The planning authority, such as the government, plays a large role in promoting sustainable tourism through planning and funding infrastructure like airports and roads. They also set up tourism promotion agencies and raise environmental awareness among visitors. However, some less developed countries face challenges enforcing regulations and protecting lands due to lack of funds. While authorities can help, promoting sustainable tourism requires efforts from all stakeholders, including local communities, businesses, and tourists.

1. “The planning authority plays the largest role in promoting sustainable
tourism.” How far do you agree with the statement? Support your answer
using evidence. [8m]
I agree with this statement to a large extent that the planning authority play a
large role in promoting sustainable tourism. Planning authorities such as the
government play a crucial role in promoting tourism in their country.
Government are involved in planning, funding and building infrastructure
projects linked to tourism, such as airports , roads and ports . They also play major
role in ensuring the safety and security of the sites that tourists frequently visit. In
addition, the government also set up agencies that plan strategies to help promote
tourism in their country. For example, Singapore government set up agency like the
Singapore Tourism Board (STB). STB is a government agency that promotes
Singapore as a tourist destination.
Government can also promote sustainable tourism by raising awareness of
conservation issues for visitors with posters and leaflets at tourist information and
visitor centres.This will impose sense of authority on tourists to be a responsible
individual in the hosting country. Governments also play an important role in
educating the locals in ensuring that locals are educated with the correct methods so
as there is no harm caused to the environment or leaving negative impacts in culture
and society
However, planning authorities are often inadequate to make tourism sustainable
alone. For some less developed countries like Kenya, they face difficulties enforcing
laws and regulations on proper tourist behaviour and they lack funds to employ park
rangers to patrol reserved areas.
At times, a balance between environmental protection and other aspects of
tourism may be hard to find. For example, the Penan people in the Gunung Mulu
National Park in M’sia, had been displaced when the government declared the area
as a protected area.
Locals also play a part in conservation of their local culture and natural resources.
When local communities benefit from tourism, they are encouraged and felt
responsible to protect their cultural and natural resources. Locals protect their culture
and natural resources Locals work with tourism businesses, helping them to find
ways to contribute to the protection of the places on which they depend. In addition
when locals help to conserve natural resources, they contribute in sustaining tourism
as they allow the tourists to enjoy the resources provided in the country they visit.
Promoting sustainable tourism requires all the stakeholders to play a role.
Even though planning authorities do play a greater role in promoting it, they also
need the support of the other stakeholders such as the local businesses, tour
operators and the tourists themselves.