Guide for Sustainable Tourism Best Practices
This Rainforest Alliance guide offers practical tools, frameworks and best practices for climate change adaptation and mitigation. Published by leading experts in the field, the guide was produced by the UN.
UNWTO
publication on Climate Change
Continuing on from the Davos convention on climate change and tourism,
this publication outlines tourism's impacts and explains how tourism
is responsible for contributing approximately 5% of GHG emissions.
The Report "Climate Change and Tourism - Responding to Global
Challenges" was commissioned by the World Tourism Organization
(UNWTO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the
World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The document provides a
synthesis of the state of knowledge about current and likely future
impacts of climate change on tourism destinations around the world,
possible implications and trends in GHG emissions from the tourism
sector.
Geo
Report - UNEP
'The GEO Year Book 2006 is the third annual survey of the changing
global environment produced by the United Nations Environment Programme,
in collaboration with many world experts in environmental research
and action. The Year Book includes global and regional overviews.
It highlights the linkages between environmental well-being, vulnerability
and poverty; records recent findings on the value of ecosystem services;
and describes new research findings on polar and ocean changes that
may prove a turning point in the urgency of our awareness and response
to global change'.
Effective Community Based Tourism: A Best Practice Manual
This report published by the Australian CRC for APEC illustrates some good best practices for community based tourism globally.
Sustainable
development in Deserts
According to the UNWTO 'This new UNWTO handbook addresses the development
of tourism in deserts and areas that are experiencing desertification.
It is aimed at the international community, and in particular the
governments of countries with desert areas within their territories,
as well as the international, national and local private-sector
actors that operate in them, with a view to helping them implement
policies and actions, and to provide them with a resource they can
rely upon in carrying out their initiatives. It is also a valuable
reference for local desert communities, who are the main stakeholders
in this process.
Climate Change Adaption & Mitigation in the Tourism SectorThis guide of Sustainable Tourism Best Practices is meant to be a facilitating tool for community businesses and for SME's to help adopt and apply specific actions that allow them tto carry out and manage sustainable development.
Guide
to Greening your Events
This guide is a short and easy checklist style guide to help festivals
and events reduce their environmental footprint. Published by The
Icarus Foundation
Labour
Standards, Social Responsability & Tourism
A report by Tourism Concern about the impacts of tourism
on host communities and outlines the need to respect the rights
and interests of people living in tourism recieving areas
IUCN
Best Practice Guidelines
The IUCN has a number of best practice guidelines for protected
areas, planning and management and marine protected areas. Not all
completely relating to tourism, however, these guidelines offer
some valuable insight into the planning and management needed for
sustaining our valuable resources.
Coral
Reef Alliance guide to Good Practice
According to the Coral Reef Alliance, 'for marine recreation providers
- from dive operations to boat rentals to wildlife viewing tours
- improving environmental performantourismce
can not only contribute to marine conservation and the economic
development of coastal communities, it can also improve business,
by increasing their attractiveness to companies seeking responsible
suppliers'. These guidelines produced in conjunction with The Center
for Environmental Leadership in Business (CELB), the Coral Reef
Alliance (CORAL), the International Hotels Environment Initiative
(IHEI) and the Tourism Operators’ Initiative for Sustainable
Tourism Development (TOI) developed this guide for good practice
in marine environments.
Marine Recreation Guidelines
The Center for Environmental Leadership in Business (CELB) was created by Conservation International to engage the private sector worldwide in creating solutions to critical global environmental problems in which industry plays a defining role. Most recently CELB, TOI & CORAL released "Practical Guide" to help marine recreation providers minimize the environmental impacts of their operations. This guide provides core questions which marine recreation providers can ask to assess their environmental impacts. For more information or to view the guide click here.
Travel
Foundations Training Tools
The Travel Foundation works in partnership with the industry to
develop programmes to train staff on sustainable tourism. Their
website offers a number of guides, videos and pamphlets useful for
training staff on sustainable tourism.
Destinet
- DestiNet is a Portal for tourism destinations and their stakeholders.
The website contains information about sustainble tourism, indicators,
policy, guidelines and many useful links to certification, definitions
and stakeholders.
Tour
Operator Initiatives Best Practices
A 'green' checklist for hotels, an education programme
for customers on coral reef protection in the Red Sea and financial
support to local communities in the Dominican Republic are just
some of the actions being undertaken by tour operators in their
efforts to promote integration of environmental and social practices
in their every day businesses.
The Tour Operators´ Initiative (TOI), a group of 25 tour operating
companies, ranging from small specialised operators to some of the
biggest names in the business, including First Choice and TUI AG,
has compiled a collection of case studies to demonstrate how holiday
packages can be successfully developed on sustainability principles.
Released on Environmental Awareness Day at the World Travel Market,
their new report, "Sustainable Tourism: The Tour Operators' Contribution,"
shows practical ways in which tour operators can contribute to sustainable
development by working with their suppliers, with their customers,
with stakeholders in destinations and with their own staff.
Over 30 case studies, grouped in the key business areas of supply
chain management; internal management; product management and development;
customer relations; and co-operation with destinations provide an
overview of the diverse approaches and tools that tour operators
can adopt. The supply chain management examples include the use
of `green' checklists to assess hoteliers, the introduction of environmental
clauses into contracts, the provision of technical assistance, and
the introduction of a suppliers´ food hygiene campaign. Each
example provides an overview of the development and implementation
processes as well as an analysis of the benefits generated for the
company, the local community and for the environment.
Best
Practices Database
This searchable database contains over 1600 proven solutions
from more than 140 countries to the common social, economic and
environmental problems of an urbanizing world. It demonstrates the
practical ways in which public, private and civil society sectors
are working together to improve governance, eradicate poverty, provide
access to shelter, land and basic services, protect the environment
and support economic development.
TIAC's
sustainable tourism code of ethics
A step in the right direction. This code of ethics and guidelines
for sustainable tourism offers 8 guidelines to achieve more sustainable
tourism and provides a mission and vision for the Canadian tourism
industry.
Stepping
up: creating a sustainable tourism enterprise strategy that delivers
in the developing world
Pointing to the link between conservation and poverty alleviation,
this paper assesses the potential of sustainable tourism or ecotourism
as an effective poverty reduction strategy.
IADB's
publication series on certification.
Check out this website for a series of practical, how-to handbooks
on sustainable tourism certification
Making
Tourism More Sustainable: A
Guide for Policy Makers
This Guide was developed by the United Nations Environment Programme
and the World Tourism Organization and presents a comprehensive
set of instruments for governments, ranging from planning regulations
to economic instruments and the application of certification and
indicators, and it sets out 12 aims for sustainable tourism and
their implications for policy. The Guide is based on practical experience,
illustrated by numerous examples and case studies across the world.
Different destinations and case studies on policy and sustainable
tourism are outlined. More information is available at: http://www.uneptie.org/pc/tourism/library/
A%20Guide%20for%20Policy%20Makers.htm
Biological
Diversity and Tourism Case Studies
Case studies posted on this site have been submitted by governments
to the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
Case studies range from using tourism as a development tool to biodiversity
issues and their impacts.
What is the CBD? Signed by 150 government leaders at the 1992 Rio
Earth Summit, the Convention on Biological Diversity is dedicated
to promoting sustainable development. Conceived as a practical tool
for translating the principles of Agenda 21 into reality, the Convention
recognizes that biological diversity is about more than plants,
animals and micro organisms and their ecosystems – it is about people
and our need for food security, medicines, fresh air and water,
shelter, and a clean and healthy environment in which to live. For
more information, check out http://www.biodiv.org/programmes/socio-eco/tourism/default.asp
Equations report on India's tourism policy
EQUATIONS is a non-profit organisation established for research, training and the promotion of holistic tourism. This Indian group provides research and publications and a resource centre. Their focus on tourism policy in this case study assesses the impact of Indian Tourism Policy on the tourism sector and makes a preliminary study of the possible impact such policy imperatives might have on the socio-economic fabric of the country. An interesting read.
UN
Commision on Sustainable Development
This site outlines such reports as the Sustainable Development of
Tourism where the Secretary-General describes trends in tourism,
incorporation of sustainability in tourism development and issues
for further consideration. Documents which can be downloaded also
include Tourism and Local Agenda 21 Publication and UNEP Cooperation
with GTZ on sustainable tourism in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Lonely
Planet Guides - believing in responsible travel
Lonely Planet offers their readers travel tips to be green, outlines
their efforts to reduce their impact on the environment and outlines
a 'code green' to help you explore authentic travel.
The
Ethical Travel Guide
The
Ethical Travel Guide was produced by Tourism Concern and is the
essential global resource for responsible travellers. The guide
has hundreds of new ideas for your next holiday and visit amazing
communities not listed in other guidebooks. If you are looking for
your next trip to have a positive impact on the local people and
their environment, then this book will help you find places to stay
and visit in over 60 countries.
Contents:
- Introduction: About Tourism Concern?
- What is Ethical Tourism?
- What's Wrong with Traditional Tourism?
- Case Study: The Gambia
- New Role of Consumers – Why be an Ethical Consumer?
- Globalisation: A New Trip?
- Planning Your Trip
- Holidays Index
- Directory
- Operators' Section
- Resources
For more information about how to purchase a copy,
please email info@tourismconcern.org.uk
Carbon
Calculating
Carbon Dioxide is a greenhouse gases that which traps solar
heat and warms the earth's climate. Every time we burn these fuels
we produce more waste carbon dioxide - 8 billion tons a year in
fact. Within 50 years we will have twice as much Carbon Dioxide
in the atmosphere as we had before industrialisation. By 2050 climate
change will have directly led to the extinction of 30% of species,
the death of 90% of coral reefs and the loss of half the Amazon
rainforest.
Flying is the most carbon intensive way to travel. 'Aviation at
present accounts for 3% of greenhouse gases and generates nearly
as much carbon dioxide in one year as the total population of Africa.'
There is a lot of debate about helping reduce carbon emissions (or
carbon offsetting) and there are a few organizations around the
world that help you contribute by planting trees.
Some organizations to consider are:
* Be warned that some organizations are more press relations that
actually reducing carbons. Also there are arguments that it is better
to preserve a bog than plant a tree-be conscious!
Sources for stats: www.risingtide.org.uk,
www.foc.org.uk
