Submitted By: Sonia Chopra
MESPOM 2007-2009
Sustainable tourism is a form of tourism development which utilizes resources in a sustainable way. It respects local culture and tradition. Maintenance of biodiversity, integration of tourism in local and national planning and benefit to local economies are some of the basic principles of the sustainable tourism. According to world tourism organization the tourism will increase double in next 20 years. One of best example of the sustainable tourism is Crete in Greece.
Sustainable tourism includes protecting and promoting natural values. Environmentally aware tourists favor businesses that minimize pollution, waste, energy consumption, landscaping chemicals. It strives for the quality. The success of the tourism is not measured only by the number of the tourists but also by length of stay, money spent and quality of experience. A new tourists is emerging .They are in search of memorable experiences, clean environment, high quality services and in search for value for money and time. The industry is also capitalizing on innovation, differentiation and providing memorable experiences. Sustainable tourism helps to employ local people and use local services.
Sustainable tourism can help for raising environmental awareness. Green house gases emissions and climate change due to global warming are affecting our life styles. Tourism sector is no exception and climate change is also effecting the development and management of the tourism sector. Due to climate change there is changes in water availability, biodiversity loss, altered agricultural pattern, coastal erosion and inundation. All these changes will impact tourism to great extend. Sustainable use of the resources for tourism purposes can help to decrease the impact on the environment.
Climate change is also effecting the decision making process of the various stakeholders like investors, insurance companies,governments and tourists for investing in various tourist destinations .For the islands and various villages of the Greece sustainable tourism can be enhanced by adopting policies which help to utilize the natural resources in a sustainable manner. The policies adopted should also help local residents.
There is a great potential for the use of the local products for sustainable tourism in the villages and islands of the Greece. By using local products for the tourists, the transportation cost of the products can be reduced .The emission of the CO2 is also reduced which will ultimately reduce climate change.
Tourism related emissions are growing in contrast to the considerable emission reduction targets. By reducing energy use, improving energy efficiency and by increasing the use of the renewable energy sources sustainable tourism can be achieved and sustainable tourism activities can contribute for decreasing the release of the green house gases in the atmosphere.
