1. Sustainablity as a new product requirement Travelife Management system
Naut Kusters

2. Contents Sustainable tourism principles
Instruments to make tourism more sustainable
Certification schemes
Sustainability and the market
Int. Tour operators and sustainability
The Travelife Management system

3. 1. Sustainable Tourism principles
Definition UN-WTO (1988):
"Sustainable tourism meets the needs of present tourists and destinations while protecting and enhancing opportunity for the future”

4. 1. Sustainable tourism principles
It is not a niche market
All tourism types and products can and should become sustainable !
Sustainability = Quality +

5. 1. Sustainable Tourism principles
12 Aims
(Report UN-WTO, Making Tourism More Sustainable, 2006)
Economic viability Local prosperity
Employment quality Biological diversity
Visitor fulfilment Environmental purity
Community wellbeing Cultural richness
Physical integrity Social equity
Resource efficiency Local control

6. 2. Sustainable tourism instruments
How to reach these goals?
Legal instruments
A. Regulation (legal standards)
B. Land use planning and control of developments
C. Taxes and fees (economic instruments)
   

7. 2. Sustainable tourism instruments
How to make tourism sustainable?
Voluntary (business) instruments
A. Guidelines and code of conducts
B. Sustainability management system
C. Eco-labels

8. 2. Sustainable tourism instruments
Voluntary (business) instruments
A. Guidelines and code of conducts
List of do’s and don’t
No external control, self commitments
 Guidelines for Whale watching
 ECPAD Code of conduct on sexual exploitation of children

9. 2. Sustainable tourism instruments
Voluntary (business) instruments
B. Management system
Commitment for improvement
Policies and action plan in place
No performance standards
External evaluation (certification)
ISO 14001

10. 2. Sustainable tourism instruments
Voluntary (business) instruments
C. Ecolabelling
Do’s and don’t ( criteria)
Minimum requirement
Performance based (e.g.50 % energy saving lamps)
External (third party) control
Certification

11. 3. Certification in sustainable tourism
UN-WTO (2002): Voluntary Initiatives for
Sustainable Tourism: Worldwide Inventory
and Comparative Analysis of 104
Eco-labels, Awards and Self-Commitments.
2009  70 Ecolabels worldwide

12. Europe More than 40 Tourism Ecolabels in Europe (mainly accomodations)
1987……… ………..…..2000……
More than 40 Tourism Ecolabels in Europe
(mainly accomodations)
(5000 products)

13. 3. Certification in sustainable tourism
Latin America
Since 2000
First certificate in Costa Rica (TSC)
Schemes in most Latin American countries
700 certified accommodations
Regional network of certification initiatives

14. 3. Certification in sustainable tourism
Members Certification Network of the America’s
3. Certification in sustainable tourism
Certification for Sustainable Tourism Costa Rica
Green Deal Guatemala
Certification programme for ST Peru
Certificação em Turismo Sustentável Brazil
Smart Voyager Equador
Certificación de la STdel Perú Peru
Certificación de Turismo Rural Sostenible Uruguay
Programa Nacional de Auditoría Ambiental Mexico
Green Globe Caribbean

15. 3. Certification in sustainable tourism
Africa
3. Certification in sustainable tourism
Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa (80 products)
Eco-rating Kenya
Green Hotel, Egypt
180 certified hotels

16. 3. Certification in sustainable tourism
Asia
Green Leaf, Thailand
Green Globe 21 – China, New Zealand, Bali
400 entities certified (mostly Australia)

17. 3. Certification in sustainable tourism
Global Sustainable Tourism Standard (2008)
Supported by UN-WTO and UNEP
35 Criteria with indicators
Based analysis of 100 certification schemes
Consultative process
Tourism Sustainability Council (TSC) (2010)
Global accreditation system
MSC, FSC

18. Are consumers looking for sustainability?
In most European countries 3 – 10 serious consumer studies were conducted between 1995 and 2009
.... they provide a clear and growing trend

19. 4. Sustainability and the market
Environment  
87 % of the British (2002) find it very or fairly important that holiday does not damage the environment. 
Local communities
71 % of British consumers would like to benefit local communities

20. 4. Sustainability and the market
Accommodations
46 % of the German’s think ‘it is an added value to stay in an environmentally friendly accommodation’ 
The majority of German (74 %) travellers favour hotels who employ local staff and guarantee good wages and working conditions

21. 4. Sustainability and the market
Willingness to pay for environment and community well-being
61 % are willing to pay 5-10 % more (UK). 
 Explain clearly how the extra bonus us used
Need for information
80 % of the Dutch want information on ethical issues in their travel information.

22. 4. Sustainability and the market
Expectations from tourism operators
Ethical standing of company is an important selection criteria for 45 % of the British consumers.