S

S

 

S  Our DIMINISHING tourism environment

S  Revisiting sustainability PRINCIPLES

S  25 year SCAN of a ‘modest’ adaption of sustainability

S  URGENT: Strengthen all sustainable tourism training + education

S  A COMMITTMENT to developing an individual ‘Culture of Sustainability”

ONGOING: Depleting of ALL our natural resources

S  Excessive water consumption: S  Global accommodation onsite demand: 5 trillion liters (5 billion m3) or 1.3

trillion gallons/year (2013)

S  Global warming (Tourism is 5% of global CO2 emissions)

S  Loss of biodiversity and ecosystem integrity

S  Water Degradation: industrial contamination

S  Desertification and Deforestation S  loss of topsoil (industrial agriculture)

S  Toxic chemicals: VOC, cleaners, solvents, glues

S  TOURISM GROWTH (Volume) S  Double international arrivals by 2030 S  200 million additional outbound 8+ billion domestic

Chinese trips by 2020 S  Expansion of BRICS outbound tourism S  35,000 new aircraft (21,000 for fleet expansion) by 2030

S  INCREASED VISITOR EXPECTATIONS S  Bigger swimming pools, S  More 4 and 5 star properties S  Embedded water requirements (food, plastics, etc)

S  “there was only one consideration to take into account. Don’t look at the matter from your own point of view. I don’t look at this matter from the way those living in the village now will be affected. Look at it from the point of view of our grandchildren”; ‘The Compassionate Universe’ by Egnath Eswaran, page 53

S  “we do not inherit from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children”; Haida Elder/Chief Seattle

S  “Humanity has the ability to make (tourism) development sustainable – to ensure that it meets the needs of the present (tourists and tourism businesses) without compromising the ability of future generations (tourists and tourism businesses) to meet their own needs”.

-- World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987.

From the: ‘Encyclopedia of Tourism and Hospitality’, Chapter 3: ‘Developing Sustainable Tourism’ J. MacGregor, Van Norstrand Reinholt Publishing, NYC, NY, 1993

S  PRINCIPLE 1: Limit tourism impact on the planet (global) and the region (local) to a level that is within its carrying-capacity. S  Minimize tourist consumption of raw materials and energy S  2 star properties consume less than 3/4/5 star S  Water management and conservation: can cut water consumption 40%

S  PRINCIPLE 2: Maintain the stock of biological wealth in the region. S  Conserve ‘Life support services’ and the processes that allow life to be

productive, resilient and adapt to tourism impacts S  Maintain chemical balance, recycle nutrients, water/air pollution free S  Manage supply chain for sustainability and diversity

S  PRINCIPLE 3: Minimize the depletion of non-renewable resources. S  Tourism is a consumer of plastics, metals, fossil fuels, and water S  Integrate recycling and composting into all operations

S  PRINCIPLE 4: Promote long-term [sustainable] economic development that increases the benefits from a given stock of resources and maintains or grows natural wealth. S  Promote new technologies; solar/wind/ batteries/engines S  Operations must charge the full price of resource use and damage;

consumption tax, surcharge S  Integrating value-added products by improving and diversifying

product lines

S  PRINCIPLE 5: Provide for an equitable distribution of the benefits and costs of resource use and sustainable management. S  Benefits spread across gender, age [intergenerational], class/

culture and physical/visual ability S  Ensure adequate training and access to all required sustainable

management skills S  PRINCIPLE 6: Provide for effective participation of

communities and interest groups in the decisions that most affect them and their environment. S  Participation of all community members and special interest groups S  Ensure commitment to sustainable planning,

development, management and operations

S  PRINCIPLE 7: Promote the values that encourage others to achieve sustainability. S  Provide leadership, transfer knowledge, create awareness

and demonstrate a sustainability ethic S  Promote responsibility across the entire tourism supply chain

S  PRINCIPLE 8: Establish a ‘sustainability culture and knowledge base’ throughout all levels of tourism education and training S  Integrate CORE curriculum environmental awareness and

sustainability principles in tourism institutions worldwide S  Educate on application of technologies and techniques

S  1990, Canada’s : ‘An Action Plan for Sustainable Tourism Policies’, ecoplan:net S  Evening brainstorming session (5 hours, 8 international experts S  Areas of Responsibility; i) Government ii) Tourism Industry,

iii) NGOs and iv) Tourism Education Institutions S  5 Sustainability Themes:

S  Integrated planning and management S  Social and economic benefits; fair trade, equity, local hiring, SME S  Cultural and traditional Heritage conservation and enhancement S  Sustainability education and awareness S  Biodiversity protection and enhancement; water,

energy, waste management, hazardous materials,

S  1994; The Bahamas Sustainable Tourism Development Policies and Implementation Strategy, ecoplan:net S  Issues particular to small island States; inefficient water use, cruise ship

dumping, litter and marine debris, high level of imports, illegal fishing S  32 Policies and Action Plan:

S  Planning, EIA, public consultation, intergenerational and gender equity, local involvement and benefits

S  Marketing and Green Management, energy and water conservation, hazardous waste, purchasing procedures, etc.

S  Heritage protection and restoration S  Research, audits and monitoring S  Marine Debris reduction, enforcement

S  Winner; Green Globe Achievement Award: WTTC

S  1996: Republic of Palau Sustainable Tourism Policies ecoplan:net

S  1992; Clayoquot Sound (BC) Area Sustainable Tourism Development Master Plan (Canada’s First), ecoplan:net

S  1995-2002: a) National Ecotourism Master Plans S  Australia (1994), Botswana (2002), Bulgarie (2002), Philippines

(2005), Laos, Bhutan, Vietnam (1999 - 2004), Ecuador (2002)

S  b) Regional/State and National Parks Strategies, ecoplan:net

S  Province of Saskatchewan Ecotourism Master Plan, Canada S  Brasov County (Agrotourism) Strategy: Romania S  Retezat National Park Sustainable Tourism, Romania) S  Province de Chtouka Aït Baha (Morocco)

S  1992-96: Ecotourism Planning, Product Development + Marketing Workshop: Banff Center for Management/ecoplan:net

S  1994-95 Commonwealth Caribbean Sustainable Tourism + Green Management Workshop Series, Commonwealth Secretariat, Bahamas Ministry of Tourism/ecoplan:net S  WINNER: Green Globe Achievement Award (1996)

S  1994-1996 Brazil Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Workshop Series, Conservation International/ecoplan:net

S  2002 Morocco Sustainable Rural Tourism Workshops, USAID and Chemonics International/ecoplan:net

S  (A) Generated more than 120 Ecotourism/Green Certification Programs S  Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT): Certification for Sustainable

Tourism Program - CST S  Québec Marine Ecotourism Certification (2001) S  Australia Nature Tourism + Ecotourism Accreditation Program (2002) S  Romania Ecotourism Standards and Certification (2006) USAID S  Egypt Ministry of Tourism: Green Star Hotel Certification Programme S  Ecotourism Ireland S  Chile: National System for Distinction in Sustainable tourism

S  (B) Organization or Association Programs S  STEP Eco-Certification: Sustainable Tourism International S  Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria S  European Ecotourism Labeling Standard (EETLS) S  Rainforest Alliance Standard for Tourism Operations S  Green Globe, S  Green Key, S  EarthCheck S  Center for Ecotourism and Sustainable Development S  Japan Ecolodge Association

S  Botswana Green, Green Plus and Ecotourism Certification Program, ecoplan:net S  Based on Ecotourism Certification Feasibility Study

S  Expansion of a proposed ‘ecotourism certification program’ to include Green and Green + standards

S  Ecotourism Best Practices Guidelines Manual and Technical Standards Manual

S  Accommodation Operator Handbook S  Validation by 350 accommodation suppliers S  Eventually integrated into Quality Assurance Standards

S  WINNER: 2010 Tourism for Tomorrow Award

S  Bahamas National Guide Sustainable Tourism Certification Program (2010) ecoplan:net

S  3 tier Guide Certification (entry, premiere and master) S  Birdwatching, Sea Kayaking, Fly-fishing

S  Sustainable tourism standards, technical knowledge S  Training Manuals and Workshops S  Assessor Training Workshop and Support Materials S  On Island Guide Train-the Trainer Program

S  The Knowledge, Network, Education, and Training (KNET) Working Group S  Identifying educational materials

Star Grading

Programs

Quality Assurance

Responsible Tourism

Universal Accessibility

S  Morocco Rural Tourism (Accommodation and Restaurant) Quality Assurance + Ecotourism Certification Program ecoplan:net

S  Local operator awareness program S  Training of local assessors S  Marketing support (web site, FAM Trips, etc.)

S  Winner: 2009 Tourism for Tomorrow Award

S  Southern Africa Harmonized Accommodation Star Grading Program (2009 – 2011) ecoplan:net

S  250 Quality Assurance, 60 responsible tourism, 40 accessible/inclusive tourism standards

S  Mandatory by 2016 S  Cooperative Management Structure and

Marketing program (RETOSA and Member states) S  Endorsed by 14 Ministers of Tourism

S  Kingdom of Lesotho QUALStar Accommodation Grading Program IESC/ecoplan:net S  Revised Minimum Requirements for a business license

S  Composting, linen policy, low flow restrictors, CFL’s S  Accessible parking and entrance, trained staff

S  Stakeholder Sensitization Workshops (95% attendance) S  15 day Assessor + 3 day Master assessor training program S  350 standards across 6 accommodation categories S  Website and Communication Strategy S  I2 Pilot Assessments S  Awards Committee Training

S  CURRENT GLOBAL SITUATION: S  Despite 25 years of policies, plans, and certification programs;

65% of North American and 85% of worldwide hotels practice little or no sustainability initiatives.

S  1 trillion gallons (5 trillion liters) of water untreated/year (2015) S  Millions of liters of untreated toxic chemicals (cleaners, plastics)

from accommodation and restaurant sectors/year S  80% accommodation managers (GM, F + B, CFO, operations, etc.)

have little knowledge of sustainability practices

S  URGENT GLOBAL SOLUTION S  Worldwide expansion of compulsory sustainability training in ALL

tourism and hospitality management programs S  Distribute sustainable tourism techniques and practices

to private sector tourism suppliers

S  All Tourism Technical, College and Universities S  Shift from elective courses to core program S  Respond to current and future demand for sustainable

awareness and knowledge S  Policies, Programs, Practices, Processes S  In house training for current hospitality managers and tourism

planners

S  Create International Tourism Educators Sustainability Task Force

S  Accommodation and Attraction Supplier Workshops S  2-3 day workshops that introduce suppliers to:

S  Introduce resource depletion issues facing the industry S  Demonstrate Techniques and Technologies associated with

sustainable operations S  Waste management, water conservation, CO2 reduction

Community project contribution, purchasing policies S  Performing internal audits; Water, Waste, Energy, etc.

S  Prepare 3-year Corporate Green Management Strategy and Action Plan S  Use of Green Management Planning Workbook

Sustainable Tourism Policies and Plans, Ecotourism Strategies, Facility Certification and Grading programs

Sustainable tourism as a CORE program Integrating sustainability into all courses content Training faculty in sustainability

2-3 day intensive workshops Develop Company Green Management Strategy + Action Plan

Going beyond sustainable tourism training and certification to:

Develop a ‘Culture of Sustainability’ in your life, your home and your workplace

jmacgregor@ecoplannet.com