Sustainable Destination Management
Strategies in the OIC Member Countries
38
95% of the tourism industry businesses are small or medium enterprises (SMEs), the
environmental impact of such practices by large companies is minimal. However, large hotel and
tourism companies can have significant impact on sustainability due to their wide global supply
chains. Some hotel chains have used supply chain analysis to identify suppliers that have
negative impacts on their local areas. One example is the Accor Hotels Group, which altered its
food purchase practices in favor of preserving water in developing countries.118 In 2012, Accor
launched its PLANET 21 program that pledges 21 commitments in favor of sustainable
development. These include reducing carbon dioxide emissions and energy use as well as
managing water usage and improving waste recycling practices at all their hotels by 2015.119
The tourism industry has led sustainability efforts in some areas such as in the aviation sector
where industry bodies coordinated efforts to reduce emissions. The International Air
Transportation Association (IATA) has encouraged efforts in developing biofuels; It has also
supported the UN-sponsored Carbon Offset and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation.120
The tourism sector can also contribute to sustainability through the development of innovative
products that improve tourist experiences as well as help conservation efforts. An example of
this is the ‘bogshoe’ walks at Soomaa National Park in Estonia where tour operators came up
with the idea of tourists using snowshoes to enable them to explore the Soomaa National Park
and walk over the delicate bog vegetation without damaging it, thus providing a special service
to tourists and conserving the bogs and wildlife. Tourism industry players have also been
involved in creating awareness of sustainability issues and encouraging certification schemes
such as in the case of the PAN Parks Foundation, established by a Dutch tourism company in
collaboration with the World Wildlife Fund. This effort offers sustainable tourism guidance and
certification schemes for parks in Europe. Pan Parks Certification provides certified parks with
marketing, promotion, and networking opportunities through the Pan Parks Network
communication channels.121
Tourists are particularly important to sustainability since they are the main source of revenue
for the sector as well as the main consumers of tourism assets, thus their behavior is directly
linked to sustainability issues. Increasing the awareness of tourists about sustainability issues
at the destinations they visit is essential for persevering destination resources and enhancing
the sustainability of tourism. Furthermore, most tourists fly to their destinations, and therefore
have a massive impact globally, if not at the actual destinations they visit. Tourists also use the
internet and other digital devices, which have a significant carbon footprint, to live stream their
holiday activities.122 In some destinations, tourists have taken a proactive role whether by
providing financial support through voluntary contributions or by helping in monitoring the
environmental impact of tourism. In Argentina, tourists were invited to help guides in the Iguazu
Forest Natural Reserve to fill forms registering wild fauna and flora on their tours of the
reserve.123
118 The Economist Intelligence Unit. (2017). The sustainable tourism index: Enhancing the global travel environment .
Retrieved from
119 UNWTO. (2012). Destination wetlands supporting sustainable tourism. Retrieved from
120 The Economist Intelligence Unit. (2017). The sustainable tourism index: Enhancing the global travel environment .
Retrieved from
121 UNWTO. (2012). Destination wetlands supporting sustainable tourism. Retrieved from
122 BBC. (n.d.). Environmental implications. Retrieved from etc.
123 UNWTO. (2013). Sustainable tourism for development guidebook. UNWTO.