SELF REGULATORY

RESPONSIBILITIES IN

INTERNATIONAL

TOURISM

Ashley Hatt and Justin Burke

Workshop #4

March 30, 2012

1. Introduction

2. Background

3. Video clips

4. Discussion questions

5. Conclusion

6. References

**Scroll over to jump slides

Agenda

First off – THANK YOU for attending our virtual

workshop!

Introduction

Evidence mounts that unrestricted tourism

growth may create unwanted social and

environmental impacts at destinations; there is

a growing call to develop environmental

regulation which reduces these impacts, but

allows the industry to continue.(Forsyth, 1997)

Reminder...

Sustainable Tourism

Tourism that meets the needs of present tourists and host regions, while protecting and enhancing opportunity for the future. Rather than being a type of product, it is an ethos that underpins all tourism activities. As such, it is integral to all aspects of tourism development and management rather than being an add-on component .

(WTTC, 2012)

Introduction

Self-regulation has been described as

preferable to traditional command-and-control

forms of regulation because it allows

companies to use environmentally-responsible

practices to increase competitive advantage. (Forsyth, 1997)

Why Self-Regulation?

Ethical Consumerism:

Market interest for goods seeking to avoid environmentally or socially-negative impacts

Public concern and demand for sustainable tourism products and services provide commercial incentives for companies to respond to this by producing goods overtly associated with environmental protection.

(Forsyth, 1997)

Why Self-Regulation?

Tourism Sectors include:

1. Tour operators

2. Travel agents

3. Hotels

4. Passenger carriers (airlines and cruise liners)

5. Tourism associations

6. National tourist offices

7. Consultancies offering advice to companies sending tourists overseas

(Forsyth, 1997)

Why Self-Regulation?

Practices of voluntary environmental

responsibility reduces the potential harmful

impacts of industry before the introduction of

restrictive legislation

Provides marketing tools to add value to

products, or improve the corporate image with

the public

Who?

1. WTTRC (World Travel and Tourism Research Council)

2. Green Globe Program

Two world-wide environmental management and public awareness programmes for tourism companies, including advice on integrating Agenda 21 into business management .

(WTTC, 2012)

Types

Cost- cutting

Value-adding

Long-term investment

Legislation (through government)

Green Globe 21 – only international accreditation scheme, benchmarking, and certification system for sustainable tourism

(Bramwell, 2004)

Table 1

This shows a range of regulatory instruments

available to industry and

government, classified according to degree of

direct involvement and who is responsible.(Sustainable Tourism, 2012)

Benefits of Self-Regulation

Economic

Greater reign of control over implemented

regulations

Self regulation is sustainable, sustainability

attracts tourists

Provides business with competitive advantage

Benefits of Self-Regulation

Socio-Cultural

Educates tourists and community about

surrounding destination, reduces impact

Helps maintain cultural heritage

Supplies local communities with jobs

Benefits of Self-Regulation

Environmental

Strict regulation reduces environmental

degradation

Protects wildlife and surrounding habitat

Allows tourists access with minimal impact

Aids resource management

However...

‘Free Riders’

Many companies are reluctant to adopt self-

regulation in fear that their position would be

undermined by other tourism competitors. Free

riders are able to operate at lower costs than

ethically self-regulated companies, gaining a

competitive standing in marketplace.

(Forsyth, 1997)

Challenges to Self-Regulation

Self-regulation is difficult to implement in the

tourism industry because:

1. No tangible, lasting product, but is based on

image and presentation

2. No ‘one’ industry, but rather a combination of

many sectors

3. Extreme price competition (focus on short-

term profit over long-term sustainability

Tourist Arrivals Up in Antarctica

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ih949hV

s78

Video #1

U.S. Proposes Limits on Tourism in Antarctica

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOVjLPkseio&feature=relmfu

Video #2

Discussion Questions

1. From the videos shown, what would YOU do

if you could implement 3 self-regulatory

policies for tourism in the Antarctic?

Discussion Questions

2. Should larger companies be held to stricter

self-regulatory policies regarding

sustainable tourism development?

Conclusion

"The Travel & Tourism industry urges global

leaders ... to actively engage the private sector

in translating the internationally agreed

framework into transparent, supportive and

progressive national and regional policies"

Jean-Claude Baumgarten

WTTC President & CEO

References

Bramwell, B, 2004. Tourism Collaboration And Partner: Politics, Practice and Sustainability (Aspects of Tourism). Edition. Multilingual Matters.

Haase, D., Lamers, M., Amelung, B. (2009). Heading into uncharted territory? Exploring the institutional robustness of self-regulation in the Antarctic tourism sector. Journal of Sustainable Tourism. 17 (4), pg. 411-430

Forsyth, T, 1997. Environmental responsibility and business regulation: the case of sustainable tourism.. The Geographical Journal, [Online]. 163(3), 27-280. Available at: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/4733/1/Environmental_responsibility_and_business_regulation_(LSERO).pdf [Accessed 27 March 2012].

Miller, G, 2005. Monitoring for a Sustainable Tourism Transition:. Edition. CABI.

Sustainable Tourism. 2012. Regulating Tourism: Sustainability in the Free Market . [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.fathom.com/course/21701788/session3.html. [Accessed 26 March 12].

World Travel and Tourism Council. 2012. Research. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.wttc.org/research/. [Accessed 28 March 12].