The interim report under the research topic "Sustainable Tourism Development"

1. Sustainable Tourism Development
Kavindu Jayawardana
Department of Interdesciplinary Studies, Faculty of
Information Technology,
University of Moratuwa,
Katubedda, Moratuwa, Sri Lanka
mail.kavindu@gmail.com
Abstract
Tourism is one of the world’s fastest growing industries
and is a major source of income for many countries. It
can have both positive and negative impacts towards the
image of the particular destinations tourism image.
Sustainable tourism development attempts to find the
balance between Environment, Economic and Culture to
create an improved quality of life for the host
community. The paper analyses about the practices,
theories andtrends of SustainableTourism Development
Key Words: Sustainable development, tourism, Tourism
development
I. INTRODUCTION
Over the past few decades, tourism experienced
continued expansion and diversification, becoming
one of the largest and fastest growing economic
sectors in the world. Many new destinations have
emerged apart from the traditional favorites of Europe
and North America. Tourism has affected directly and
indirectly for 9% of the GDP globally and every single
employee of 11 employees engage in a tourism related
job. According to the Statistics of World Tourism
Organization (WTO), they predict 1.8 billion of
international tourists in 2030. [1]
According to the definition of World Tourism
Organization (WTO) Sustainable Tourism
Development is "Tourism that takesfull account of its
current and future economic, social and
environmental impacts, addressing the needs of
visitors, the industry, and the environment and host
communities" [3]
“Sustainable tourism development guidelines and
management practices are applicable to all forms of
tourism in all types of destinations, including mass
tourism and the various niche tourism segments.
Sustainability principles refer to the environmental,
economic, and socio-cultural aspects of tourism
development, and a suitable balance must be
established between these three dimensions to
guarantee its long-term sustainability.”[3] Also it
includes a positive,and integrated approach to tourism
development, which involves resource management
and working together with stakeholders for the long-
term viability and quality of the social, economic and
environmental resources.
Even though attempts have been taken to develop
tourism in a sustainable manner, they have issues in
lack of quality, reliability, technical content,maturity,
equity, and effectiveness.
II. SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
A specific definition for sustainable tourism is not yet
defined. But the definitions share some common
attributes such as quality, continuity, and balance.
Quality expect providing a quality experience for
visitors while improving the quality of life of the host
community and protecting the quality of the
environment. Continuity means ensuring the
continuity of natural resources upon which it is based
and the continuity ofthe culture of the host community
with satisfying experience for visitors. Balance
expects the needs of the tourism industry, supporters
of the environment, and the local community and the
destinations. These goals include the following
 To improve the quality of host community
 To preserve the environment and natural
resources for future
 To protect the quality of the environment by
maintaining biological diversity and
ecological systems.
 To ensure the cultural integrity and social
cohesion of communities
 To provide a high quality experience for
visitors.
Also tourism planning, development, and operation
should be part of sustainable development strategies.
They should incorporate several sectors, involving
different government, private corporations, citizen
groups and individuals. Those corporations should
follow ethical and other principles that respect the
culture and environment of the area, the traditional
way of life, the community and traditional behavior,
and political patterns.

2. A. Socio-cultural Impact
Most ofthe tourist attractions and activities are related
to both the natural environment and historic and
cultural heritage of a particular area. If these resources
are destroyed tourism cannot thrive. Maintaining the
cultural traditions and ethnic identities is another
important element of conserving cultural heritage of
an area. Below factors can consider as pillars of
sustainable tourism in the aspect of socio-cultural
background.
a) Community involvement
Community should be encourage to become involved
in the development involved in the development
process. Even though the community participation
may have limitations depending on the destination.
Especially in developing countries.
b) Cultural exchange
Culture plays a major role in attracting tourists to a
destination. Tourism demand can also affect cultural
festivals and ceremonies. Tourist interest in cultural
activities can also result in invasions of residents’
privacy.
c) Cultural interpretation
One of the main objectives of cultural interpretation is
to assist visitors in developing a keener awareness,
appreciation, and understanding ofthe area and culture
of the people they are visiting. Goal of community
interpretation is to link people with sites, stories and
info ration about an area. Also this provides a more
enriching experience for visitors and helps them to
differentiate one destination fromanother.
B. Environmental Impact
Although it is recognized that tourism can be
beneficial to the natural environment by promoting
environment conservation,tourism also has a negative
impact on the environment. Governments should pay
more attention to environment protection. Most
tourists wish to visit attractive areas which are clean
and not polluted. A high level of environmental quality
is needed for the local residents as well. Tourism can
make local residents more aware of the quality of their
environment and support maintenance where
necessary.
C. Carrying Capacity
It represents the intensity of the use a certain
environment can stand over a determined period of
time without damaging its sustainable potentialfor the
respective use. Actually it is a method to establish
critical or maximum values acceptable to use which,
once exceeded, have a negative influence and damage
normal development. There are types of carrying
capacity
a) Environmental/Ecological capacity
Number of visitors that can be accommodate before
damage to be caused to the environment or ecosystem.
b) Economic Capacity
The number of tourists that can be welcomed before
the local community start to suffer economic
problems.
c) Social Capacity
The number of people beyond which social disruption
damage will occur
d) Infrastructure Capacity
The number of tourists that can be accommodate by
the destination infrastructure.
III. SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES IN TOURISM
Sustainability practices are becoming increasingly
common. Individuals and corporations have started to
think about it and debate it more frequently.
Sustainability issues have become an essential part of
the social and political sector in most countries.
Corporate and professionalethics should emphasized.
All stakeholders including local communities should
get togetherand discuss this in an open discussion.A
special concern should pay on educating the young
people on the environmental issues and instilling the
values in their minds seems an essential factor. Also
some issues have been identified as some common
issues related to sustainable tourismdevelopment.
- Exclusive nature of tourism is a major issue.
Nature of tourism is different from a
destination to another destination and
opportunities should uniquely identified to
implement better strategies. Investment
activities in accessing the product has been
limited.
- Also there is an issue between policy and the
practices. Sustainable tourism development
policies should align with community

3. participation and benefits arising from
tourism.
- Narrow definition of tourism is anotherissue.
There are many aspects of tourism related to
a particular destination and those aspects
should identified well. For an example
concerning only on hotels should not be the
tourism should not be the policy.
- Resource management is also an important
issue. Resources are different from
destination to destination. Countries do not
identify their unique resources in tourism
planning which benefit in attracting more
visitors.
- Most of the participants do not have a clear
vision in sustainable tourismdevelopment
- Also there is not a visible intellectual
leadership. The concept have to deal with
fundamentals when it comes to the industry.
Even the researchers are focus on this
industry. Even most of the researches are
historical. [2]
IV. TREENDS IN SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
Now destination wise sustainable tourismis becoming
a populartopic with the issue of overdevelopment and
under development in some destinations. Now public
sectoris more corporate with the private sectorand the
combination and coordination leads sustainable
tourism in many destinations.
Indigenous and community tourism is becoming a
trend in many countries. By strengthening community
based tourism enterprises and support the creation of
new ones, try to find new ventures marketing their
unique resources in the destination. Prepare and
implement instruments and methodologies for
territorial tourismmanagement is anothertrend. Some
countries prepare and implement strategies to market
and promote national tourism supply in the internal
market in the context of an intercultural and economic
coordination.
V. ACKNOWLEDGMENT
I am depply grateful to my supervisor Mrs. M.B.
Mufitha for giving her guidance and support for
carrying out my research on this topic. Her Guidance
always motivate to do this research effectively.
VI. REFERENCES
[1] http://mkt.unwto.org/publication/unwto-tourism-
highlights-2013-edition
UNWTO Tourism Highlights 2013
[2] Sustainable tourism development in the
Caribbean: Practical challenges
Lynn C. Harrison, School of Tourism and Tourism
Management, Ryersin University, Toronto, Ontario,
Canada
Chandana Jayawardana, The university of the West
Indies, Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies
[3] http://sdt.unwto.org/content/about-us-5, The
World Tourism Organization powered by United
Nations
[4] Sustainable tourism development in Canada:
Practical Challenges,
Chandana Jayawardana, Canadian School of
Management, St Catharines, Ontario, Canada
[5] Strategies for the development of sustainable
tourism in the Amazon rainforest of Bolivia
Sandra Lima Cortez, Vice-Ministry of Tourism,La
Paz, Bolivia
[6] The development of sustainable tourism in the
Guianas
Donald Sinclair, University of Guyana, East Coast
Demeran, Guyana
Chandana Jayawardana, The University of the West
Indies, Jamaica