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 prior to the development process goes on. Therefore, in this century, much people are watching the question about the "sustainability".
In accordance with this example, more literatures have centered on the question of sustainable tourism (ST) and sustainable development (SD). There are a few debates on both of these concepts. Most of the litterateur said that there surely is a difference between sustainable tourism and sustainable development. Therefore, some of them have argued that the idea of ST is link with the concept of SD and some of these said not necessarily. Wall (1993) explain that a lot of would agree that if tourism is having a contribution to the sustainable development, it could be protecting the surroundings, think about of the economical growth and concern the cultural. After reading those academic journals and studies, I believe ST and SD are partially linked and I'd try to illustrate on that.
First of most, as to maintain the growth of tourism, Mckercher (1993) said that it's 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. In no way, 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 keep up a sustainable tourism and also 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 balanced on five aspects, that happen to be healthy economic, fulfill the needs of the gest, well culture, subjective well-being and protection of resources. His ideas value both the economic growth and environmental and social impact as well.
Secondly, the majority of the studies have put an attention on sustainable tourism development (STD) to illustrate the relationship between STD and SD. For reminders, the goal 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 key reason is people have been aware of environmentally friendly problems brought from sustainable tourism and wish to protect our environment. STD is to satisfy the human needs and improve the living standard to continually attract the tourists and meet the needs of the tourism industry (Hunter, 1995).
The relationship between both ST and STD is: Sustainable tourism is an integral part of sustainable tourism development. ST is representing and including some principles, rules and the way of management to guide the introduction of ST. That is sustainable tourism development" (Hunter, 1997).
On the other hand, because of the basic development approach have been developed, they have drawn into the sustainable development's approach. Sustainable development is not only a theory but also an idea (Wall, 1993). Reviewing the academic literature related to SD. There will vary meanings and may be ranked from very weak to quite strong (Turner, Pearce and Bateman 1994). The definition of SD is "The developments not only meet the needs for present but also never to imperil the capability for future to meet their needs. Also, SD advises people to use the renewable resources rather than the non-replaceable ones, to be able to ensure enough way to obtain resources for us to consume in the foreseeable future (WCED, 1987). According to Wood (1993:7) the majority of the countries and organizations agree to have SD since it can help to develop the united states within the protection on the surroundings. Moreover, the advocate of sustainable development said that it is important to ensure economic growth concerning decrease the poverty and also the wealth gap by bettering the living standards and protect the environment. To conclude, we should be aware that the world is lacking of resources in the mean time (Owen, Witt and Gammon, 1993).
According to Hunter (1995), sustainable tourism development is partially immersed to sustainable development because a few 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 instance, it has an impact on economic, social and environment. A number 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 near 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 ought to be realizable on economical 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 amount of tourism development. However the sustainability on it should be related to particular top 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 donate to SD. Therefore the idea of sustainable tourism and sustainable development is merely partially link together.
And I would like to illustrate with the truth of Disneyland in Paris which is an exemplory case of STD. If the Walt Disney Company has been approved to use the land, the business 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 business must follow the instruction to safeguard the environment and reduce the negative impact on it. Also, it is a way to control the business to work with the land effectively. That is a case of sustainable tourism development because through the development, this company not only making profits but also protecting the needs of the environment. Moreover, since it can sustain the growth of economic, for example, improve the job opportunities and increase foreign currency reserves. We may find that the sustainable tourism is having contribution on the development because the tourism has sustained the growth of monetary in that place.
In addition, the Beijing National Aquatic Center (Water Cube) is also a good example of sustainable tourism and sustainable development. The Water Cube is one of the main places to serve the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. However, following the Olympic Games it includes redeveloped to become place as another tourist destination. For instance, a very large water theme park to attract the local and oversea tourist. The operators and managers of this particular Cube have put much attention on the sustainability from 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 monetary is sustainable.
According to what I have mentioned above, the idea of sustainable tourism is partially link with the concept of sustainable development. Both these purposes are to maintain the sustainability. Sometime what it have been done in sustainable tourism will be affect or contribute to sustainable development. These are interrelated. Also, it's important to experiment with an attention onto it because if we only concern about today's needs then it'll be difficult to keep the needs of the tourism industry in the future and the introduction of an area. I think it will put more promotion and education on the topic of sustainability to raise the people awareness of this topic.
