Topic: With reference to theory and practice, discuss how the concepts of sustainable tourism and sustainable development are linked?
In this century, tourism plays a crucial role since it is a very large world industry in earning money and a very big single sector of world trade (Hunter, 1997). However, all the related activities draw harmful effects towards our natural environment. Thus it is no doubt that we should have a comprehensive planning before the development process goes on. Therefore, in this century, much people are paying attention to the question about the “sustainability”.
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In accordance with this situation, more literatures have focused on the question of sustainable tourism (ST) and sustainable development (SD). There are some debates on these two concepts. Most of the litterateur said that there is a difference between sustainable tourism and sustainable development. Therefore, some of them have argued that the concept of ST is link with the concept of SD and some of them said not really. Wall (1993) point out that most would agree that if tourism is having a contribution to the sustainable development, it might be protecting the environment, think about of the economic growth and concern the cultural. After reading those academic journals and studies, I believe that ST and SD are partially linked and I would try to illustrate on that.
First of all, as to maintain the growth of tourism, Mckercher (1993) said that it is a need to have sustainable Tourism. The most articulate critics Bulter (1993) has mentioned the definition of sustainable tourism was “Tourism should be developed in such a case of not reforming the environment, whatever both human and physical in the future. By no means, no other flourishing achievements should be interrupted during the process.” Also, WTO suggests that when having the national development, people should use the natural and cultural resources carefully to maintain a sustainable tourism and have a better quality of life. Private sectors, government and communities are essential to put efforts on it.
Moreover, Lane (1994) discussed that the strategy of sustainable tourism is to consider the future needs of tourism. Muller (1994) suggested sustainable tourism needs to have a balanced on five aspects, which are healthy economic, fulfill the needs of the gest, well culture, subjective well-being and protection of resources. His ideas care about both the economic growth and environmental and social impact as well.
Secondly, most of the studies have put an attention on sustainable tourism development (STD) to illustrate the relationship between STD and SD. For reminders, the purpose of sustainable tourism development is to balance the need of tourism development without hurting the environment. According to the familiarization of the sustainable development’s concept, there are some reasons why the concept of sustainable tourism development has be emerged and the main reason is people had been aware of the environmental problems brought from sustainable tourism and would like to protect our environment. STD is to satisfy the human needs and enhance the living standard to continuously attract the tourists and meet the needs of the tourism industry (Hunter, 1995).
The relationship between both ST and STD is: Sustainable tourism is a part of sustainable tourism development. ST is representing and including some principles, rules and the way of management to guide the development of ST. This is sustainable tourism development” (Hunter, 1997).
On the other hand, due to the basic development approach have been developed, it has drawn into the sustainable development’s approach. Sustainable development is not only a theory but also a plan (Wall, 1993). Reviewing the academic literature related to SD. There are different meanings and could be ranked from very weak to very strong (Turner, Pearce and Bateman 1994). The definition of SD is “The developments not only satisfy the needs for present but also not to imperil the capability for future to meet their needs. Also, SD advises people to use the renewable resources instead of the non-replaceable ones, in order to ensure enough supply of resources for us to consume in the foreseeable future (WCED, 1987). According to Wood (1993:7) most of the countries and organizations agree to have SD since it can help to develop the country within a protection on the environment. Moreover, the advocate of sustainable development said that it is important to ensure economic growth as to reduce the poverty and also the wealth gap by improving the living standards and protect our environment. To conclude, we should bear in mind that the world is lacking of resources in the mean time (Owen, Witt and Gammon, 1993).
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According to Hunter (1995), sustainable tourism development is partially immersed to sustainable development because some of the principles of STD will be affected or contributed to SD in different aspect. And that’s the linkage of sustainable tourism and sustainable development. For example, it will have an impact on economic, social and environment. Some of the activities of ST will affect SD.
As mentioned above, ST and SD are also concerning the sustainability to meet the needs in an indefinite time in the future. Some experts might claim that, people might expect ST have a contribution to SD in the developed country. Also, most people would agree that if ST has a contribution to SD it should be realizable on economic aspect, play attention on environment and concern about the cultural (Wall, 1993). Moreover, Inskeep (1991) analysed the approach of sustainable development can be applied on different levels or degree of tourism development. But the sustainability on it should be related to particular features of an area’s economy, environment and society and the plan of tourism or how is the management of tourism. Sometime, the plan of ST do not contribute to SD. So the concept of sustainable tourism and sustainable development is only partially link together.
And I would like to illustrate with the case of Disneyland in Paris which is an example of STD. When the Walt Disney Company has been approved to use the land, the company needs to sign an agreement to ensure that the urbanizing landscape should be use carefully and not to reprobate the land. During the development of the land, the company needs to follow the instruction to protect the environment and reduce the negative impact on it. Also, it is a way to control the company to use the land effectively. This is a case of sustainable tourism development because during the development, this company not only earning money but also protecting the needs of the environment. Moreover, since it can sustain the growth of economic, for example, increase the job opportunities and increase foreign currency reserves. We might find that the sustainable tourism is having contribution on the development because the tourism has sustained the growth of economic in that place.
In addition, the Beijing National Aquatic Center (Water Cube) is also an example of sustainable tourism and sustainable development. The Water Cube is one of the main places to serve the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. However, after the Olympic Games it has redeveloped to become a place as another tourist destination. For example, a very large water theme park to attract the local and oversea tourist. The operators and managers of the Water Cube have put much attention on the sustainability of it. The sustainable tourism is contributed to the sustainable development because the development not only concern about the present need but also the future and the growth of economic is sustainable.
According to what I have mentioned above, the concept of sustainable tourism is partially link with the concept of sustainable development. Both of these purposes are to maintain the sustainability. Sometime what it have been done in sustainable tourism will be affect or contribute to sustainable development. They are interrelated. Also, it is important to play an attention on it because if we only concern about the present needs then it will be difficult to maintain the needs of the tourism industry in the future and the development of an area. I think it should put more promotion and education on the topic of sustainability to increase the people awareness of this topic.
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