Global Global ClassroomsClassroomsTopic and Countries for Round 2Topic and Countries for Round 2

Our Countries

Australia, Canada, Guatemala, Madagascar, Vietnam

Guatemala and Vietnam

GroupsGroupsWho wants what?Who wants what?

Sustainable TourismSustainable TourismUNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organization)UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organization)

UNWTO UNWTO is the the United Nations’ agency tasked

with promoting and ensuring accessible, sustainable and responsible tourism among member states

Only 155 countries are members

The main goal of UNWTO is to promote the sustainable growth of tourism

Watches the relationship between climate change, sustainability, biodiversity, ethics, green economy initiatives worldwide and the tourism industry

Work through public education

Headquartered in Madrid

UNWTO *Canada is NOT currently a member state*

No United Kingdom, United States

MDGs 7 and 8 Ensure environmental sustainability

Global partnership for development

Website: www.unwto.org

Sustainable Tourism Sustainability is the idea that people can enjoy

and use natural resources today in a way that will make sure they are still available in the future

Sustainable tourism focuses on the impact that the tourism industry has on environmental, economic, social and cultural matters

Tourism is one of the world’s largest businesses, accounting for 1/3 of the world’s economy

A growing industry, the number of tourist will double by 2030

Sustainable Tourism Sustainable tourism plans would be those

that make sure the money generated through tourism is used for things that are good for the population and the environment. By making the country more appealing and better run, the state ensures the continued growth of tourism and increase in revenue.

The goal of ST is to balance a location’s environmental and cultural needs with its attractiveness as a destination for visitors

The Problems with Tourism:

Environment Fresh water Tourists drink/bath with more fresh water than is really available (developing countries and Spain) Same for food and energy

The Problems with Tourism:

Environment Pollution Chemicals, garbage and sewage

Air travel (60% of which is touristic) and car/bus rental leads to air pollution

Garbage: Cruise ships in the Caribbean account for 70,000 tons of garbage each year

Construction projects destroy the natural ecosystem Golf courses, ski resorts, beach resorts, water

parks, etc

The Problems with Tourism:

Environment The problem: People want to travel to exotic and rare places, but these are usually the environments most sensitive to change Even eco-tourism such as in the rain forest or

Galapagos can be harmful

Eco-tourism: When visitors travel to a location for the natural landscape and preservation. Although money gained from this often goes towards preservation of species and support for the environment, lax rules can result in serious harm to the environment

If properly managed, eco-tourism can be an excellent to promote natural areas and preservation, educate visitors, and benefit the local economy

The Problems with Tourism: Economy

Poorly managed tourism can lead to severe deficits. Often tourist money isn’t kept within the local economy, due the the bookings by travel companies and import goods

Leakage: When money that seems to be destined for the local economy is actually benefitting outside sources A study of tourism leakage in Thailand estimated that 70

percent of all money spent by tourists ended up leaving Thailand via foreign-owned tour operators, airlines, hotels, imported drinks and food. Estimates for other developing countries range from 80 percent in the Caribbean to 40 percent in India.

Also, in popularly visited areas, prices for goods may be driven up in an attempt to benefit from tourists, which negatively impacts locals who cannot afford the goods

The Problems with Tourism

Seasonal problem businesses suffer during “off season”

Competition for tourists may hurt overall development as people neglect other jobs and services

May hurt the local culture, as businesses and locals try to sell a perceived image, instead of their true local traditions

Tourism Isn’t All Bad The revenue created by tourist ventures in a

region can be put to use in a variety of ways to improve the local infrastructure, environment, and overall development.

Similarly, tourism may promote a greater degree of international awareness, as tourists are exposed to other parts of the world.

The difficult task is to

balance the positive qualities

of tourism with the possible

harms that the industry may

pose.

Past Action: Small Island States

The Caribbean and Micronesia

Become main candidates for ST programs

UN Conference in 1994 addressed their problems

So small that tourism is necessary to support their economy, but needs to be managed with respect to environmental and local integrity

The Calvia Declaration

Coordination between local government, private sector (businesses), NGOs and citizens created in 1997 by the city of Calvia, Spain

Exemplifies the cooperation needed to bring about successful and sustainable tourism

While political officials develop policies for sustainable development, NGOs initiate educational programs to raise awareness about these issues. Citizens and corporations must understand the need for sustainable development policies and must obey them once in place.

UN Action On the 5th anniversary of the Earth Summit (GA

conference held in 1992 to discuss the global environmental situation), the UN recognized the importance of coordination between National and local governments, NGOs and the private sector, and officially adopted the idea of ST.

In 1996, three NGOs the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), and the Earth Council jointly launched an action plan entitled Agenda 21 for Travel and Tourism Industry: Towards Environmentally Sustainable Development. The plan lays out methods through which governments may work with NGOs, civic organizations, the private sector, trade groups and each other to implement sustainable

UN Action At the 5th anniversary of the Earth Summit,

countries came together to discuss sustainable tourism, but were ultimately disappointed in the lack of concrete commitments.

Divisions between developed and developing countries (the “North-South Divide”) led to much tension, causing some countries to believe that others were not actually committed to ST

In 1999, the General Assembly encouraged countries to set guidelines for ST, but many countries are still reluctant without concrete guidelines and commitments to coordinate efforts

UN Actions In 2004, the World Committee on Tourism

Ethics (WCTE) was established as the implementer of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism (GCET)

The GCET is of voluntary implementation and it outlines 10 principles states should consider to ensure sustainable tourism which balance both the rights and responsibilities of states and people engaged in tourism. It provides a forum where states can analyze each other’s methods and resolve disputes.

Most recent action was in 2012 when member states again convened and encouraged ST

Things to Consider Know that the Calvia declaration was a

success, as it outlined:

Promoting awareness campaigns about the benefits and potential harms of eco-tourism;

Creating an incentive program to award private and corporate actors that contribute to sustainable tourism; and

Establishing partnerships between government and local civic groups to cultivate a sustainable tourism plan tailored to a specific city.

Things to Consider Harms and benefits of tourism

The “North-South” divide and some states’ reluctance to provide funding for sustainable tourism programs;

The scope of development efforts (e.g., national, regional, or fully international);

The best ways for governments to collaborate with NGOs and the private community;

Ways to increase sustainable tourism to locations that could most benefit, such as Africa and the Asia Pacific region.

Assignment Country presentation for MONDAY

10 minutes MAX! (I want to see all presentations)

Check online (GC website) for help in researching your country

This is just a GENERAL presentation about your country, but I do want 1 or more slides dedicated to tourism/ST in your country

Also check online for websites to help you in your research

Things to Include Government (Government system, Head of

State, Languages)

Economy (GDP, Economic System, Development classification, import/exports, natural resources)

People (Religions, growth rate, standard of living)

Military

UN Relations (Has the UN had to intervene in a country conflict?)

Relations with UNWTO and your country’s reliance on tourism. Have they yet implemented any ST programs?