Is sustainability credible?
The Big Island Akaka falls
Sustainable tourism Introduction
Even though sustainable tourism practice’s codes are supposed to help preserving local authenticity and enrich the visitors’ experience, it seems that the sustainability “brand” may just be used as an commercial word. Indeed, how can it be evaluated if a tour is really applying sustainable services, since high competition has led some businesses not to be always sincere with their products and services?
Take a look at this very insightful Times’ article on sustainability Click Here
Celebrating the efforts of programs and eco-tourism activities that are moving towards sustainability if where I’d rather focus my attention. That fact that the word “sustainability” is foremost in so many people’s mind is very exciting. For the Hawaiian EDventure Program, we are always aiming in that direction. Are we perfect…no, but are we growing into the full definition of a sustainable tourism product… YES, most definitely. With a concentration on authenticity, cultural preservation, eco-ecology and the perpeptuation of our Hawaiian tradions, I definitely think that Hawaiian EDventure can be definied as a truly sustainable tourism model. Another measurement of a truly sustainable tourism program is the effect the program has on the community. Are the activities compatible, does it bring economic growth, are local vendors being featured, does the program give back to the community? I think that EDventure can say YES to all of these measurements and, again, we should CELEBRATE and acknowledge those programs that are making the effort and demonstrating strides in the area of sustainable tourism.
Good presentation here
http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/tourism/documents/annex_iii.pdf
This document offers some tools for evaluating ventures in terms of sustainability:
http://www.unep.fr/shared/publications/pdf/DTIx1136xPA-TowardstripleimpactEN.pdf
Maybe go for a listing here:
http://destinet.ew.eea.europa.eu/stakeholders/knowledge_net/accademia
Wikipedia Resources (good links at bottom):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_tourism
An plenty more to read here (never seems to end):
http://www.unep.fr/scp/education/materials.htm
You’ve got a winning combination. Go Big!
Much Mahalo Brent !!! Your links are so helpful ! Bravo ! Please, don’t hesitate to share more information like these
Aloha
“ECO-TOURISM”
JUST A MARKETING GIMMICK OR FOR REAL?
THE HONOLULU ADVERTISER (6/23/93)
From Ira Rohter, Political Science Department University of Hawaii
“The State’s single-minded fixation on mass tourism has led to unbalanced economic development and grossly inflated housing and living costs. Tourism today creates mostly low-paying jobs and attracts large number of migrants to fill these jobs. Massive growth has overburdened public services, while polluting and damaging the environment. The commercialization and overwhelming of native Hawaiian cultural practices and identity is a disgrace. And our political process is too much tainted by corrupt links between developers and politicians, the old land-and-power connection”
“If we are to genuinely solve these problems we must adopt a new form of tourism, and fundamentally change Hawaii’s economic philosophy. The growth-at-any-cost strategies embraced by Hawaii’s leadership since the 1960s must be replaced by goals appropriate for the 21st century.”
“Environmental balance is one of the first principles of sustainability. Genuine eco-tourism must protect each island’s unique land and ocean ecologies, not destroy them. All facilities must conserve water and energy, and promote the recycling of waste and the use of renewable energy sources.”
“To minimize its impact on the natural and human ecology, genuine eco-tourism must be decentralized and small. Facilities must fit into, but not dominate, the area’s environment. Small hotels, lodges, inns and Bed & Breakfasts, are preferred to massive resort complexes and huge high-rises.”
“In accord with the principles of economic democracy, Islanders must participate more in the direction and ownership of eco-tourist enterprises. Minimally this calls for a partnership in management and sharing of profits of resorts and associated businesses, since local communities bear the brunt of ill-effects of development while receiving few benefits. At best, the community itself or local hui should own and manage the business.”
Eco-tourism’s local emphasis means Isle employees and products are used as much as possible. With supplies bought locally, more of the money that tourists spend would stays in the islands, not just “leak out” into offshore pockets. My research shows that about 50% of tourism income flows immediately out of Hawaii’s economy.
“Eco-tourism must be based on each island’s unique history and environment, not on the opulence and extravagance and architectural mishmash associated with “world class” resorts. Native ways are strengthened, not distorted or debased.”
“In my book A Green Hawaii: Sourcebook for Development Alternatives I lay out in detail a number of examples of this new kind of tourism. They include: Hawaiian Cultural Parks, Plantation Villages, small-scale facilities such as Bed & Breakfasts and small inns, farm tourism, home-grown learning-oriented tours, and many others.”
“Such genuine eco-tourism will attract a new class of visitors who travel, often with their families, for the opportunity to experience diverse cultures, natural beauty, and rich learning. We in Hawaii are fortunate that we can provide an extraordinary setting for this “new breed” of environmentally sensitive, learning-oriented travelers.”
“But the question remains: Will the powerful political and economic forces presently in place in Hawaii allow the kind of changes I have outlined?”
See the original article:
http://www2.hawaii.edu/~irohter/Eco-TourismArticle.htm
Dr Ira Rother passed away…
Since we are using Dr Rother’s thoughts to bring expertize to our comments on sustainability, we attempted to connect with him Unfortunately, we just learned that he passed away 2 weeks ago and wanted to pay tribute to his contribution in this area.
HawaiianEDventure’s team