SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

AND

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

A MANIFESTO FOR

NORTH CAROLINA ?

Bernard Lane

Red Kite Environment

Journal of Sustainable Tourism

The 20th Century …has made all of us into deep historical

pessimists

Francis Fukuyama

1992

And, says Fukuyama

“Technology makes possible the limitless accumulation of wealth, and thus the satisfaction of an ever expanding human set of desires”

Life since my Grandad was born

Limits to Growth ?

• The Case for Sustainable Development

• The 1980s

• Mrs Brundtland and her Report

1. Holistic Planning – Cross- Sectoral

2. Preserving Ecological Processes

3. Protecting Human Heritage & Biodiversity

4. Long term & Future Generations

The Triple Bottom Line

The Precautionary Principle

And the USA ?

Shades of Green

• Deep Greens

• Arne Naess

• Gaia

• Shallow Greens

• Wise Use

And after 40 years ?

• Implications

• Implementing

• And More Discussions

Sustainable Tourism

• Begins In Europe – Why ?

• The numbers – from 25 millions – 1950

• To 903 millions – 2007

• An industry addicted to Growth

Tourism Impacts (+)

• Cash Transfers and Employment Creation

• Happiness and Learning

• Indirect Conservation ?

• Academic Journals !

Tourism Impacts (-)

• On the Physical Environment

• On local, regional, and sometimes, national culture and society

• Via the Tourism Product Cycle

• Via the Transport Process

So What is Sustainable Tourism ?

A Management System or Approach

Seeks Balance; Seeks Thought

Seeks Behavioural Change

Thinks Holistically

Progress

• Definitions – we know what it is

• Series of Management Techniques

• Lots of Projects

• Local / National Strategies Drawn up

Certification Programmes Tried

Indicators Tried

Ethics and Concepts tested

Discussions. Quite a lot of Greenwash

PLUS

• A whole generation of academics

• The Journal of Sustainable Tourism

OVERALL

A first phase

Why is it taking so long ?

• The Business – in denial ??

• The Ecotourism Trap

• Government Weakness

• Society & the Community

PLUS

• The Market and the Nature of Holiday Making

• Those ACADEMICS

• And Look at the Smoking Habit

WHY NOW ?

• Climate Change and the Transport Dilemma

• Greed replaced by Fear

• Status Quo gives way to Uncertainty

• A New Wave Builds

What has been done

• At National Level

• Regional & Local Levels

• Accommodation• In Transport• In Heritage Conservation • In Marketing and Planning

AND North Carolina ??

• A University Role ?

• Cross sector Partnerships – Why ?

• Know the Possibilities

• Know and select Markets

• Support Risk Takers

• Leaders

• Determination

But HOW ??

• Political Support – Insiders / Outsiders

• Jealousy and Example

• Media Support

• Understanding the Marketing Drivers

• Finance

• Technical Expertise and Contacts

Tangibles

• Create a Network of Doers and Thinkers

• Write a Manifesto for Action

• Get Support

• Nothing Succeeds like Success

THEN

• Food Heroes

• Test a Strategy in 1 or 2 areas: engaging community & business

• Work with selected Accommodation Providers

And

• Take The Train – but be careful

• Create Heritage Regions

• Try a Werfenwang

• Re-jig your marketing

Play to Your Strengths

• Close to Home

• Can be done by Car

• Enjoyment – Slow Southern Comfort ?

• Relish the Challenge

REMEMBER

• This is more than just a technique, it is:

A TOURISM THAT WILL CARRY ON, THAT WILL ENDURE, and

CONTRIBUTE

NOURISH and TOLERATE

Macbeth