09 Jul A Policy Framework for Sustainable Tourism

While there are many great initiatives that can be taken to achieve sustainable tourism, it is important to remember that sustainable tourism requires a policy framework to achieve its objectives. Policies that enable sustainable tourism are often developed by folks that do not consider themselves part of tourism, and many of the policies are not tourism or hospitality related.

So what policies does the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) say are required for a sustainable destination? In a recent analysis of the GSTC Destination Criteria I carried out with student researcher, Jennifer Romanchek, we identified a framework for sustainability in tourism that included policies, rules, and regulations for:

• Building and Development
• Environment
• Cultural and Heritage Preservation
• Safety and Security
• Policies eliminating exploitation and discrimination
• Policies ensuring Accessibility and Inclusion
• Property and User Rights

Want to take a deeper dive? Check out the detail from the report below or get the full report here.

Building and Development Policies

Sustainable destination communities should have laws, policies and regulations that ensure:

• Environmental, social, and economic impact assessment before development is approved.
• Sustainable Land use practices
• Sustainable Design and construction standards for new buildings
• Design and construction of buildings to meet community established aesthetic standards.
• Building and development policies to protect natural and cultural resources.

Environmental Policies

Sustainable Destination Communities should have laws, guidelines and/or regulations that encourage tourism related businesses to protect the environment by:

• Practicing energy conservation
• Reducing fossil fuel use
• Increasing use of renewables
• Encouraging wastewater reduction
• Encouraging water conservation
• Requiring wastewater management including siting, maintenance and monitoring of discharge
• Minimizing light and noise pollution.

In addition, destinations should have in place laws or regulations that govern interaction with wildlife and align with international laws and standards.

Cultural and Heritage Policies

Sustainable tourism destinations will have policies in place to protect cultural assets including built heritage and cultural landscapes. The destination will also have policies to governing the sale, display of archaeological artefacts.

Safety and Security Policies

Sustainable destination communities should have laws, policies and regulations that ensure the well being of visitors in the destination. These policies should address not only crime but safety and hygiene standards.

Policies Eliminating Exploitation and Discrimination

Sustainable destination communities should have laws, policies and regulations that ensure:

• Equal employment opportunities for all, including women, youth, minorities and other vulnerable populations
• Fair wages for all, including women, youth, minorities and other vulnerable populations
• Occupational health and safety rules for tourism businesses
• Elimination of commercial, sexual or other types of exploitation of anyone, particularly women, youth, minorities and other vulnerable populations

Policies ensuring Accessibility and Inclusion

Sustainable destination communities should have laws, policies and regulations that ensure:

• Access to tourist sites and facilities for individuals with disabilities and others with specific access requirements.
• Public access by local community members

Property and User Rights Policies

Sustainable destination communities should have laws, policies and regulations that ensure:

• Established property rights are acknowledged
• Property acquisition rights that consider indigenous rights
• Intellectual property rights of individuals and communities
• Local community Access to natural and cultural sites