Dreamscapes Travel & Lifestyle Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dreamscapes.ca/i/873989
DREAMSCAPES FALL 2017 12 While Canadians have been navel-gazing in celebration of 150 years of Confederation, it seems we overlooked the fact that the UN declared 2017 the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development. But what does that mean to us as travellers or tourists? So many labels have crept under this umbrella of tourism: sustainable, green, responsible, ecotourism, voluntourism, geo- tourism, etc. Perhaps it's the terminology we find confusing. What's the difference? According to the Global Development Research Center (GDRC), the sustainable tourism industry is committed to have a low impact on the environment and local culture, while generating long-term employment and improving working conditions for local residents; maintaining a high level of positive, meaningful experiences for locals, tourism organizations and tourists; and raising awareness about issues and promoting sustainable tourism practices among them. The World Commission on Environment and Development defines sustainable tourism simply as "meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." Responsible or green tourism are simply different words for sus- tainable tourism. Responsible tourism was adopted by the industry because "sustainability" was overused and not understood. Set forth by Ceballos-Lascurain in 1993, the official definition of ecotourism refers to "environmentally responsible travel and visita- tion to relatively undisturbed natural areas, in order to enjoy, study and appreciate nature (and any accompanying cultural features—both past and present), that promotes conservation, has low visitor impact, and provides for beneficially active socio-economic involvement of local populations." While all forms of tourism can become more sus- tainable, not all forms of tourism can be ecotourism. Coined by National Geographic Traveler, geotourism is similar to sustainable tourism but focuses on the "sense of place" rather than industry efforts. Voluntourism is simply a form of travel whereby travellers vol- unteer on community projects. In 2002, the CEC Network reported Canada led the world in sustainable tourism, how- ever, in light of the high unemployment rates in the hospitality and tourism sector during winter months, I doubt this is still the case. According to the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC), travel is a $90.3 billion sector—nearly two per cent of Canada's GDP—and Destination Canada's advertising budget is $99.5 million for 2017. The UN World Tourism Organization reports nature-based tourism accounts for about 20 per cent of international travel today and will continue to grow—especially among millennials who are more likely to pay extra for sustainable services and products than their parents are. Whatever you choose to call it, sustainable tourism is BIG business—here and abroad. Now, the question is how can individuals make a positive differ- ence and honour our principles as we explore Canada and the world? Keeping the above definitions in mind, the key aspect of sus- tainable travel is to choose your destination and accommodation wisely. Sustainable travel requires research into the destination's offerings and the business practices of those offerings. Some ques- tions you might ask include: Do some businesses seem to cater only to tourists? Do vendors peddle tacky souvenirs as opposed to tradi- tional handicrafts? Do restaurants offer food that tourists like or expect as opposed to typical local cuisine? Other simple suggestions include educating ourselves on local culture, traditions, language and music; recycling and taking unused amenities such as soap and toothpaste with us when we leave; sup- porting local businesses and buying local products; packing less when we travel; and using environmentally-friendly products. More recommendations are listed at sustainabletourism.net/sustainable- tourism/travel-tips-responsible-travel-tips. It really doesn't take much more than a little thoughtfulness to reduce our carbon footprint and leave the world a better place. DS DS FROM MY TRAVEL BAG >> BY DONNA S. VIEIRA editor@dreamscapes.ca