Production
Major challenges
The task of tourism enterprises to offer sustainable products and to present them in a credible and transparent manner (= sustainable production) is strongly linked to the development of sustainable holiday and leisure behaviour (= sustainable consumption). For a tourism product to be classified as “sustainable“, it is essential to examine the entire value chain. At first sight, this is a challenge, as a tourism product consists of various elements. But especially as this is so, there are many ‘adjusting screws’ that companies can use to exert positive influence.
There is a diversity of players in the tourism sector. Hotels, tour operators, travel agents or destinations do not only differ in regard to their respective size and focus, but also have different characteristics based on their location. Nevertheless, there are basic aspects that apply to every business.
A sustainable tourism product is economically just, environmentally friendly and socially responsible at the same time – for travellers and above all for the people in the destinations. For tourism businesses, it should be economically viable in the long run. At the same time, it should not be produced at the costs of others. Eventually, it should contribute to sustainable development in the destination.
Tourism is a resource intensive economy – especially with regard to water, energy and food. Therefore, the targets of Goal 12 of the 2030 Agenda – i.e. avoiding waste generation and stopping food waste – especially apply to tourism enterprises.
Tangible ways forward
It is not only with regard to specific aspects that we have options to make the tourism sector more sustainable. All phases of a tourist trip need to be made sustainable in all their dimensions. These include
- Transportation and mobility, especially the question how tourists get to the destination: If it is a short-haul trip, flights should be avoided; long-haul flights require conscious decisions as well as offsetting of greenhouse gas emissions. Service providers who offer sustainable tourism products support these decisions by designing their products accordingly and by offering integrated offsetting mechanisms (>> Goal 9, >> Goal 13).
- Service providers and partners: Tour operators should cooperate with local producers and service providers to strengthen the local economy and to create fair and secure jobs in the destinations (>> Goal 8). A large part of the profit must be retained in the region (>> Goal 1). Labour standards, climate protection and the responsible use of natural resources in accommodation and incoming agencies as well as the respect for the human rights of everybody involved are central elements of a sustainable tourism value chain. Tourism managers must be aware of the problems in the destinations and must address them in a sensitive manner with full respect of the rights of the indigenous population. This includes problems such as water scarcity, limited access to clean drinking water (>> Goal 6), or health care for the local population (>> Goal 3).
- Activities in the destinations: Tourist activities in the destinations must be analysed in a detailed manner. Negative impacts on ecosystems must be prevented (>> Goal 14, >> Goal 15). Tourist activities can be designed to encourage encounters with local and indigenous communities, but must be carefully planned and cultural characteristics must be respected.
As a matter of principle, it is important that local residents are involved in decision-making processes for tourism projects and that the region benefits from tourism. That means to foster the local economy by hiring local employees, by integrating local products into the complete touristic value chain or to support local initiatives. Targeted measures must be taken to prevent tourism from encouraging child labour, corruption, and prostitution.
Reliable labels for qualification and orientation
A detailed breakdown of the different players and levels of intervention may look over- whelming at first. However, when companies are in the process of introducing sustaina- ble products and examining their business practices, certification can accompany these processes in a qualified manner. Certification offers companies an opportunity to publicly position themselves. Labels offer orientation when tourists are in the process of deciding to buy a sustainable tourism product.
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Clear Regulations
Policies have to be targeted at making the tourism sector sustainable. Taking the 2030 Agenda seriously, non-sustainable business activities in tourism can simply not be toler- ated anymore. Clear political regulations are indispensable. These regulations include among others human rights due diligence, reporting obligations, transparency require- ments, the disclosure of the climate footprint of enterprises, and clear regulations on how to deal with scarce resources like water, food, and energy. They have to ensure that labour standards – also for children – as well as national and international rights (with regard to corruption, prostitution) are respected. They need to include access to legal remedies and the participation of local population in decision-making processes. In order to ensure that the regulations are binding, control mechanisms and sanctions for non-compliance have to be implemented.
Entrepreneurial far-sightedness
In target 12.6, the 2030 Agenda wants to „encourage companies to adopt sustainable practices“. Corporate social and environmental responsibility is also in the interest of tourism enterprises. Tourism products and services need to be designed in a manner that is mindful of the environment and social settings. They need to be of good quality and ensure a future for the tourism sector which relies on ‘unspoilt’ landscapes and cultures. Responsible tourism that respects human rights and considers ecological sustainability, fair trade relations and the participation of the local population in the value chain does not only meet the growing demand for socially and environmentally responsible travel, but can also set benchmarks and contribute to a globally sustainable development.