With freedom comes responsibility. As travelers, we have never had more freedom to explore the world – but with that freedom comes a responsibility to be good guests and care for the places we visit. Sustainability in the tourism system requires everyone to do their part… including travelers. There is no doubt that tourism that is completely traveler-centric at the expense of host communities and the environment - needs a “rethink”. But it doesn’t help to shame tourists. Research shows us that people want to travel more sustainably. But like...

10 August, 2021 /

The need for sustainable tourism and responsible travel is clear and immediate. There is a need to make many changes in the tourism system and we need to do it now. But – how do we make the greatest impact? In responding to this question, I feel stuck between two scientists that I greatly admire. Jane Goodall captured my imagination almost 50 years ago when I first read about her a primary school reader. She has been an inspiration ever since and I often quote her: What you do makes a...

04 August, 2021 /

I declare a climate emergency that is impacting tourism, society, and our home planet. The impacts of climate change on society are becoming more and more clear with each passing day. So too is the influence of climate change on the sustainability of tourism. I am committed to working to ensure tourism is a force for good in our world, and it is clear that climate change intersects with many of the challenges faced by tourism. The challenges of sustainability in the tourism system – environmental issues, preserving biodiversity,...

31 July, 2021 /

What does it look like when climate change starts to impact the tourism system? The conversation about the impacts of climate change on the economy has begun. Often these conversations talk about impacts on a wide range of businesses, but tourism and hospitality are often an important part of the story. This article from American Public Media’s Marketplace "More frequent, extreme heatwaves linked to workplace injuries" is a good example – raising issues around workplace conditions as temperatures increase. Several states – including California, Oregon, and Washington, have implemented new...

28 July, 2021 /

Last week there were massive wildfires, once-in-a-thousand-year floods, and ongoing droughts. The impacts of climate change are evident across the globe. And in each place, tourism will be affected in some way. It almost seems unnecessary to say climate change will impact the tourism system, and any discussion of sustainable tourism needs to consider the impacts of climate change. And it doesn't work to say – "let's deal with one first, then we can get to the other." Climate change and sustainability are inextricably connected. Address climate change, and you...

26 July, 2021 /

Which jobs in tourism require knowledge of sustainability? All of them (At least in the United States). When the Dept of Labor, working with The National Travel and Tourism Office of the Dept of Commerce and a team of experts from across the industry, developed the job competency model for Hospitality, Tourism, and Events, sustainability was a required competency right across the industry. Sustainability is included with other industry-wide competencies such as operations management, marketing and sales, safety and security, and understanding of key industry principles and concepts. It is...

22 July, 2021 /

Destinations, where sustainable tourism is thriving, have a range of programs that contribute to the sustainability of the destination community. It is important to note that these programs aren’t just activities that the Destination Management Organization runs – they can be initiated by a range of organizations (some of which may not even consider themselves part of the tourism Industry. During some recent analysis of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council’s Destination Criteria I conducted with Jennifer Romanchek, we identified the following programs that represent a foundation for destination-based sustainable...

16 July, 2021 /

Sustainability is a team activity. No single company creates a sustainable tourism experience – we each rely on each of our travel partners to do their part in making sure the final consumer experience is sustainable. By taking responsibility for our own businesses and encouraging our suppliers and customers to adopt sustainable tourism, all tourism businesses can contribute to a better future. A supply chain is simply the businesses that contribute components to a final product. For example, let us say you bought a vacation to an island resort...

14 July, 2021 /

It is fantastic to see so many people talking about various types of sustainable and ethical tourism. The energy and enthusiasm for positive change is starting to gain traction and all around the world, there are destinations, companies, and people making a difference. As we race forward it is important to remember the work that has already been done so we avoid "reinventing the wheel". For instance, did you know there is a Code of Ethics for Tourism? The Code of Ethics has 10 “articles” and outlines...

14 July, 2021 /

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...

09 July, 2021 /
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