SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT
AND
SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
A MANIFESTO FOR
NORTH CAROLINA ?
Bernard Lane
Red Kite Environment
Journal of Sustainable Tourism
The 20th Century …has made
all of us into deep historical
pessimists
Francis Fukuyama
1992
And, says Fukuyama
“Technology makes possible the
limitless accumulation of
wealth, and thus the
satisfaction of an ever
expanding human set of
desires”
Life since my Grandad
was born
Limits to Growth ?
• The Case for Sustainable Development
• The 1980s
• Mrs Brundtland and her Report
1. Holistic Planning – Cross- Sectoral
2. Preserving Ecological Processes
3. Protecting Human Heritage & Biodiversity
4. Long term & Future Generations
The Triple Bottom Line
The Precautionary Principle
And the USA ?
Shades of Green
• Deep Greens
• Arne Naess
• Gaia
• Shallow Greens
• Wise Use
And after 40 years ?
• Implications
• Implementing
• And More Discussions
Sustainable Tourism
• Begins In Europe – Why ?
• The numbers – from 25 millions – 1950
• To 903 millions – 2007
• An industry addicted to Growth
Tourism Impacts (+)
• Cash Transfers and Employment Creation
• Happiness and Learning
• Indirect Conservation ?
• Academic Journals !
Tourism Impacts (-)
• On the Physical Environment
• On local, regional, and sometimes,
national culture and society
• Via the Tourism Product Cycle
• Via the Transport Process
So What is Sustainable Tourism ?
A Management System or Approach
Seeks Balance; Seeks Thought
Seeks Behavioural Change
Thinks Holistically
Progress
• Definitions – we know what it is
• Series of Management Techniques
• Lots of Projects
• Local / National Strategies Drawn up
Certification Programmes Tried
Indicators Tried
Ethics and Concepts tested
Discussions. Quite a lot of Greenwash
PLUS
• A whole generation of academics
• The Journal of Sustainable Tourism
OVERALL
A first phase
Why is it taking so long ?
• The Business – in denial ??
• The Ecotourism Trap
• Government Weakness
• Society & the Community
PLUS
• The Market and the Nature of Holiday
Making
• Those ACADEMICS
• And Look at the Smoking Habit
WHY NOW ?
• Climate Change and the Transport
Dilemma
• Greed replaced by Fear
• Status Quo gives way to Uncertainty
• A New Wave Builds
What has been done
• At National Level
• Regional & Local Levels
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Accommodation
In Transport
In Heritage Conservation
In Marketing and Planning
AND North Carolina ??
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A University Role ?
Cross sector Partnerships – Why ?
Know the Possibilities
Know and select Markets
Support Risk Takers
Leaders
Determination
But HOW ??
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Political Support – Insiders / Outsiders
Jealousy and Example
Media Support
Understanding the Marketing Drivers
Finance
Technical Expertise and Contacts
Tangibles
• Create a Network of Doers and Thinkers
• Write a Manifesto for Action
• Get Support
• Nothing Succeeds like Success
THEN
• Food Heroes
• Test a Strategy in 1 or 2 areas: engaging
community & business
• Work with selected Accommodation
Providers
And
• Take The Train – but be careful
• Create Heritage Regions
• Try a Werfenwang
• Re-jig your marketing
Play to Your Strengths
• Close to Home
• Can be done by Car
• Enjoyment – Slow Southern Comfort ?
• Relish the Challenge
REMEMBER
• This is more than just a technique, it is:
A TOURISM THAT WILL CARRY ON,
THAT WILL ENDURE, and
CONTRIBUTE
NOURISH and TOLERATE
Macbeth