Pia Funch & Trina Shepherd, LHI Tourism Association, The Lord Howe Island Signal
Our next busy season has already kicked off with a bang. We have some great opportunities coming up in the next little while, starting with the inaugural LHITA Annual General Meeting.
The date for this year’s AGM has been set for Monday 24 October at 5:00 pm at the Public Hall. To vote or stand as an LHITA committee member at the AGM you must be a financial member. If you would like to be a nominee, please submit your nomination in writing prior to 24 October, 2022, by email at tourism@lordhoweisland.info.
With 1 billion travellers worldwide and accounting for 9% of the global GDP, the tourism industry is considered the largest industry in the world. Its continuing growth has prominently elevated the industry’s role in achieving socio-economic development on a global, regional, national and local scale, inevitably linking its management and planning to areas such as policy making, environmental conservation and economic growth. In recent years, sustainable aims have been added to the list of tourism tasks. Developing and promoting a sustainable tourism destination is now a focal point for many destinations and the concept of sustainability is inevitably forming part of most strategies, plans and marketing of development related to tourism.
What is sustainable tourism?
The concept of sustainability and sustainable development is relatively new. In fact, it was not on any international agenda until the 1970s. Its brief but turbulent history has proven to show the rapid and adaptive development of the term, which has become one of the most important concepts of our time. However, the current issue with the concept of sustainability is that it is here, there, and everywhere. Sustainability means everything and nothing. The many definitions, principles and phrases associated with sustainability can be confusing and lead to the understanding of sustainability being open to interpretation. Nevertheless, the importance of fostering and promoting sustainable tourism is recognised by many tourism destinations as it has become widely accepted that the future of tourism will be sustainable or not at all.
The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) define: “The sustainable development of tourism is tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities”.
In line with this, sustainable tourism is considered an industry that establishes a suitable balance between the environmental, economic, and socio-cultural aspects of tourism development. It attempts to minimise the overall impact of tourism on the environment and local culture so that it will be available for future generations, while contributing to generating income, employment, and education. Furthermore, it plays an important role in conserving biodiversity and local ecosystems. Sustainable tourism also embodies the complete tourism experience, including concern for economic, social, and environmental issues as well as attention to improving visitor experiences.
It is important to note that all forms of tourism can be more sustainable. Whether you’re a cruise ship, a restaurant, a tour operator, or a traveller. The concept of sustainable tourism is therefore a concept with the objective of making all tourism more sustainable and should refer to a condition, not a specific type of tourism.
Achieving sustainable tourism goals on Lord Howe Island
Sustainable tourism goals can only be achieved through local expertise and collaboration. The AGM provides a great opportunity to share and discuss ideas including sustainable tourism goals for this new season. We will also go through the details of all our marketing and PR initiatives and we look forward to hearing your feedback.
Defining sustainable tourism will help us develop a strong framework for how sustainable principles can be incorporated into our strategic goals, our Destination Management Plan and our familiarisation project with the mission to: Deliver sustainable and economic growth of tourism, which respects the Island’s culture and history, and which is in line with the overall objectives of DNSW. A world leader in best practices of sustainable tourism.
Thank you.
This article appeared in The Lord Howe Island Signal, 30 September 2022.
