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Discussion: "Sustainable Tourism" vs "Responsible Travel"Reported This is a featured thread

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Editor/Admin
Editor/Admin
"Sustainable Tourism" vs "Responsible Travel"
Dec 27 2008, 10:32 AM EST | Post edited: Dec 27 2008, 10:32 AM EST
... and The "Good Tourism" Wiki ...

Would it be useful for the purposes of this forum to consider:-

1) "Sustainable travel/tourism" as a supply-side issue pertaining to the products, processes, and practices of the business and industry of travel and tourism; recognising that economic considerations and marketability are part of the triple (quadruple?) bottom line of sustainability;

AND

2) "Responsible travel" as the choices made by individuals, groups, and organisations when consuming travel and tourism products, while recognising that these choices could just as easily be made at home?

What do you think?

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jecochrane
jecochrane
1. RE: "Sustainable Tourism" vs "Responsible Travel"
Dec 30 2008, 4:13 AM EST | Post edited: Dec 30 2008, 4:13 AM EST
I would think that this is perhaps more interesting as a discussion point than in the real world. The definitions of responsible travel, sustainable tourism, ecotourism etc have been discussed for some years now and I'm not sure how fruitful it is to try and refine the definitions further. What's interesting (to me at least!) is to hear how practitioners are putting the principles into practice, and also to hear how the market is responding. Are consumers specifically choosing responsible / sustainable holidays, for instance? Does it really make a difference when they come to choose their holiday? I'd be interested in examples.
Best wishes
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SixSenses
SixSenses
2. RE: "Sustainable Tourism" vs "Responsible Travel"
Jan 1 2009, 8:10 PM EST | Post edited: Jan 1 2009, 8:10 PM EST
Definitions is maybe not so important to discuss, but rather to acknowledge that to make it work businesses need be involved. For this reason, it is important that business owners realate and see the value. Responsible business is not about saving the world, but to improving business bottom line in a way - both sound for the planet and people. The word sustainability often turn people away as they think it is for tree-huggers and cost more. Responsible business takes care of the same values, but focusses on improving bottom line. This is what business leaders/oweners are interested in. Economic sustainability is important, and to do this a responsible way benefits all - people and planet. It definitely is a market out there. LOHAS is a perfect example illustrating that it is not a niche, but a massive market. Successful case studies are important to prove the point that responsible business is the way forward. 1  out of 1 found this valuable. Do you?    
planeta
planeta
3. RE: "Sustainable Tourism" vs "Responsible Travel"
Jan 3 2009, 5:36 PM EST | Post edited: Jan 3 2009, 5:36 PM EST
These are great concepts for discussion and action. I'd suggest that you might want to retitle the subject "Sustainable Tourism" AND "Responsible Travel" .... otherwise you're setting up a boxing match with the word 'vs" 1  out of 1 found this valuable. Do you?    
Gillenium
Gillenium
4. RE: "Sustainable Tourism" vs "Responsible Travel"
Jan 4 2009, 7:31 AM EST | Post edited: Jan 4 2009, 7:31 AM EST
I agree that these are the two main areas under the 'good tourism' umbrella. I also agree that the importance here should be highlighting real examples (driven by ACTIONS) so that people can learn from those who are taking the right steps (in real life, not just on paper/web), and hopefully replicate these lessons through their own grass roots actions. I also think we should move away from definitions as such (personally I think that responsible tourism should cover both these areas)... however seeing the wiki has been coined 'good tourism', why don't we as a group stick to that as our 'definition' which will cover all of these responsible/good actions. Then we can focus on the actions/examples from people on the ground in the supply side, as well as real responsible travellers sharing HOW they (or even groups of travellers) are doing their bit. With the latter, perhaps opening up some new discussions on this to try and extract these responses on the traveller side would be timely? 1  out of 1 found this valuable. Do you?