Fundamental of Tourism and Hospitaliy
Noor Amania bt Md Din
17DUP19F1040
5.4 Discuss issues related to sustainable development in tourism and hospitality industry.
Based on the article, tourism has been recognized as one of the largest industries or major socio-economic activities in the world. United Nations World Tourism Organization-UNWTO (2011) noted tourism as a key driver for socio-economic progress as world tourism reached 940 million of total arrivals and US$ 919 million of total receipt in 2010. Further, it employs one in nine workers and contributes 6% of global gross national profit (McMinn, 1997). Its expansion is the most remarkable socio-economic phenomena of the post World War II eras (Weaver, 2006). Thus, it acquires a significant position in eliminating contemporary socio-economic, environmental crisis, in addition to mitigating climate change and global warming challenges.
Yet, many other authors argue that the potential contribution of tourism to economic development allows tourism to appear as a development strategy in developing countries. Consequently, extended exploitation of socio-cultural and environmental resources has led the contemporary world to search for a fundamental shift from exploitative to a sustainable approach in tourism development (Prosser, 1994). Further, Gezici, et al (2004) and Gössling, argue that the adverse affects generated from mass tourism on socio-culture and environment, along with the pressure on economic return has required researches towards seeking solutions with the concept of sustainable tourism against all unfavorable development. There’s three major issues that usually emerge with the idea of sustainable development. These include economic, ecologic and social issues.
Economic.
Economic sustainability is premised on the theory of capital convertibility alongside the concept of maximum income, acquired through saving essential capital resources for future generations to benefit from it. This entails the implementation of the principle of equitable distribution among generations. Economic sustainability aims at maximizing on the flow of earnings and usage that could be realized while maintaining the stock of assets to yield beneficial outputs. The main aim of implementing sustainability principles is to safeguard an optimal amount of common capital for future generations. Due to rural poverty and overexploitation, it has been suggested that environmental resources be regarded as important economic assets in the name of natural capital. Traditionally, economic development requires growth in gross domestic product. Economic analysis and valuation is therefore guided by issues of generational equity, uncertainty of long-term outcomes and irreversibility of environmental change. Edward Barbier recognized that the aims of economic development and environmental conservation are not in conflict and can reinforce each other. Identified strong reasons to act on climate change, and suggested that more work be done to fully account on the relevant economics and how they affect human well-being.
Ecology.
In ecology, sustainable development seeks to preserve the diversity of essential ecosystems, biological species and ecological processes. In this regard, the exuberance of sub-systems is important to a critical perspective of a worldwide stability of the total ecosystem. Thus, the importance of preserving biological diversity is emphasized in order to ensure a balanced nature, global elasticity of ecosystems and their adaption to a dynamic biosphere, as well as securing future possibilities. In respect to biological diversity, it is important to note that it is irreplaceable. This fact offers a strong argument against undermining the value of biological diversity. It is also vital to take into consideration the role of thermodynamic laws towards economic sustainability. Freshwater makes only 2.5% of the Earth’s water where 98.8% of the fresh water is in groundwater and ice. As such, beyond ecology as an intersection of humans and the environment, sustainability addresses how the natural environment endures and maintains its diversity and productivity. Environmental sustainability calls for society to undertake activities that satisfy human needs while maintaining life support systems in the planet. This, for instance, translates to the sustainable usage of water, exploiting renewable energy, and sustainable supplies (like harvesting forest wood while maintaining the biomass and biodiversity).
Social issues.
The concept of social-cultural sustainability reflects the interrelation between development and fundamental social norms and seeks to uphold the stability of social systems. Social sustainability aims at reducing vulnerability and maintaining health (in terms of vigor, resilience and organization) within social and cultural systems. It also aims to enhance their capability of withstanding shocks. In the very least, social sustainability requires the preservation of some vital components of social capital, in light of the society’s ability to solve economic, social and environmental problems, as well as being active in the development of the entire system. Responsibility for our world depends on global solidarity and consolidation, based on holistic thinking, systematic approach to the reality, visualizing humanity and the biosphere as one system, and a global cultural basis. Moreover, the notion of sustainable development provides a means of solving two different and usually conflicting clusters of aims: stability-safety-environment and development-progress-growth. Corporate social responsibility for social sustainability is important too.
Suggestion
1. Perform a stakeholder analysis
A stakeholder analysis is required in order to identify all the parties that are directly or indirectly affected by the enterprise’s operations. It sets out the issues, concerns and information needs of the stakeholders with respect to the organization’s sustainable development activities. A company’s existence is directly linked to the global environment as well as to the community in which it is based. In carrying out its activities, a company must maintain respect for human dignity, and strive towards a society where the global environment is protected. At the beginning of this century, company strategies were directed primarily towards earning the maximum return for shareholders and investors. Businesses were not expected to achieve any other social or environmental objectives. Exploitation of natural and human resources was the norm in many industries, as was a lack of regard for the wellbeing of the communities in which the enterprise operated. In short, corporations were accountable only to their owners.
2. Set sustainable development policies and objectives
The next objective is to articulate the basic values that the enterprise expects its employees to follow with respect to sustainable development, and to set targets for operating performance. Senior management is responsible for formulating a sustainable development policy for its organization, and for establishing specific objectives. Sustainable development means more than just ‘the environment’. It has social elements as well, such as the alleviation of poverty and distributional equity. It also takes into account economic considerations that may be absent from a strictly ‘environmental’ viewpoint. In particular, it emphasizes maintaining or enhancing the world’s capital endowment, and highlights limits to society’s ability to substitute man-made capital for natural capital. Nevertheless, a policy on environmental responsibility is a good first step towards the broader concerns of sustainable development.
3.Develop a supportive corporate culture
In order to ensure that the organization and its people give their backing to the sustainable development policies, an appropriate corporate culture is essential. In the process of implementing sustainable development or environmental management policies, many companies have experienced a kind of organizational renewal. The increased participation of employees not only generates practical ideas, but also increases enthusiasm for the programmed itself. Most customers and employees enjoy being part of an organization that is committed to operating in a socially responsible manner. Implementing sustainable development objectives will probably require managers to change their attitudes. This may be accomplished only after retraining. For example, some executives may feel that their sole responsibility is to maximize the wealth of the enterprise’s owners. As a result, they may have difficulty understanding the sustainable development concept and in accepting it as a legitimate business objective. Meanwhile some managers may not be accustomed to identifying the need for eco-efficient practices such as energy efficiency and recycling. Some may never have explicitly considered the effect of their actions on any stakeholder group other than shareholders. Others may resist changing the way in which their performance is measured.
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