1. The Issue of Sustainability
Sustainable development projects

2. The Issue of Sustainability
Sustainable leisure and tourism means enjoying activities associated with them in a way that does not damage the environment.
This can be as simple as taking litter home after a day out or mending something we have broken, or as complex as carbon offsetting or staying in accommodation that relies on renewable energy such as solar power
You probably know that ‘green’ issues such as sustainability are very hot topics and they will affect the leisure and tourism industry more and more.

3. Sustainable development projects
Sustainable development projects are initiatives that address issues such as climate change, the use of energy and resources, and ecosystems
Some of these projects are happening at tourist destinations and we will be looking at some of them in today’s lesson

4. National parks What is a national park?
A national park is an area of land that is designated and funded partly by the government to protect the landscape, and to offer people the chance to experience fresh air, beautiful views, and peace and quiet.
But how are National Parks sustainable projects?
The National Parks Sustainable Development Fund was set up by the government to give grants to people and organisations with good ideas that help protect the environment whilst still enabling people to visit national parks

5. Examples of these projects include:
Buildings with living roofs (a roof covered with soil and vegetation)
Shelters built only from local wood
Farmers markets, where the buying and selling of local produce reduces the carbon footprint caused by transporting goods
Micro-hydro power generation, where the energy needs of tourism in the area does not increase carbon output

6. Ecotourism villages
Ecovillages are small communities that have been created by people who aim to live by making as little impact as possible on the environment
They do this by growing their own food or buying it locally and using renewable energy, amongst other things

7. Ecovillages There are three well-known ecovillages in the UK:
Findhorn in Scotland
BedZED in England
Brithdir Mawr in Wales
They are all rather different, and their designs reflect their locations and type of people who have built them.
However, they all have in common a shared vision for sustainable living. Once considered very ‘alternative’, such developments are becoming more mainstream and interesting options for tourists looking for something a little different.

8. Red Sea resorts
The Red Sea is an inlet between Africa and Asia, and is well know for its diving sites
There are 17 resorts on the Red Sea Riviera (a long stretch of coastline on the Red Sea), the most famous of which is the Egyptian resort of Sharm el Sheikh
Egypt is a poor country that needs tourism to help employ its people and obtain income, but is also needs to protect its very special ecosystems and the wildlife and plants that live in them

9. Red Sea resorts
Most of the Red Sea Riviera is a national park and desert, and is protected by law
Below is a summary of the environment regulations tourist must follow:
(source: goredsea.com)

10. Summary
Don’t touch, for any reason, any kind of marine life, for the protection of the environment and your own safety
Don’t pick up from the sea or the beaches anything apart from rubbish. Even a piece of dead coral or empty shell needs to be left in place for the environment's balance.
Sports fishing is strictly forbidden
Hunting is strictly forbidden
Walking on the reefs is strictly forbidden

11. Case study The Cairn Gorm funicular
Cairn Gorm, a mountain in the Scottish Highlands, got its own funicular in A funicular, in case you’re wondering, is a king of train that goes up the side of the mountain. The Cairn Gorm funicular increased the number of people who could get up the mountain and enjoy the scenery. However, it was soon realised that the numbers would be unsustainable and damage would occur to the fragile environment. The National Park Authority identified two distinct summer people came to bird watch. To minimise the impact of tourism on the environment, summer visitors are not allowed to leave the Ptarmigan building and viewing terrace, facilities that have been built for tourism. In the winter, skiers are not allowed to ski on the area near the tourist buildings to conserve the vegetation there.

12. Key terms
Carbon offsetting is the practice of working out the volume of greenhouse gases that has been created by an activity and then going something to make up for it, like paying for a tree to be planted

13. Summary
National parks, ecovillages and the Red Sea Riviera are examples of sustainable development projects

14. The Issue of Sustainability
Organisations that promote sustainable tourism

15. Organisations that promote sustainable tourism
These are a growing number of organisations that promote sustainable in tourism, including charities, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and private companies, as well as governmental initiatives.

16. Types of organisations
Local organisations
- Local councils like Tyneside
Regional organisations
- The Regional Development Agency
- Regional tourist boards, such as Tourism South-East
- The national parks
National organisations
- VisitBritain
- The National Parks Authority
- Department of Culture, Media and Sport

17. Local organisations
Individual destinations have clear plans to safeguard them. For example, Tynesdale Council, the local council for Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site states the following:
Provision of the Hadrian’s Wall Bus aims to promote public transport and reduce carbon emissions
The Housesteads’ Limit of Acceptable Charge Conference aims to provide guidelines to maintain a balance between the use of the area for tourists and the need to conserve a World Heritage Site

18. Regional organisations
Advice posted on the ‘Green’ part of the Tourism South-East website tells visitors to:
Use public transport
Eat local food, drink and buy local products
Switch off lights
Follow the countryside code
Use venues endorsed by the Green Tourism Business scheme

19. National organisations
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
This government department has a Sustainable Development Action Plan and its aims, amongst other things, is to champion tourism
‘We promote the sustainable development of tourism through working closely with VisitBritain, the Regional Development Agencies and other government departments on planning, countryside and rural development. We are currently developing a new framework for sustainable tourism in England in conjunction with our partners in regional and local government, academia and business’

20. Summary
There are three different types of organisations that promote sustainable tourism development in the UK
These are:
Local organisations
Regional organisations
National organisations