Module 7
7. Sustainable tourism indicators
(a)
A progress in the idea of the sustainability of tourism cannot be imagined without
checking that progress. Monitoring sustainable development of tourism can be achieved by
means of indicators. Defining and using indicators of sustainable tourism should be one of the
key topics even in the planning stage of the process. Indicators facilitate a constant and reliable
monitoring of changes in a certain period of time.
(b)
Monitoring should track events at the initial stage of project implementation. Projected
influence of tourism on biodiversity must be continuously followed and the effectiveness of
measures for reducing influences should be occasionally tested. They are tested through the
mentioned indicators of sustainable tourism, which must be defined in such a way that they cover
all the phases and aspects of tourism and biodiversity conservation.
(c)
Indicators must have a wide range and follow all the influences in various fields, such as:
biodiversity conservation, tourism revenues, a proportion of revenues that stays in the local
community, effectiveness in the stakeholder approach, effectiveness in tourism management and
nature conservation...
(d)
Monitoring must provide protection of endangered species, evaluation of the ecosystem
and the landscape, evaluation of the effectiveness of the removal of invasive species, general
conditions of the environment and the condition of tourism as an economic activity and social
phenomenon. The implementation of all the measures must be adjusted to the conditions on the
location.
(e)
Monitoring must be long-term. Some effects and influences can develop fast, whereas
others might develop very slowly. Long-term monitoring and evaluation provide the
implementation of measures which will reduce the influence of tourism on biodiversity, where
necessary. Such actions are indispensable in the process of sustainable development of tourism.
(f)
Monitoring results can be used for periodical revisions and changes in management
plans. They provide the implementation of principles and actions of good practice through the
entire project. All monitoring results must be transparent, and clearly observable in reports.
(g)
Monitoring is a tool for recording the following aspects: changes after the initial phase of
project realization, the effectiveness of actions for reducing the influence on biodiversity and
local communities, the effectiveness of conditions and tasks which were set in the project, the
influences of tourism activities on biodiversity and real effects of tourism development in the
protected area.
(h)
One of the best ways of monitoring is the implementation of sustainable tourism
indicators suggested by the World Tourism Organization (Indicators of Sustainable
Development for Tourism Destinations, A Guidebook, World Tourism Organization,
Madrid, 2004.) and in the following fields: Natural landscapes and ecologically sensitive sites,
Eco-tourism destinations, Protected natural heritage sites. Monitoring results will mostly depend
on the defined indicators and collected data.
A suggestion for defining indicators of sustainable tourism
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(i)
Tourism managers and tourism and hospitality executives must produce periodical
reports to government authorities and the public about the harmonized and sustainable
compatibility of tourism and biodiversity conservation. Furthermore, the public must be
informed about all the activities and consequences resulting from tourism industry.
(j)
Indicators must be implemented in the case of each new tourism product, new activities
or new phases in tourism business, so as to avoid the possibility of an increased negative
influence on biodiversity, landscapes and protected natural assets. All the activities must be in
accordance with local communities.
(k)
Regardless of the fact that it is about tourism promotion and biodiversity presentation,
indicators of sustainable tourism must adequately respond to the monitoring and the evaluation
of influence on local people. Such an approach should provide their involvement in tourism and
achieving real benefits from it (economic effects, education about tourism and nature
conservation, improving conditions of the environment, etc).
(l)
In the process of monitoring, several different institutions take on responsibilities:
government representatives whose responsibilities include tourism issues, those responsible for
nature conservation and biodiversity, autochthonous and local organisations, non-governmental
organisations, consumers and tourists. Government institutions can have an influence on the
approval of tourism activities which will not degrade natural assets. They can have a positive
impact on the work of the institutions and agencies which contribute to sustainable development.
The management boards of protected regions should give an essential contribution to the
conservation of habitats and biodiversity, because they are present at the exact location of natural
assets and tourism activities. Local institutions can offer valuable data on local tourist turnover.
The managers of tourism companies can offer information on tourist expectations and
satisfaction. These institutions can be legally bound to describe the conditions in various reports.
Non-governmental organisations often have their sources and reports on biodiversity which can
be useful, especially because of their reputation of being objective in evaluations. If they
cooperate with local scientific institutions, their work is valued even more. Tourists whose
interests are based on natural heritage values can be ecologically sophisticated, so their
observations can contribute to the improvement of the monitoring process.