Strategies for Responsible Tourism and Sustainability
A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2019) | Viewed by 10374
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Sustainable tourism is defined as “tourism which is in a form that can maintain its viability in an area for an indefinite period of time” (Butler, 1999, p. 36). It is well-recognised that tourism, while being an effective means for socioeconomic development, can be one of the major causes of deleterious impacts on the environment, society, culture and economy of the destination host communities. It also contribute significantly to the pollution of air and water, and damage of landscapes. A large number of tourist destinations that have become the victims to unplanned and thoughtless practice of tourism bear testimony to the pernicious impact that tourism can have on their environment, society, culture and economy and host communities. The recent outcry about the ill effects of overtourism is yet another example of the cry for help from the unbridled development of tourism from host communities. There is a near unanimous consensus that tourism needs to be developed and managed following sustainability principles. The environmental, economic and sociocultural sustainability of tourist destinations requires deliberate and conscious efforts from all stakeholders. There have been a myriad of principles, policies and frameworks formulated to help tourist destinations achieve sustainability (e.g. WTO, 1993; WTO, 1996; WTO, 1999; WTO, 2001; WTO, 2004). While tourist destinations have been trying various types of tourism such as ecotourism, soft tourism, green tourism, alternative tourism, etc. tourism businesses have adopted corporate social responsibility as a means to achieve sustainability. Responsible tourism is yet another sustainability initiative that has emerged in recent years, which advocates stakeholders taking responsibility for minimising the environmental, economic and sociocultural impacts of their actions as well as ensuring the well-being of the host communities (Chettiparamb and Kokkranikal, 2012). However, sustainable development of tourism continues to remain a challenge to tourist destinations all over the world. The large number of sustainability initiatives have been tried, which have achieved varying levels of success and failure. There is a recognition that sustainability-oriented tourism development remains a goal that requires effective strategies that are pragmatic and sensitive to all stakeholders both at the macro and micro level.
The purpose of this special issue is to compile new research and emerging debates on strategies for sustainable and responsible development of tourism. We welcome contributions from researchers and scholars who are interested in sustainability and responsible tourism.
Possible broad themes and topics include, but not limited to:
- Responsible tourism
- Tourism policy and planning
- Climate change mitigation strategies for tourism
- Corporate social responsibility
- Strategies for sustainable livelihoods
- Circular economy in tourism
- Management strategies (HRM, Marketing, Operational, Financial, etc.) for sustainability
- Community-based tourism
- Information and communication technology and new media strategies
- Tourism governance
- Tourism education
References
Butler, R. (1999). Sustainable Tourism – State of the Art Review, Tourism Geographies, Vol. 1, pp. 7–25.
Chettiparamb, A., and KOKKRANIKAL, J. (2012). Responsible Tourism and Sustainability – the Case of Kumarakom, Kerala, India. Journal of Policy Research in Tourism, Leisure and Events; Special Issue: Tourism Planning, Vol. 4 (3), pp. 302–326.
WTO (1993). Indicators for the Sustainable Management of Tourism, International Institute for Sustainable Development: Winnipeg.
WTO (1996). What Tourism Managers Need to Know: a Practical Guide to Development and Use of Indicators of Sustainable Tourism, WTO: Madrid.
WTO (1999). Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, World Tourism Organisation: Madrid. Available online: http://www.world-tourism.org/code_ethics/pdf/languages/Codigo%20Etico%20Ing.pdf (accessed on 21 August 2018).
WTO (2001). Workshop on Sustainable Tourism Indicators for the Islands of the Mediterranean, Kukljica, Island of Ugljan, Croatia, 21–23 March, WTO: Madrid.
WTO (2004). Signposts for Sustainable Tourism: A Guidebook for the Development and Use of Indicators of Sustainable Development for Tourism Destinations. WTO: Madrid.
Dr. Jithendran Kokkranikal
Guest Editor
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