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Mainstreaming sustainable tourism principles: The global sustainable tourism baseline criteria initiative

Mainstreaming sustainable tourism principles: The global sustainable tourism baseline criteria initiative Dr. Stefanos Fotiou United Nations Environment Programme Division of Technology, Industry and Economics Sustainable tourism challenges The role of UNEP 1 2 3 4 The Initiative

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Mainstreaming sustainable tourism principles: The global sustainable tourism baseline criteria initiative

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  1. Mainstreaming sustainable tourism principles:The global sustainable tourism baseline criteria initiative Dr. Stefanos Fotiou United Nations Environment Programme Division of Technology, Industry and Economics

  2. Sustainable tourism challenges The role of UNEP 1 2 3 4 The Initiative Critical issues Contents

  3. 1 2 3 4 Decoding tourism Consumption of resources Production of resources • Transportation • Land, water energy use • Carrying capacity • Waste • Nature conservation • Development • Employment • Local income Production of tourism services Consumption of tourism services

  4. 1 2 3 4 What is happening today • Sustainability and the tourism value chain: Complex and unclear relations. • Industry dominated by SMEs; “sustainable is costly” • Fragmented responsibilities of the public authorities • Consumers that they don’t really care • Environmental and social negative impacts • Great potential ability of tourism to contribute to sustainable development

  5. 1 2 3 4 What we would like to happen • Tourism supporting sustainable economic development; production of fairly distributed wealth; creation of employment opportunities; • Society and environment absorb and benefit from the positive effects of tourism in a sustainable way; • The negative environmental, socio-cultural and economic impacts of tourism are addressed and reduced or counterbalanced with concrete contributions.

  6. 1 2 3 4 Sustainable tourism development

  7. 1 2 3 4 Why is not happening now? • Inertia • the resistance to change presented by economic systems, social structures and business models • The socio-economic environment of today is the product of decades of forces acting on it and resulting in a natural “inertia” • Economic Inertia • Social Inertia • Capital Inertia

  8. Contents Sustainable tourism challenges The role of UNEP 1 2 3 4 The initiative Critical issues

  9. 1 2 3 4 Production and Consumption Patterns • A combination of political, technological, business and individualchoices (preferences) • Focus on economic growth • Foster human development • Working “business as usual” • Promote and use innovative solutions • I prefer biological products • I want the most appealing packaging in my products • …………………………

  10. 1 2 3 4 The mission statement • Mainstream sustainability in tourism by fostering a pragmatic and demonstrative approach on the basis of sustainable consumption and production patterns in the tourism value chain.

  11. 1 2 3 4 The objectives • Support the integration of sustainability in tourism development policies. • Promote sustainable production and consumption patterns in the tourism industry. • Encourage demand for “sustainable tourism services”.

  12. 1 2 3 4 Expected Accomplishments • Resource efficiency is increased and in the tourism value chain. • Investment in sustainable tourism is increased through public policies and private sector action. • Consumer choice favours more resource efficient and environmentally friendly tourism products and services.

  13. 1 2 3 4 Our main instruments • Advisory services • Partnerships • Capacity building, training and awareness raising • Horizontal / supporting activities • Policy recommendations, publications, promotion of legal instruments, etch.

  14. Contents Sustainable tourism challenges The role of UNEP 1 2 3 4 The Initiative Critical issues

  15. 1 2 3 4 The needs • Tourism companies are seeking advice on identifying internationally recognized sustainable tourism criteria • Consumers are becoming more and more conscious • Voluntary sustainable tourism initiatives need credible references to developing their own programs • Mutual recognition and reciprocity among programs • Governmental agencies need support

  16. 1 2 3 4 The response • A global partnerships to develop the Sustainable Tourism Criteria with the purpose of identifying common sustainable tourism requirements from initiatives across the world

  17. 1 2 3 4 The uses • Serve as basic guidelines for businesses of all sizes to voluntarily adopt and become more sustainable. • Help tourism operators and lodging providers orient sustainable tourism programs to fulfill a generally accepted baseline international criteria. • Serve as the underlying criteria for accrediting sustainable tourism certification programs.

  18. 1 2 3 4 The uses • Serve as common denominator for media to recognize sustainable tourism providers. • Serve as guidance for travel agencies in choosing suppliers and sustainable tourism programs. • Help consumers identify sound sustainable tourism programs and businesses.

  19. 1 2 3 4 The Process • The initial partnership (coordinating group) • Establishing the initial list of Criteria • Consultations (various versions) • Establishment of a Steering Committee (SC) • Launching of the Public Version by the SC • Pilot Projects and additional consultation • Development of Indicators • Industry Launching • Global Launching (IUCN conference) • Outreach and integration with other initiatives (STSC)

  20. 1 2 3 4 The Partnership • Under the leadership of the UN Foundation, UNEP, UNWTO, IUCN and Rainforest Alliance formed the partnership; and created the Coordinating Group with the participation of the CBD Secretariat and ICOMOS. • Endorsement of the partnership by the organizations’ executive management

  21. 1 2 3 4 Initial list: Highlights • Dozens of documents consulted • UNEP-UNWTO 12 principles; Mohonk agreement; World Heritage Alliance principles; CBD guidelines; UNWTO Indicators for Sustainable Tourism Certification; TOI; VISIT; Certification Network of the Americas; etc. • 500+ criteria compared and evaluated • 26 criteria with performance indicators

  22. 1 2 3 4 Consultation highlights • Online surveys and phone interviews • 1500 industry visits in the web site • Full membership of IUCN • Comparison with over 5000 individual criteria from 12 sets of general guidelines and 55 certification standards • 2 meetings (DC) and a number of conference calls

  23. 1 2 3 4 The steering committee • The coordinating Group + • International Hotels and Restaurants Association • Tourism Concern • The International Ecotourism Society • Federation of Tour Operators • Conde Nast Traveler • Ecotrans • Conservation International • Sabre holdings • Caribbean Alliance on Sustainable Tourism • Expedia Inc. • Solimar International

  24. 1 2 3 4 The public version • 38 Criteria in 4 Categories • A. Demonstrate effective sustainable management (11 Criteria). • B. Maximize social and economic benefits to the local community and minimize negative impacts (9 Criteria). • C. Minimize negative impacts to cultural heritage and maximize benefits (4 Criteria) • D. Minimize environmental negative impacts and maximize benefits (14 Criteria).

  25. 1 2 3 4 Next Steps • Pilot Projects and additional Consultation • Development of Indicators • Industry Launching • Global Launching (IUCN conference) • Outreach and integration with other initiatives (STSC)

  26. 1 2 3 4 The Criteria and the STSC • The criteria will be a major input for the STSC • The STSC Board should use the Criteria as a technical basis for the STSC accreditation system • There will be adjustments but the overall concept, spirit and basic content of the criteria should be kept

  27. 1 2 3 4 Elements of success • Pragmatic approach • Initiative driven by existing needs and demands from the private sector • The value behind these criteria emanates mostly by the process that was followed to develop and peer-review them • Not to substitute existing initiatives; enhance them

  28. 1 2 3 4 Balance • Need to create a list of criteria that should, at the same time, be comprehensive, have a practical meaning, be representative of the values of sustainable tourism • Need to reach consensus among the steering committee of the initiative.

  29. Contents Sustainable tourism challenges The role of UNEP 1 2 3 4 The initiative Critical issues

  30. 1 2 3 4 Demonstrate value for stakeholders • Governments • Planning of tourism development; capacity building; consultation • Private sector • Improve operations management; reputation; increase visibility • Consumers • Assist them making better choices

  31. 1 2 3 4 Additional challenges • Climate change adaptation and mitigation in the tourism sector • Community tourism development; participatory planning of tourism • Application in developing and less developed countries • Focus on emerging destinations • Tourism and biodiversity; cultural heritage

  32. 1 2 3 4 Sustainable tourism and economic efficiency • Decrease the cost of handling the impacts • To increase profits • Conserve the assets of the tourism development • To assure future profits • Diversify the tourism products and thus target new markets • To generate new profits

  33. For more information www.sustainabletourismcriteria.org

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