1 harold goodwin progress in responsible tourism

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Harold Goodwin

Progress in Responsible Tourism

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1. minimises negative economic, environmental and social impacts 2. generates greater economic benefits for local people and

enhances the well being of host communities; improves working conditions and access to the industry

3. involves local people in decisions that affect their lives and life chances

4. makes positive contributions to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage embracing diversity

5. provides more enjoyable experiences for tourists through more meaningful connections with local people, and a greater understanding of local cultural, social and environmental issues

6. provides access for physically challenged people 7. is culturally sensitive, encourages respect between tourists and

hosts, and builds local pride and confidence

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Responsible Tourism • Using tourism, rather than being used by it • “making better places to live in and better

places to visit.”• It is about identifying locally important

issues and addressing them. • It is about what you do with others

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A “movement” • Broad range of individual groups, a spectrum of groups• Moving at different speeds but in one general direction

using a variety of approaches • Global Code of Ethics & Cape Town Declaration • CHANGE: Moving from A => B• All forms of tourism can be more responsible • diverse: particular to cultures, places and organisations

– these differences need to be respected. • Means different things in different destinations and

originating markets; informed - active – consumers & producers

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Some principles• All forms of tourism can be more responsible• Tourism is what we make it – producers and

consumers • Tourism is not a commodity – there is no global

market • We are responsible for what tourism is.• All tourism is local – it takes place in other

peoples’ places

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Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO) 2000

• … we recognize that in carrying out our work as Tour Operators we have a responsibility to respect other people’s places and ways of life.

• We acknowledge that wherever a Tour Operator does business or sends clients it has a potential to do both good and harm, &

• we are aware that all too often in the past the harm has outweighed the good.

Originating Markets

ABTA AITO Travel Foundation & many operators and hoteliers

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Destinations

• Policies in South Africa, The Gambia, Myanmar ……

• Many examples of businesses taking responsibility

• More focus on responding to the challenges of sustainability

• Addressing the issues which matter locally – Cape Town

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www.irresponsibletourism.info

• Greenwashing

There is an excellent cheating site ………

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Certification vs Reporting

• Certification– Opaque– Local significance– Consuming culture

• Reporting – Transparent– What has been

achieved is clear – Informed consumers

Jost Krippendorf: “rebellious tourists and rebellious locals”

The glass is definitely more than half empty

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Current Priorities

• Extending Responsible Tourism to more originating markets

• Working with consumers to deter greenwashing

• Working with destinations to actively manage tourism

• Carbon emissions• Regulation • Benefitting

communities and their place

• Responsibility is free – take as much of it as you can handle