F&B services
Standards in service and meal quality
Standards of hygiene
Scale, height and concentration
impacts
Oversupply / undersupply impacts
Design impacts
Waste, power and water use impacts
Others?
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C. Key principles for shopping facilities planning
Improving shopping attractiveness and
encouraging diversity
Linking tourism nodes via shopping
“corridors”
Promoting off-season activities to
support retailers
Regulating to protect authentic locally-made
goods
Establishing premises for locally-
produced goods
Sustainability issues to consider in planning of shopping facilities
Oversupply / seasonality impacts
Location and distribution social & environmental impacts
Economic leakage from imported products
Waste from products and packaging
Economic related dislocation due to inflated retail land
prices and retail tax
Others?
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D. Principles for travel and tour services planning
Ensuring tourist information services are suitably located
Supporting local guides
Ensuring accessible training and
certification for tour guides
Ensuring tour operators are licenced
and meet required standards
Fostering implementation of codes of conduct
Sustainability issues to consider in planning of travel and tour services
Standards in tour guiding and tour operation
Standards in transportation provision
and environmental impacts
Safety and security of tour groups
Impacts of tourists’ behaviour on communities and sites
Others?
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TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
Planning for sustainability in tourist attractions
A. Natural attractions
C. Special events & activities
B. Cultural attractions
A. Key principles for natural tourism attractions planning
Developing natural resources
information base
Providing natural resource
interpretation
Implementing policies and
practices for visitor satisfaction and
conservation
Creating facilities for viewing and
experiencing natural environment
Sustainability issues to consider in planning natural tourism attractions
Impacts of activities and infrastructure on ecosystems
Limited understanding of biodiversity and landscapes
Limited resources for conservation
and visitor safety
Others?
Picture source:Pixabay, www.pixabay.com
B. Key principles for cultural tourism attractions planning
Understanding cultural resources
Retaining authenticity
Controlling visitor impacts
Provision of cultural information and interpretation
Sustainability issues to consider in planning cultural tourism attractions
Eroding of traditions and anti-social behaviour
Commodification of culture and loss of authenticity
Limited resources to understand function of local culture
Cultural conflict
Limited resources to protect cultural heritage sites
Others?
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C. Key principles for tourism activities and events planning
Understanding existing offer
Provision of Infrastructure and
services
Provision of information /
interpretation
Developing and promoting activities and events calendar
Sustainability issues to consider in planning tourism activities & events
Safety and security for all
Noise, traffic, waste and pollution
Undesirable or anti-social behaviour
Strain on local infrastructure and
facilitiesOthers?
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IMPLEMENTATION REQUIREMENTS
Creating sustainability in tourism plan implementation
A. Financing
C. Human resource development
B. Marketing and promotions
A. Key principles for financing of tourism plans
Aggressive pursuit of foreign aid opportunities
Supporting domestic investment
Offering a range of incentives
Fostering foreign private investment
Sustainability issues to consider in financing of tourism projects
Foreign aid vs. local development control
Tourism economic leakage
Investor demands vs. local needs
Factoring social and environmental impacts into economic decisions
Others?
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B. Key principles for tourism marketing planning
Planning is both strategic and tactical
Current market situation is understood
Tourism promotion is designed for target
markets
Sustainability issues to consider in planning of tourism marketing
Target markets fit desires of local community
Targets consider spend and local capacity
Seasonality of visitor arrivals and socio-economic impacts
Promotions create realistic expectations, and are sympathetic to local culture
Others?
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C. Key principles for tourism human resources planning
Meets needs of small business, self-
employed, and government
Policies on tourism employment and
tourism education & training
Understanding of existing situation
Strategy for forecast future skilled
workforce requirements
Sustainability issues to consider in planning of tourism human resources
Availability of required tourism skill levels
Adequacy and accessibility of education and
training
Tourism sector working conditions
Accessibility of employment for locals
Others?
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The need to ensure tourism planning is participatory
• Recognise the concerns and goals of all• Engage stakeholders based on interest,
skills and expertise• Understand and communicate all values
of tourism• Develop a shared understanding and
vision for tourism• Identify clear roles and responsibilities
for all• Implement a structure for good
governance
Industry operators
Government departments and associations
Visitors
Community
Investors / developers
Land owners
Industry associations
Tourism-related organisations
Community development & environmental organisations
TOPIC 4. USING IMPACT APPRAISALS IN TOURISM PLANNING FOR SUSTAINABILITY
RESPONSIBLE TOURISM POLICY & PLANNING FOR TOURISM AUTHORITIES
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Tourism impact appraisals are a key requirement in ensuring sustainable tourism
development
Impact appraisals in
tourism provide
decision makers
with:
Understanding of impacts of tourism development proposals
Supportive evidence about why particular projects are approved
Potential alternative development options with different ranges of impacts
Mechanism to foster coordination among stakeholders
Suggestions for avoiding or reducing damage and other impacts
Mechanism to enhance public participation in decision-making processes
Tourism development impact appraisals must cover the triple bottom line
TOURISM DEVELOPMENT
PROPOSAL
ENVIRONMENT
SOCIAL
ECONOMIC
IMPACT APPRAISAL AREAS
Appraising economic impacts of tourism development
Evaluation: • Evaluate economic benefits relating to
travel activity, expenditures, employment, business earnings, profits, and tax revenue.
• Evaluate economic costs based on measuring the current situation and the additional costs that will occur as a result of the planned tourism development, or alternatively, the cost of not making any change
Objective: Determine the cost or benefit to the economic well-being of a community as a result of tourism activities or development in terms of employment, income and wealth
Data sources: Direct observation, surveys of tourist purchases and expenditure, estimates of expenditure based on business receipts or sample surveys of travellers and tourists
Tourism economic impact appraisal criteria
EXAMPLES OF ECONOMIC IMPACT APPRAISAL CRITERIAForeign exchange earningsIncome level changesChanges in employment opportunitiesInvestment changes and multipliersStimulation of other industriesChanges in balance of paymentsBroadening of taxesChanges to property valuesSupport of conservation activitiesStimulation of local entrepreneurship
Appraising environmental impacts of tourism development
Evaluation: • Analyse predicted effects on the
environment as a result of a planned tourism project
• Analyse the degree of impact and change
• Identify the significance of the changes and impacts
• Identify ways in which the impacts could be mitigated, ameliorated, or controlled
Objective: Evaluate the potential impact to the environment and its ecosystems from tourism development and activity with specific mention to the nature, scale and likely consequences of any environmental disturbance
Data sources: Existing environmental surveys and statistics, reports, plans and strategies, observation, minutes of key stakeholder meetings, focus groups sessions, interviews
Tourism environmental impact appraisal criteria
EXAMPLES OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT APPRAISAL CRITERIAFlora AirPhysical damage Carbon monoxide emission from vehicles, boats etcLoss of fragile species FaunaDisturbance to ecological balance Disturbance to habitatDisturbance of regeneration and growth rates Behaviour patternsReduction in vegetation cover and species diversity Killing / removal of animalsWater Disruption of the predator-prey relationshipReduction in quality of waterContamination of fish and reef lifeEutrophication leading to weed growth
Appraising social impacts of tourism development
Evaluation: • Conduct a baseline profile to understand
the current impacts of the activity being examined and identify the groups and communities associated with the activity
• Assess direct impacts of change felt by individuals, groups and firms, the level and nature of potential impacts of the activity, and the range of potential impacts of the proposed changes
• Assess indirect impacts of a change at the broader level as a result of the impacts felt by those individuals, groups and firms directly associated with the change by using regional profiling, surveys and /or modelling
Objective: Examine the impact on social, cultural and political systems that may be attributed to the impact of tourism
Data sources: City / province / district council statistics, reports, plans and strategies, local surveys undertaken, existing literature, observation, minutes from public meetings, workshop results, focus groups sessions, telephone hotlines, interviews
Tourism social impact appraisal criteria
EXAMPLES OF SOCIAL IMPACT APPRAISAL CRITERIA
Changes to economic independence of population groups
Displacement of local communities
Changes to access to traditional economic domain
Changes from traditional occupational structures
Changes in land value patterns
Changes in living standards
Growth of undesirable activities
Adoption of foreign values, ideologies and behaviours
Changes to value placed on traditional art, music, rituals and ceremonies
Changes in attitudes to tourists
TOPIC 5. IDENTIFYING POLICY AREAS TO CREATE AN ENABLING ENVIRONMENT FOR RESPONSIBLE TOURISM
RESPONSIBLE TOURISM POLICY & PLANNING FOR TOURISM AUTHORITIES
Picture source:Pixabay, www.pixabay.com
8. Social equity
9. Visitorfulfilment
10. Local control
11. Community wellbeing
12. Cultural richness
UNWTO’s 12 policy areas for sustainable tourism
SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY
ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY
1. Economic viability
2. Local prosperity
3. Employment quality
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
4. Physical integrity
5. Biological diversity
6. Resource efficiency
7. Environmentalpurity
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Meeting Policy Area 1: Economic viability
ECONOMIC VIABILITY
Understand the marketDeliver visitor satisfactionMaintain good trading conditionsMaintain and project attractive destinationsSupport business
PRACTICES TO MEET THE POLICY
Meeting Policy Area 2: Local prosperity
LOCAL PROSPERITY
Reduce leakages
Strengthen links between businesses
Increase visitor spending
PRACTICES TO MEET THE POLICY
Meeting Policy Area 3: Employment quality
EMPLOYMENT QUALITY
Increase employment opportunitiesEnsure and enforce labour regulations
Provide skills training and career advancementEnsure wellbeing of workers who lose their jobs
PRACTICES TO MEET THE POLICY
Meeting Policy Area 4: Physical integrity
PHYSICAL INTEGRITY
Tourism developments appropriate to environmentMinimise physical impact of tourist activitiesMaintain high quality rural and urban landscapes
PRACTICES TO MEET THE POLICY
Meeting Policy Area 5: Biological diversity
PRACTICES TO MEET THE POLICY
BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
Work with protected areasPromote ecotourismUse tourism to encourage sustainable land management
Work with private parks and reserves
Minimise damage to natural heritage from tourism
Raise visitor awareness of biodiversity
Raise support for conservation
Meeting Policy Area 6: Resource efficiency
PRACTICES TO MEET THE POLICY
RESOURCE EFFICIENCY
Account for resource supply in tourism planningMinimise water consumption by the tourism sectorUse land and raw materials efficiently in developmentPromote a reduce, reuse, recycle mentality
Meeting Policy Area 7: Environmental purity
PRACTICES TO MEET THE POLICY
ENVIRONMENTAL PURITY
Promote the use of more sustainable transportReduce the use of environmentally damaging chemicalsAvoid discharge of sewage to the seas and rivers / lakesMinimise waste and disposing with careInfluence the development of new tourism facilities
Meeting Policy Area 8: Social equity
PRACTICES TO MEET THE POLICY
SOCIAL EQUITY
Develop income opportunities for the disadvantagedUtilise income from tourism to support social programmes
Meeting Policy Area 9: Visitor fulfilment
PRACTICES TO MEET THE POLICY
VISITORFULFILMENT
Provide safe and satisfying experiences for all visitorsProvide holiday opportunities for disadvantagedMaintain a duty of care to visitorsMonitor and address visitor satisfaction
Meeting Policy Area 10: Local control
PRACTICES TO MEET THE POLICY
LOCAL CONTROL
Ensure engagement and empowerment of local communities
Improve conditions for effective local decision makingEmpower indigenous and traditional communities
Meeting Policy Area 11: Cultural richness
PRACTICES TO MEET THE POLICY
CULTURAL RICHNESS
Ensure effective management and conservation of heritage sites
Work with communities on sensitive presentation and promotion of culture and traditions
Meeting Policy Area 12: Community wellbeing
PRACTICES TO MEET THE POLICY
COMMUNITYWELLBEING
Promote the use of more sustainable transportReduce the use of environmentally damaging chemicalsAvoid discharge of sewage to the seas and rivers / lakesMinimise waste and disposing with careInfluence the development of new tourism facilities
The draft Vietnam Responsible Tourism Policy framework
RESPONSIBLE TOURISM
DYNAMIC & EFFICIENT
COMPETITIVENESS & SUSTAINABILITY
SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
KNOWLEDGE & UNDERSTANDING
NATURAL & CULTURAL RESOURCES
HUMAN CAPITAL & RESOURCES
1. A dynamic & efficient tourism sector
Action Areas Key Issues1.1 Policy & Planning
• Recognition given to RT in development policies• Policy gaps and overlaps• Restrictive and unclear policies• Lack of quality data for planning, policies and investment
planning 1.2 Efficient Sector Functioning
• Inter-ministerial coordination • Implementation of plans and regulations • Visa issuing for tourists
1.3 Supportive Business Environment
• Financial and regulatory restrictions • Tourism sector is not adequately recognized• Tourism investment policies not support sustainable
development • Taxation Issues
1.4 Stakeholder Cooperation
• Support stakeholder engagement in tourism planning
2. Competitiveness with sustainability
Action Areas Key Issues2.1 Promoting Good Business Practices
• Negative competition leads to lower quality of services• Unfair treatment of tourists by businesses
2.2 Enhancing Product Development
• Lack of variety and distinctive products and services • Improve quality of products and services• More local products that add distinction and local benefits
2.3 Strategic Marketing and Promotion
• VN brand better supported and taken up by the sector• Higher yielding markets that create more economic impact • VN is currently viewed as a “one time visit destination” • Lack of funding for effective marketing
2.4 Support to Positive Visitor Experiences
• Fair treatment of tourists at destinations• Ensure the safety of tourists at destinations
3. Broad-based socio-economic development
Action Areas Key Issues3.1 Social Inclusion
• Tourism related benefits are not reaching as much as possible
• Lack of planning processes that include local people
• Lack of opportunities for the disadvantaged
• Lack of support to micro-enterprise development3.2 Poverty Reduction
• Planning and policies not linked enough to poverty reduction
• Support the development of tourism where poor reside
• Barriers for businesses to engage disadvantaged people
• Barriers for disadvantaged people participating in tourism
4. Expanding knowledge and understanding
Action Areas Key Issues4.1 Public Sector (national/ provincial/ local)
• Lack strong government commitment for Tourism
• Higher yielding-lower impact tourism not recognized
• Lack of recognition of the importance of sustainable tourism
• Stakeholder engagement to achieve effective sector functioning
• Lack of understanding for the RT approach to planning4.2 Business Sector (management / staff)
• Lack of awareness on responsible businesses practices/operations
• Importance of quality over quantity not fully realized
• Low capacity in managing tourist & local community interaction 4.3 Visitors and Hosts
• Tourists behaving inappropriately at tourist sites
• Lack of information about local communities and customs
• Improving treatment of tourist at the community level
• Host communities not always happy with tourism 4.4 General Population
• Low awareness on the importance of tourism
5. Investing in human capital / resources
Action Areas Key Issues5.1 Governance (public sector, all levels)
• Government / provincial / local staff with tourism responsibilities have little experience or training on tourism
5.2 Business Sector (management and staff)
• Many tourism business managers lack to skills necessary to both operate efficient businesses or contribute effectively to RT
• Staff of many tourism businesses have little understanding on sustainable and RT
5.3 Local People • Lack of skills for people living at or near tourism sites prevent participation and contribution to the tourism sector
5.4 Employment & Decent Work
• Working conditions in some cases not at appropriate standards
• Health and working insurance not comprehensively available
6. Conservation and enhancement of resources
Action Areas Key Issues6.1 Cross-cutting Issues
• Overcrowding at sites
• Destruction of resources by tourists / business practices
• Commercialization leading to degradation of resources
• Negative impacts from other economic sectors
• Weak cooperation amongst local stakeholders at tourism sites
• Weak policy support for the conservation of cultural and environmental resources in tourism policies and planning
6.2 Natural Resources
• Businesses operating in environmentally unsustainable ways
• Low awareness and policies, strategies related to climate change and the impacts on, and from, the tourism sector
6.3 Cultural Resources
• Conflicting interests between agencies responsible for heritage conservation and tourism development/promotion
Using instruments to support responsible tourism policies
• Governments can use instruments to influence the sustainability of tourism
• For best effect, all instruments should be applied in ways that are complementary and mutually reinforcing
Instruments have different functions:
• To measure levels of tourism and impacts
• To control aspects of development and operation
• To influence behaviour and impact
• To encourage voluntary adherence to sustainable approaches and practices
• To influence enterprises and tourists to make operations and activities sustainable
Using indicators and monitoring to support responsible tourism policies
• Set sustainable tourism objectives
• Establish a baseline• Set targets for policies
and actions to achieve objectives
• Incorporate assessment and evaluation of implemented actions
• Make provisions for continuous improvementPicture source:
Pixabay, www.pixabay.com
Using limits of change to support responsible tourism policies
• Establish limits of economically, environmentally and socially acceptable change
• Help manage levels of undesirable impact
Picture source:Pixabay, www.pixabay.com
Using national tourism laws to support responsible tourism policies
• Set out the responsibilities of governments and their agencies towards tourism
• Sustainable tourism principles should be incorporated into the preamble and the wording of articles to ensure harmony
Picture source:Pixabay, www.pixabay.com
Using regulations to support responsible tourism policies
• Help enforce compliance• Can include:– Interactions with local
environment and community
– Allowable activities and forms of activities
– Accessibility to places and / or frequency of use– Qualification requirements– Construction and building standards
Picture source:Pixabay, www.pixabay.com
Using land use planning & development controls to support responsible tourism policies
• Influence the type and location of tourism development and activities
• Can prioritise areas and sites for conservation for tourism activities
• Can ensure sustainable land use
Picture source:Pixabay, www.pixabay.com
Using tourism impact assessments to support responsible tourism policies
• Require developers to assess potential impacts of development proposals
• Ensure sustainability by identifying costs and benefits to the economy, society and environment
Picture source:Pixabay, www.pixabay.com
Using taxes and charges to support responsible tourism policies
• Business tax and tourist tax can help affect businesses and consumer behaviour
• Charges can help control visitor numbers
• Revenue raised can be used for management, conservation, or support local community development projects etc
Picture source:Pixabay, www.pixabay.com
Using financial incentives and agreements to support responsible tourism policies
• Influence behaviour of enterprises by offering financial benefits for acting in a certain way
• Can require enterprises to perform in a specific environmentally / socially / economically sensitive way
• Can be used to assist particular types of sustainable tourism activities and direct government investments in sustainable tourism ventures
Picture source:Pixabay, www.pixabay.com
Using voluntary mechanisms to support responsible tourism policies
• Non-legally binding codes of conduct and guidelines for visitors and enterprises
• Help establish expectations or requirements of behaviour
• Certification schemes can also be promoted to help improve quality standards
Picture source:Pixabay, www.pixabay.com
Using supportive instruments to support responsible tourism policies
• Provision of infrastructure and services - fosters tourism development
• Capacity building - feeds demand for skilled labour and enhances local employment and income
• Marketing and information services - support economic instruments, guidelines and certification, as well as facilitate market access, promote particular forms of tourism or products, and influence visitor behaviour
Picture source:Pixabay, www.pixabay.com
Xin trân trọng cảm ơn!Thank you!
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