Introduction
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Natural resources we promote through tourism are in danger of degradation, unless we’re able to turn the tourism industry into a sustainable one.
In order to develop a sustainable tourism industry, some key areas to consider include:
- Solid financial and business planning
- Sensitivity to cultural and social dynamics
- Efficient management, training and customer service
- Long term vision
- Marketing and communications programs to showcase the positive elements
For a better introduction to the topic, please take a look at the following video developed by The Travel Foundation: Why sustainable tourism?
Task
Tourism sector enterprises play a crucial role for Sustainable Tourism promotion and development
Tourism sector enterprises play a crucial role for Sustainable Tourism promotion and development
Sustainable tourism is widely recognised as a business opportunity, since more and more tourists declare to take more responsible choices during their travels/holidays.
This has led to the creation of various forms of sustainable or alternative tourism such as: ‘nature-based tourism’, ‘ecotourism’ and ‘cultural tourism'. Sustainable tourism is becoming so popular that many argue that from 'alternative' it will become 'mainstream' in 10 years.
The following key points represent for you an important “toolkit for beginners”:
- Define a so called “Business Vision”: a statement guiding your business’ direction for year to come (A Guide to Writing the Perfect Vision Statement (with Examples)
- Define a so called “Business Mission”: a statement pinpointing your core values, the purpose of your initiatives and the “WHYs” of your action (Best Mission Statements: 12 Examples You Need to See)
For you, as an aspiring Social Tourism Entrepreneur, Vision and Mission are both extremely relevant because they should embrace, mainstream and valorise the sustainable feature of your business initiative.
- Define your target group: the new “sustainable-informed” traveller
- Define the exact type of product/service you want to offer: a new travel experience that take into full consideration environmental issues and sustainability.
