Sustainable Destination Management
Strategies in the OIC Member Countries
129
Policy recommendations related to each of the sustainable destination management
parameters:
1. Supportive Regulatory Environment – National level
Governments need to establish and enforce policies that promote the adoption of
sustainable tourism practices: These regulations should cover land use and zoning
regulation, maximum carrying capacities, environmental protection, employee rights,
tourists’ health and safety, the protection of local communities, the use of non-renewable
resources and equal access.
Governments to impose sanctions and incentives conducive to sustainable tourism
practices: Sanctions should be imposed for non-compliance, and incentives (for example,
tax cuts for use of renewable energy, energy efficient hotels, etc.) should be offered for
compliance.
For example, in New Zealand, the Resource Management Act sets national environmental
standards for regulating the management of natural resources including land use. In
Germany, the Act on the Assessment of Environmental Impacts sets guidelines for
assessing the environmental impact of projects. Whereas in Jordan, the Handcraft,
Traditional, and Common Manufacturing, and Trading Bylaw provides guidelines for the
protection of the Jordanian traditional and cultural heritage. In Uganda, the Uganda
Wildlife Bill provides guidelines for the conservation and sustainable management of
wildlife.
2. Stakeholder Engagement – Destination/national level
Establish an umbrella organization that encompasses government sectors, DMOs,
and tourismbusinesses to streamline sustainable tourismefforts: Stakeholders need
to be formally engaged through an umbrella organization that encourages membership
from public and private stakeholders. The organization should seek to consult and engage
stakeholders in various stages of planning and implementation of sustainable tourism
initiatives, as well as encourage collaboration among stakeholders.
For example, the Danish National Tourism Forum has a chairman from the Ministry of
Industry, Business and Financial Affairs and members from Visit Denmark, Danish
regions, the tourism industry, as well as tourism researchers. In Italy, the Standing
Committee for the Promotion of Tourism, collaborated through a series of conferences
and meetings to develop a new National Strategic Plan for Tourism for the period 2017-
2022.
As highlighted in Chapter 3, while the OIC countries featured in this report have
organizations that align the broader tourism industry with sustainability efforts, they fall
short in the process of ongoing engagement and consultation.
Member Countries should consider forming strategic alliances with entities such as
airlines: Some aspects of tourism sustainability are outside the control of governments.
Air travel for example results in devastating environmental impact, and there are steps
that airlines that take to reduce its negative impact. Air New Zealand for example invested
in new models of fuel-efficient aircrafts and is using biofuel for ground transportation in
a commitment to reduce carbon emissions by 15%. The airline also established the Air