Meaning Of Sustainable Management of Tourism and.

Hospitality

Sustainable management of tourism and hospitality means achieving quality growth in a manner that
does not deplete the natural and built environments and preserve the culture, history, and the heritage
of the local community. Sustainable tourism and hospitality consist of the natural surroundings plus the
built structures such as lodging, museums, art galleries, and attractions. The word” environment”
includes the natural habitats, built structures, culture, heritage, history, and social interactions.

The key to sustainable management of tourism and hospitality is to balance the number of the visitors
with the capacity of the given environment in a manner that allows the greatest interaction and
enjoyment with the least destruction. Carrying capacity is a major concern when discussing sustainable
management of tourism « and hospitality. Carrying capacity is the largest number of people a
destination can efficiently manage within its given environ and management capabilities. When too
many people gather in an area which cannot be handled by the facility, the destination, the local
residents, and the economy are harmed. To avoid this situation, effective planning steps must be taken
in accordance with effective policy guidelines.

Managing sustainable tourism and hospitality depends on sound policies that include a harmonious
relationship among local communities, the private sector, and the governments to protect the natural,
built, and cultural environments. Sustainable tourism and hospitality practices can be a useful means of
providing a community or destination an improved quality of life.

Managing Sustainable Tourism and Hospitality

The importance of managing the cultural, natural, and social impacts of tourism and hospitality cannot
be overemphasized. Enhancing understanding among nations and promot1'ng a culture of peace will
make people see that sustainable tourism and hospitality development can take place. Likewise, the
aspects of the environment and local culture will benefit as government revenues from tourism and
hospitality-related goods and services help restore monuments, museums, art galleries, and increase
local crafts and establish national parks. There is a need for tourism and hospitality policy and planning
to guide the development of infrastructure. The building of new airports, roads, ports, and sewage and
water treatment plants improves the lives of the local residents through weII-planned policies and urban
planning. Sustainable tourism and hospitality encourage economic and social responsibilities for
preserving and enhancing our cultural and environmental heritage through tourism and
hospita1ity.Throughout the world, many local destination managers and governments acknowledge the
monetary value of tourism and hospitality which results ir5 demands for new measures to support
sustainable tourism and hospitality practices.

At the country level, the UNWTO has established many guidelines and directions for including
sustainable tourism in the country’s tourism program. Some international and private sector
organizations such as the World Travel and Tourism Council and the Business Enterprises to Sustainable
Travel Educational Network (BEST-EN) have devised effective strategies for sustainable tourism and
hospitality education and development. The East Carolina University established 3 Center for
Sustainable tourism. Guilin, China which is a beautiful scenic destination will be the location of the first
UNWTO observatory to carry out a monitoring system for sustainable tourism. the Guilin City Council
and Zhongshan University will manage the project. Sustainable destination management within the
tourism and hospitality industry can strengthen global societies and contribute to the protection of
tourism and hospitality resources for future generations.

As a fundamental reference system for responsible and sustainable tourism, the Global Code of Ethics
for Tourism (GCET) is a comprehensive set of principles formulated to direct stakeholders in tourism and
hospitality development. Intended for governments, the travel industry, communities, and tourists alike,
it strives to help maximize the sector's benefits while minimizing its potentially negative impact on the
environment, culture heritage, and societies worldwide.

Adopted in 1999 by the General Assembly of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO),
its recognition by the United-Nations two years later expressly motivated UNWTO to promote the active
pursuance of its provisions. Although not legally binding, the code presents a voluntary application
mechanism through its acceptance of the role of the World Committee on Tourism Ethics (WCTE), to
which stakeholders may consult matters concerning the meaning and relevance of the document.

The code's 10 principles comprise the economic, social, cultural, and 1vironmental components of travel
and tourism:

Article 1: Tourism's contribution to mutual understanding and respect between peoples and societies.

Article 2: Tourism as a vehicle for individual and collective fulfillment.

Article 3: Tourism, a factor of sustainable development.

Article 4: Tourism, a user of the cultural heritage of mankind and contributor to its enhancement.

Article 5: Tourism, a beneficial activity for host countries and communities. Article 6: Obligations of
stakeholders in tourism development.

Article 7: Right to tourism.

Article 8: Liberty of tourist movements.

Article 9: Rights of the workers and entrepreneurs in the tourism industry.

Article 10: Implementation of the principles of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism.

What are the Sustainable Development Goals?

The Sustainable Development Goals (5065), also known as the Global Goals, are a universal call to action
to end poverty, protect the planet, and assure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. These 17
interconnected and interdependent goals constitute the Millennium Development Goals, and include
new areas such as climate change, economic inequality, innovation, sustainable consumption, and peace
and justice, among other priorities.

The SDGS give clear guidelines and targets for all countries to follow based on their own priorities and
the current world environmental challenges. The SDGs are an inclusive program formed to look into the
root causes of poverty and bind all individuals to help alleviate it. “ Supporting the 2030 Agenda is a top
priority for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)‚” said UNDP Administrator Helen Clark.
"The SDGS provide us with a common plan and agenda to tackle some of the pressing challenges facing
our world such as poverty, climate change, and conflict
UNDP has the experience and expertise to drive progress and help support countries on the path to
sustainable development.”

What is UNDP's role?

The SDGs came into effect in January 2016, and will continue to direct UNDP policy and funding for the
next 15 years. As the lead UN development agency, UNDP is tasked to help carry out the goais in 170
countries and territories.

The 17 Global Goals:

1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere;

2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture;

3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages;

4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all;

5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls;

6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all;

7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all;
8. Promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and
decent work for all;

9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster
innovation;

10. Reduce inequality within and among countries;

11, Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable;

12, Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns;

13_ Take urgent action to combat climate change and it's impacts (taking note of agreements made by
the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC forum);

14, Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development;

15. Protect, restore‚ and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, ' sustainably manage
forests, combat desertification and halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss;

16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, ‚ provide access to justice for
all and build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels;

17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable
development.
The United Nations General Assembly declared 2017 as the International Year of sustainable Tourism for
Development honing on the potential of tourism to promote ne universal 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development and the 17 Sustainable development Goals (SDGs). The International Year aims to provide
a change in policies, business practices, and consumer behavior toward a more sustainable tourism
sector can contribute greatly to the SDGs.

“This is a unique opportunity to build a more responsible and committed tourism sector that can
capitalize its immense potential in terms of economic prosperity, social inclusion‚ peace and
understanding, cultural and environmental preservation" said NWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai.

Accounting for 7% of worldwide exports, one in 11 jobs, and 10% of the world's GDP, the tourism sector,
if well managed, can stimulate economic growth, social mlusiveness, and the protection of cultural and
natural resources. The International ear enhances tourism's role in the following five key areas:

1. inclusive and sustainable economic growth;

2. Social inclusiveness, employment, and poverty reduction;

3 Resource efficiency, environmental protection, and climate change; '

4. Cultural values, diversity, and heritage; and

5. Mutual understanding, peace, and security.

) The presentation of the International Year took place in Madrid on January 18, 17 on the occasion of
the Spanish Tourism Fair, FITUR.
The National Ecotourism Development Council of the Philippines has formulated a policy statement to
guide tourism and hospitality development in the Philippines. The summary of this policy is quoted
below.

Sustainable Tourism and Hospitality Framework

In the beginning of life and it will be until the end, people are united with nature. This is the beginning
tried of TIME, PEOPLE, and NATURE, the integrity of creation. Drawing from the Filipinos’ mythical past
of Malakas and Maganda or the biblical story of Adam and Eve, it is second nature of the Filipino to see
the other person a; a “fellow human being” (kapwa-tao). Hence, the concept of equality and partnership
is nothing new to the Filipino. This is the concept that is at the heart of sustainable tourism and
hospitality in the Philippines.

Because of this unity with nature and this concept of equality and partnership, even family and
community can be one in owning up the accountability to be stewards of the future:

. as a way of giving glory to the Creator;

as a way of valuing human life and the legacy of our forefathers; and .

out of respect for the dignity of the human person.

This heart of gold in every Filipino, in every family and community is the soul of the Philippine tourism
and hospitality. This is the driving force that will give life to and propel tourism and hospitality. This is
the ideal of motivation for sustainable tourism and hospitality.

In pushing tourism and hospitality forward, due consideration and diligence is given to the character,
way of life, and ecology of every destination in the Philippines and also the needs of the world in the
future; and priority is given to total human development. Character, way of life, and ecology of the
Filipino are the building-blocks or the main ingredients in developing tourism and hospitality products
appropriate for the destination about people, there’s cultural, heritage, pilgrimage, and historical
tourism.
'About ecology‚_ there’s ecotourism, environmental or nature tourism, adventure tourism and the
indigenous peoples’ link to nature or ethnic tourism.

About people’s way of life, there’s rum], business and leisure, sports and health tourism. '

The aspirations of every person, family, and community are the very same goals of tourism and
hospitality in the Philippines: produce better yields, have a better place to live in, and be a better person
and have a better family life.

° So the efforts that will be put in by the present generation will be worthwhile and beneficial and will
safeguard the welfare of the future generations; it is right and just to have a system that will monitor
the effects of collective action, and Philippine Agenda 21 has identified six barometers:
sociocultural‚ economic, ecological, technological, institutional, and political viability.

Current Trends in Sustainable Tourism and Hospitality

Conservation International and National Geographic Traveler magazine created in 2002 the
World Legacy Awards to recognize outstanding businesses, organizations, and places that have
contributed very much in promoting the principles of sustainable tourism. The National Geographic
Traveler, in its March 2004 issue, published criteria to measure the extent to which worldwide tourism
destinations follow the best practices in a sustainable tourism and hospitality development. These
criteria are the following:

1. Environment and ecological quality;

2. Social and cultural integrity;

3. Condition of any historic building and archeological site; Aesthetic appeal;

4. Quality of tourism and hospitality management; and

9‘!-”PS”N

5. Overall outlook for the future.

These criteria were first used to evaluate 115 world destinations regarding their sustainability. '

The National Geographic Traveler published a special study on sustainable tourism practices in the
National Practices Canada and the United States. This was followed by a survey in 2006 of 94 world
heritage destinätions and a survey in 2007 of island destinations using the same criteria. These four
articles have provided the needed emphasis on the impact of the tourism and hospitality industry on the
natural and built environments.

The concept of sustainability as a resource development and management philosophy is penetrating all
the Levels of policy and practice related to tourism and hospitality, from local to global. The concept of
using sustainable tourism and hospitality development as an economic stimulus to achieve growth while
maintaining the natural and built environment is receiving much attention from industry, government,
and academic sectors.

Global Impact of Sustainable Tourism and Hospitality

Globally‚ the interest to tourists in sustainable tourism and hospitality has grown tremendously since
the beginning of the 215t century. This interest will surely continue in the next several years as long as
the international community recognizes, endorses and promotes the concept.

Sustainable tourism and hospitality policy in the world nowadays is a positive approach which aims to
maintain quality tourism and hospitality products in order to satisfy the growing domestic and
international market for environmentally sound tourism and hospitality experiences. Human beings
have the ability to manipulate and change certain aspects of the environment. Hence, when useless
ineffective
management tools are used, tourism and hospitality can lead to a degradation of the environment. It is
important that visitors have an obligation to ethically support sustainable tourism and hospitality, and
destination managers must educate their risit0f5 toward attaining this goal. The following are the
principles contained in the code of Ethics for Tourists published in the Parks Canada Vacation Planner:

1‚ Enjoy our diverse natural and cultural heritage and help us protect and preserve it;

2, Assist us in our conservation efforts through the efficient use of resources including energy and water;

3. Experience the friendliness of our people and the welcoming spirit of our communities. Help us
preserve these attributes by respecting our traditions, customs, and local regulations;

4. Avoid activities which may threaten wildlife or plant population or which may be potentially damaging
to our natural environment; and

5. Select tourism and hospitality products and services which demonstrate social, cultural, and
environmental sensitivity.

The investment in sustainable tourism and hospitality practices, either made by international agencies
or the local community, has a great impact on the global tourism and hospitality marketplace. Many
international programs have been organized to support sustainable tourism and hospitality.

The Benefits Of Sustainable Tourism and Hospitality

Tourist attractions in both the natural and built environments are important factors for economic
growth. Unspoiled natural ecosystems, well-maintained historic sites, and cultural heritage events can
produce economic and quality of life benefits. satisfied visitors are likely to be repeat visitors and can
surely contribute to the economic growth of tourism and hospitality of a local community.
The economic benefits of successful sustainable tourism and hospitality management include
developing new businesses, expanding job opportunities, creasing income, marketing new products,
improving infrastructure, encouraging , integrating the local economy and special opportunities with
other services and products, promoting community pride, and higher quality of life to the local
population.

The key to sustainable tourism and hospitality is to manage the destination effectively to provide benefit
to the local population, to enrich the visit of the tourist, td to preserve the tourism and hospitality
products for future generations to enjoy. 800d maxim to remember is “We have not inherited earth
from our ancestors, we have Only borrowed it from our children."