Sustainable tourism is about finding the right balance between economic growth, social equity, and environmental protection. At Fair Tourism, we believe tourism should benefit people, planet, and profit, known as the triple bottom line, to ensure travel remains positive for everyone involved and for future generations.
None of this is as obvious as it sounds. Because tourism generates a lot of money and can bring many people jobs, this is often the priority. There is nothing to slow down the development of tourism. Infrastructure, hotels and other facilities are being built non-stop. Nature has to make way for this unbridled growth. If there were limits to the number of roads or hotels, this would lead to a loss of income. And this should, of course, be avoided as well.
Not to mention, environmental pollution is caused by air traffic, waste, and water pollution. By wanting to make a lot of profit in the short term, tourism is not possible in the long term. Tourism depends on beautiful nature, clean air and clean water.
What does people, planet, and profit mean in tourism?
People: Empowering Local Communities
Sustainable tourism supports local communities by creating jobs, promoting fair wages, and respecting cultural traditions. Community-based tourism gives locals a voice and direct economic benefits, empowering them to preserve their heritage and improve their quality of life.
Planet: Protecting the Environment
Protecting the environment is essential. Eco-friendly tourism practices help conserve natural resources, reduce pollution, and support wildlife. Responsible tourism operators minimise their carbon footprint, use renewable energy, and encourage conservation through education and action.
Profit: Ensuring Economic Viability
Tourism drives economic growth, but profit should never come at the expense of people or the planet. Sustainable tourism ensures that financial gains are shared fairly, reinvested in local economies, and used to support long-term environmental and social initiatives.
Tourism and nature: friends or enemies?
Tourism and nature have a love-hate relationship: they cannot live without or with each other. Tourism, therefore, has many negative effects on nature and the environment, but fortunately, it can also contribute to nature conservation. How? Tourism is one of the only industries that can keep a nature reserve in its original state. Industries such as agriculture, logging and oil extraction damage nature. Small-scale ecotourism, on the other hand, can preserve nature in its original state through entrance fees and permits, but also through activities in and around the area.
Think of hotels or guest houses, restaurants, souvenir shops, and bicycle or horse rental. Also think of guides, park managers, drivers and porters who earn money from tourism. You can conclude from this that nature can mainly generate money if the people who live in and around the area also benefit from it. If tourism generates money and work, support will also be created among local residents. People will be committed to preserving their culture and traditions.
Local involvement
So it is clear that tourism and nature are each other’s friends and at the same time each other’s enemies. This also characterises the relationship between tourism and the local population at the destination. When we talk about sustainable development, most attention is often paid to nature & environmental aspects, which isn’t surprising because the effects on this are fairly easy to measure. Socio-cultural effects are much more difficult to measure and therefore less tangible.
However, given that sustainable development involves a balance between the three Ps (people, planet, profit), attention to socio-cultural aspects is just as important as attention to the economy, nature & environment. On the one hand, the local population can suffer from tourism; on the other hand, they can reap the benefits. When tourism is developed at a particular destination, governments, project developers, and hotel chains often determine its course.
Certainly, in developing countries, the role of the local population in this process is minimal. For example, we have no consultation rounds in the Netherlands. Locals are often not involved in tourism development planning. They only come into the picture much later, when work is needed in the hotels. This mainly concerns low-paid jobs as a cleaner and a gardener. Management is brought in from abroad. Fortunately, there are more and more training and education programs that educate the local population to work at all levels within the tourism sector.
The Effects of Tourism
In destinations where tourism is rapidly growing and taking on massive forms, negative effects can arise that are difficult to resolve. Think of waste problems, water scarcity, noise pollution and general impoverishment. Locals suffer from this. Often, no money is made available to solve these problems. Not only is the destination responsible for this, but also the tourist himself: “the polluter pays” principle.
However, this is still a new concept in the tourism sector. If visitor numbers fall because the destination is no longer beautiful, the government and the travel industry will only start thinking about repair work. By refurbishing the destination (cleaning up the mess, placing new facilities, designating green zones, etc.), a new image can be created to attract tourists. The introduction of an eco-tax to carry out remedial work would keep any destination attractive to tourists and also provide a healthy living environment for the locals.
Especially in developing countries, the contrast between “hosts” (local population) and “guests” (tourists) is very large. The tourist, hung with photo cameras and jewellery, is often seen as a walking money pouch. This can result in crimes against tourists in poor countries. A city like Nairobi is called “Nairobbery” for a reason. Tourists can also encourage begging. How often does it happen that tourists throw candy and pens out of the bus during a tour? No wonder children start begging. It makes more money than going to school. If you want to give something as a tourist, it is best to do so through schools or other development projects.
Cultural expressions, such as dances and ceremonies, are often only performed for the benefit of the tourist. Often, these traditions are no longer part of contemporary culture, but money can be made from tourism. This is called “staged authenticity”. A good example of staged authenticity is the cultural dances in Bali, Indonesia. For the dances, beautiful costumes are put on, which are then replaced by T-shirts and jeans. But also look closer to home: all foreigners who come to our country identify the Netherlands as a country full of tulips, cheese, windmills and clogs.
Folk dances are still performed for tourists in Volendam. But does this represent our contemporary culture? Little, but that image yields millions of tourists a year. And what is wrong with certain cultural expressions being artificially preserved?
The Impacts of Tourism: Challenges and Solutions
Tourism can bring both positive and negative effects. While it creates jobs and income, unchecked growth can cause environmental damage, cultural loss, and social inequality. Examples include:
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Environmental pollution from air travel and waste
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Overcrowding and strain on local resources
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Cultural traditions staged for tourists, risking authenticity
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Economic benefits are not reaching local communities
Solutions:
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Implementing eco-taxes to fund environmental restoration
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Supporting community-based tourism that empowers locals
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Encouraging responsible travel behaviours among tourists
The arrival of community-based tourism
A successful form of tourism, in which tourists and the local population interact with each other, is “community-based tourism”. This mainly takes place in small villages in rural areas, where tourists stay for a day or several days and experience the life of the local residents. Accommodations for tourists are built in the local style, resembling the houses or huts of local residents as much as possible. Tourists engage in local activities such as preparing food, hiking or fishing.
And if there are special occasions, such as a wedding, tourists are also allowed to attend. Because tourists are very close to the local life of the population in this way, there is respect and awe for this way of life. In addition, tourists pay for their trip directly to the local population, who can use this money for social projects, such as a water pump, a hospital or a school. For example, tourism can contribute to poverty reduction.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About People, Planet, Profit in Tourism
What is the triple bottom line in tourism?
The triple bottom line refers to balancing people, planet, and profit to ensure tourism is sustainable and benefits everyone involved.
How does tourism impact local communities?
Tourism can create jobs and fund community projects, but if not managed well, it can also lead to social inequality and cultural loss.
What are examples of eco-friendly tourism practices?
Examples include using renewable energy, reducing waste, supporting wildlife conservation, and choosing responsible tour operators.
How can I make my travels more sustainable?
Travellers can reduce their impact by minimising resource use, supporting local communities, and choosing eco-certified accommodations.
Why is community-based tourism important?
It ensures that tourism benefits are shared directly with local people, helping to preserve culture and improve living standards.
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