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Ruiz, Julian Andre P.

Escander, Nur Mohammad Yusuf Deljan C.

Austria, Niccolo Amadeuz P.

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Social Development Goal 8. (n.d) https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal8

The Travel Foundation (2016). What is sustainable tourism? https://www.thetravelfoundation.org.uk/resources-categories/what-is-sustainable-tourism/

Krishnakoli M. (2020, February 3).

Sustainable Tourism, a Buzzword in the Travel Industry? India Out Bound. https://indiaoutbound.info/market-analysis/trends/destinations-turn-to-sustainability/

Katie D. (2018, April 3).

The rise of over-tourism: How your vacation could be harming popular travel spots. Global News. https://globalnews.ca/news/4117731/over-tourism-sustainable-travel/

Aurora B. (2019, October 7).

7 PHL tourist destinations being built as sustainable tourism showcase communities. Good News Pilipinas. https://www.goodnewspilipinas.com/7-phl-tourist-destinations-being-built-as-sustainable-tourism-showcase-communities/

Philippine News Agency. (2021, June 5).

Adopting sustainable tourism for the environment. Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1142666

SDG Tracker. (n.d.).
Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all. SDG Tracker. https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2021/goal-08/

Ben V. (2021, March 15). PH ranks poorly in tourism sustainability, resilience indices. Inquirer.net. https://business.inquirer.net/319499/ph-ranks-poorly-in-tourism-sustainability-resilience-indices

Al Jazeera English. (2020, September 29).

COVID-19 leads to significant job losses in the Philippines. Al Jazeera English. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lw16DeB6zns

GMA News. (2021, August 10).

Philippine economy still far from pre-pandemic levels —PSA data. 24 Oras. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IK4LdHw163A

Roberto G. (2020, September 28).

SPECIAL REPORT. Davao City’s Lumads: their way of life has prepared them for COVID-19 challenges. MindaNews. https://www.mindanews.com/special-reports/2020/09/special-report-davao-citys-lumads-their-way-of-life-has-prepared-them-for-covid-19-challenges/

Anja von der R. (2020, September 25). Sustainable Tourism after COVID-19. WIPO Green. https://www3.wipo.int/wipogreen/en/news/2020/news_0034.html

Felix S. (2021, March 9).

Coronavirus: How can travel be more sustainable post-pandemic? DW. https://www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-how-can-travel-be-more-sustainable-post-pandemic/a-56784730

Sustainable Tourism. (n.d). Sustaining Tourism. https://sustainabletourism.net/

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Tourism will never be completely sustainable as every industry has impacts, but it can work towards becoming more sustainable.

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Tourism will never be completely sustainable as every industry has impacts, but it can work towards becoming more sustainable.

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A balance must be found between limits and usage so that continuous changing, monitoring and planning ensure that tourism can be managed. This requires thinking long-term (10, 20+ years) and realizing that change is often cumulative, gradual and irreversible.

Economic, social and environmental aspects of sustainable development must include the interests of all stakeholders including indigenous people, local communities, visitors, industry and government.

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Sustainable Tourism | Sustainable & Responsible Planning and Management for the Tourism Industry

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A balance must be found between limits and usage so that continuous changing, monitoring and planning ensure that tourism can be managed. This requires thinking long-term (10, 20+ years) and realizing that change is often cumulative, gradual and irreversible.

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Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labor in all its forms.

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We ordinary citizens can post about sustainable tourism in social media so people would know what are the benefits we could get if we promote sustainable tourism in short for public awareness. Encourage oneself and other citizens to donate to organizations that may help us achieve this SDG.

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The government can help us attain this SDG is by promoting rules and policies that encourage entrepreneurship and job creation. The government can also help us by transparent, adequate, and properly enforced laws.

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A balance must be found between limits and usage so that continuous changing, monitoring and planning ensure that tourism can be managed.

Economic, social and environmental aspects of sustainable development must include the interests of all stakeholders including indigenous people, local communities, visitors, industry and government.

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The pandemic has forced the tourism sector to shift its focus to resiliency, sustainability and interconnectedness among diverse stakeholders in the sector.

"The coronavirus pandemic has been a global shock moment that has led to a rethink in the tourism industry, which is so accustomed to success," said Martin Balas of the Center for Sustainable Tourism (ZENAT) at the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development.

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By its very nature, tourism values the things that are most precious in our world: stunning landscapes, wildlife, history, culture and people. Tourism can be a catalyst for growth in the local economy, providing good quality jobs, opportunities for enterprise and funds for conservation. But if it is not managed well, tourism can have negative impacts on local communities and environments, creating long term problems for local residents, which can ultimately lead to the decline of tourism in the destination.

Over the years, the tourism policy of the Philippines has always reflected trends and developments in the travel industry, and ecotourism has been a particular focus due to its significant role in minimizing the impacts of tourism and the over-development of the country’s environment and natural resources. This is one of the reasons why the government has enacted tourism and environmental laws and has adopted a national strategy for ecotourism.

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As more regions and countries develop their tourism industry, it produces significant impacts on natural resources, consumption patterns, pollution and social systems. The need for sustainable planning and management is imperative for the industry to survive as a whole.

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As more regions and countries develop their tourism industry, it produces significant impacts on natural resources, consumption patterns, pollution and social systems. The need for sustainable planning and management is imperative for the industry to survive as a whole.

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The rise of over-tourism: How your vacation could be harming popular travel spots

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The rise of over-tourism: How your vacation could be harming popular travel spots

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Tourism can be the lifeblood of a country’s economy. But as travelling becomes more accessible and affordable, more people are flocking to popular tourist destinations hoping to take in the Mona Lisa, hike Mount Everest, or snorkel with sea turtles in Ecuador.

And it can have some devastating consequences on the environment.

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Tourism can be the lifeblood of a country's economy. But as travelling becomes more accessible and affordable, more people are flocking to popular tourist destinations hoping to take in the Mona Lisa, hike Mount Everest, or snorkel with sea turtles in Ecuador.

And it can have some devastating consequences on the environment.

"Tourism is a classic two-edged sword," said Jonathan Tourtellot, founder of the National Geographic Center for Sustainable Destinations. "It can help an economy but also can actually do damage to what is being visited."

Tourtellot calls it "over-tourism."

"Over-tourism is a new term that's been building over the last few decades, and simply means there are too many tourists," he said.
WATCH: Tourism dollars trump environmental concerns as Thailand's national water fight to go ahead
Tourism dollars trump environmental concerns as Thailand's national water fight to go ahead

As a result, cities and landmarks are capping how many visitors can flock to certain destinations to curb environmental degradation.

For example, tourists visiting the Pacific nation of Palau (home to pristine beaches and abundant sea life), have to sign an eco-pledge before entering the country - a move that authorities say will help curb ecological damage caused by the soaring numbers of tourists.

Here are some other popular destinations feeling the wrath of over-tourism.

Maya Beach, Thailand

Last week, Thailand announced it was closing a popular beach to tourists for at least three months as a way to reverse damage to the coral reef and sea life in the area.

The once "quiet" Maya Beach on Phi Phi Leh island jumped into popularity after its beauty was highlighted in the Hollywood film The Beach starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

The beach receives an average of 200 boats and 4,000 visitors each day. Recent surveys by a team led by marine biologists found a large part of the coral reefs around the area are gone and sea life has virtually disappeared.

The Thai government said the number of visitors on the beach was unsustainable. When the location reopens, government officials will enforce a daily quota of visitors.

Koh Tachai, Thailand

Another popular Thai bech, Koh Tachai, has been closed to the public for almost two years because of mass tourism.

Thailand's Department of Marine and Coastal Resources said that the effects of over-tourism, which saw more than 60 speedboats a day visiting the islands, were hurting natural resources and accelerating the dangerous coral bleaching process.

Boracay Island, Phillippines

The Philippines' Boracay Island attracts nearly two million domestic and foreign visitors every year because of its fine, sugary white sand, lively night scene and abundant water sports.

But at the end of April, it may close to travelers. This comes after Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte visited the popular tourist destination in February and called it a "cesspool."

Duterte said he has given the country's environment secretary six months to fix up the mess on Boracay island, which he said was overdeveloped and had become a "disaster," citing piles of uncollected garbage just 20-25 metres from the beach and sewage flowing into the sea.

Mount Everest, Nepal

Hundreds of tourists flock to Mount Everest every year in hopes of conquering the mountain. But the amount of people has also had a huge impact on the fragile environment. This is because climbers take oxygen bottles, food, plastic, and other products with them, and sometimes left those items behind.

It is a rule that mountaineers are required to bring back the waste they generate on they climb, but every year local guide still gathers hundreds of kilograms of garbage, according to the BBC.

Galápagos Islands, Ecuador

The Galápagos Islands, made famous for its huge number of unique species, has seen a huge increase in the number of visitors over the past few decades, making tourism a large source of income for Ecuador.
READ MORE: Statue of Liberty, Easter Island among World Heritage sites threatened by climate change
However, the growth in tourism has had an undeniable impact on the islands. For example, scientists discovered that a mosquito, which carries avian malaria and threatens the ecosystem of the islands, was being brought in by tourists.

"Few tourists realize the irony that their trip to the Galápagos is putting a strain on the very unspoiled beauty they are there to see," Tom Hall of the travel guide Lonely Planet told the Guardian.

Dubrovnik, Croatia

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The rise of over-tourism: How your vacation could be harming popular travel spots - National | Globalnews.ca

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Tourism can be the lifeblood of a country's economy. But as travelling becomes more accessible and affordable, more people are flocking to popular tourist destinations hoping to take in the Mona Lisa, hike Mount Everest, or snorkel with sea turtles in Ecuador. And it can have some devastating consequences on the environment.

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Adapting sustainable tourism for the environment

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Adapting sustainable tourism for the environment

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The number one asset of tourism is the country’s natural resources, and tourism establishments have a role in conserving these.

The DOT has revised the accreditation standards for hotels and resorts to incorporate environmental indicators in the star rating system of these types of accommodation establishments, aiming to encourage business owners to be more environment-friendly in their day-to-day operations.

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Costales Nature Farm [Photo courtesy of the Department of Tourism]

MANILA - In celebration of World Environment Day 2021 on June 5, the Department of Tourism (DOT) urged hotels and resorts to become DOT-accredited to receive assistance in its rapid adoption of sustainable practices.

"Reviving local economy and creating livelihood is DOT's current priority. However, the pandemic has allowed us to be more persistent in our goal to instill accountability in businesses to become more sustainable," Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat said in a press statement released Friday night.

Puyat explained that the perks of being accredited equate to getting assistance from the DOT in many aspects of running a tourism enterprise, but more specifically, access to technical tools and experts that can help an establishment make the transition to going green.

"(The) DOT will continue to focus on marketing sustainability to the public, educating them on how to be sustainable tourists while also encouraging tourists to support accredited businesses that have exemplary green practices," she said.

Setting the foundation

Community-based tourism program at The Sabang Mangrove River, Puerto Princesa, Palawan spearheaded by The Sabang Mangrove Paddle Boat Tour Guide Association Inc. (P hoto courtesy of the Department of Tourism]Caption

The Tourism Act of 2009, the Philippines' first and only tourism law, has long served as the top tourism body's bible in coming up with programs that would benefit the industry.

A recent example is DOT's 2019 Save Our Spots (SOS) campaign, which aimed to inspire the public, businesses, and communities to have a long-term view on tourism.

Another is the department's Joint Memorandum Circular on the Rules and Regulations Governing the Conduct of Marine Wildlife Tourism Interaction in the Philippines, together with the departments of environment, agriculture, and interior.

"The DOT has been working on integrating sustainable tourism principles in its projects and policies. We have been teaching our tourists and tourism operators to do the small things we can do to preserve our tourism destinations," Puyat said.

The DOT also conducts community-based training for the tourism workforce, including boatmen, masseuses, and souvenir vendors, to provide them with technical skills and knowledge that will help them do their jobs better.

Food waste management seminars are also offered to accommodation and restaurant owners and culinary training that aim to reintroduce heritage or local dishes to tourists.

The number one asset of tourism is the country's natural resources, and tourism establishments have a role in conserving these.

The DOT has revised the accreditation standards for hotels and resorts to incorporate environmental indicators in the star rating system of these types of accommodation establishments, aiming to encourage business owners to be more environment-friendly in their day-to-day operations.

Through technical assistance from the European Union-GRAT, the DOT developed the ANAHAW Philippine Sustainable Tourism Certification awards in 2018 for the same reason, making it the local equivalent of the Asean Green Hotel Awards.

ANAHAW looks into how accommodation establishments manage and reduce their waste, energy consumption, and water consumption.

Corporate social responsibility is also a factor, with establishments that employ locals and purchase local goods fairing higher in the rating system.

The ANAHAW certification will put an enterprise with a competitive advantage because the consciousness of travelers is already very high.

"The ANAHAW certification is one of our ways to ensure we provide excellent service for our tourists without compromising our natural resources and the community. Our tourists are more likely to support tourism operators that care for the environment," Puyat said.

Examples of establishments that have received the ANAHAW certification are Crimson Hotel and Spa Mactan in Cebu, Nurture Wellness Village in Tagaytay, Club Balai Isabel in Batangas, and Daluyon Beach and Mountain Resort in Palawan.

The Spa at Shangri-la Mactan Resort and Spa in Cebu [Photos courtesy of Shangri-la Mactan Resort and Spa]

Executing the right campaigns and having compliant establishments can only work if tourists themselves recognize their role in the path to sustainable tourism, she said, noting that the main goal of sustainable tourism is for future generations to experience and enjoy the same, if not better, resources present today.

For more information on how to be a responsible traveler, visit www.philippines.travel/saveourspots or download the Travel Philippines app at app.philippines.travel or the Google Playstore.

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Adopting sustainable tourism for the environment

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MANILA - In celebration of World Environment Day 2021 on June 5, the Department of Tourism (DOT) urged hotels and resorts to become DOT-accredited to receive assistance in its rapid adoption of sustainable practices. "Reviving local economy and creating livelihood is DOT's current...

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PH ranks poorly in tourism sustainability, resilience indices

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PH ranks poorly in tourism sustainability, resilience indices

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The Philippines has been ranked 94th or near the tail-end among countries promoting sustainable tourism tracked by global business intelligence and market analysis provider Euromonitor International while it also lagged behind another ranking of “travel potential” in Asia-Pacific.

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The Philippines has been ranked 94th or near the tail-end among countries promoting sustainable tourism tracked by global business intelligence and market analysis provider Euromonitor International while it also lagged behind another ranking of "travel potential" in Asia-Pacific.

In Euromonitor's "Top Countries for Sustainable Tourism: Embracing a Green Transformation for Travel Recovery" report published on March 12, the Philippines' position in the 2020 sustainable travel index rankings of 99 countries was only better than four other countries-Pakistan, India, Mauritius, Vietnam and Morocco.

Euromonitor said the index assessed a total of 57 travel indicators across environmental, social and economic sustainability; country risk, and sustainable tourism demand, transport and lodging.

"As destinations around the world slowly begin to reopen while protecting local communities and preserve livelihoods, there is a growing awareness among consumers, businesses and governments for the need to prioritize not only profit but people and the planet," Euromonitor said,

While the report did not elaborate on the Philippines' low rank, Euromonitor said the country's "debt ranking lowered substantially, [while] employment in tourism and transportation sectors became more important."

Despite the Philippines' overall weak performance, Euromonitor noted that the country was among the most improved in terms of economic sustainability (ranked 55th) and social sustainability (78th).

In a separate report of UK-based Oxford Economics' unit Tourism Economics, the Philippines had the lowest rank in the "short-haul resilience" index, which reflected the share of inbound travelers coming from nearby foreign tourist markets-the country had only 10 percent or less.

The Philippines also joined Australia and Sri Lanka among markets expected to post below-average inbound travel recovery in 2022, Tourism Economics senior economist for Asia-Pacific Michael Shoory said in his March 11 report.

In terms of "domestic resilience" or share of local travelers, the Philippines ranked near the average among 20 Asia-Pacific destinations, but fell to second lowest-only better than Cambodia-in terms of "travel resilience" or short-haul and domestic tourism combined.

As for "domestic opportunity" or the share of outbound overseas trips by its residents, the Philippines was below-average in the region, such that the overall "travel potential," which combined the short-haul and domestic resilience with domestic opportunity landed the country in last place in the region. INQ

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PH ranks poorly in tourism sustainability, resilience indices

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The Philippines has been ranked 94th or near the tail-end among countries promoting sustainable tourism tracked by global business intelligence and market analysis provider Euromonitor International while it also lagged behind another ranking of "travel potential" in Asia-Pacific.

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COVID-19 leads to significant job losses in the Philippines

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Philippine economy still far from pre-pandemic levels —PSA data | BT

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Davao City’s Lumads: their way of life has prepared them for COVID-19 challenges

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Davao City’s Lumads: their way of life has prepared them for COVID-19 challenges

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Data from the Labor Force Survey released by the Philippine Statistics Authority showed 351,000 workers in Davao Region were displaced as of April 2020, a 400 per cent increase from the 62,000 unemployed individuals in the same period in 2019.

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SPECIAL REPORT. Davao City's Lumads: their way of life has prepared them for COVID-19 challenges

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DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 28 September) - On this gloomy Thursday morning, Enrico Angalan is in his farm in a mountain village of predominantly Obu Manobos in Barangay Tawan-Tawan, Baguio District, fixing the plastic bag wrapping the now maroon-colored cacao pod. He expects to harvest the cash crop in October.

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The domino effect brought by the pandemic

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The domino effect brought by the pandemic

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Since the pandemic started, approximately 1.6 billion informal economy workers who lack a social safety net were particularly affected.  The pandemic has led to the loss of the equivalent of 255 million full-time jobs. International tourist arrivals fell drastically from 1.5 billion in the year 2019 to 281 million in 2020. Because of the pandemic, international tourism is expected to return to the 2019 level in about four years or more. This pandemic will lead to an increase of unemployed youths in school or training.

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Local: 7 PHL tourist destinations being built as sustainable tourism showcase communities

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Local: 7 PHL tourist destinations being built as sustainable tourism showcase communities

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The DOT convened selected organizations to help realize the Transforming Communities towards Resilient, Inclusive and Sustainable Tourism (TouRIST) Program.

The TouRIST sites were selected “because of the rapid increase of tourism demand, potential for future development, lack of financing to address emerging capital investment needs, rich cultural heritage sites and biodiversity, and socio-economic impact for poverty alleviation,” noted the DOT report.

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Seven tourist destinations in the Philippines are being built up as resilient, inclusive, sustainable tourism showcase communities.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) announced towards the weekend that plans are in place for coordinated efforts between the agency and key stakeholders to help local communities thrive amidst nationwide tourism efforts.

The DOT convened selected organizations to help realize the Transforming Communities towards Resilient, Inclusive and Sustainable Tourism (TouRIST) Program.

The TouRIST sites were selected "because of the rapid increase of tourism demand, potential for future development, lack of financing to address emerging capital investment needs, rich cultural heritage sites and biodiversity, and socio-economic impact for poverty alleviation," noted the DOT report.

"The TouRIST Program will be a vehicle for us to implement a coordinated effort between the various government organizations and instrumentalities, and realize sustainable tourism development," DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said.

The TouRIST program has identified the following travel sites for its implementation:

Key organizations to help the TouRIST program that have been tapped by the tourism agency include the World Bank Group, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Local chief executives and representatives from target destinations were also convened to kick-off the TouRIST program.

The TouRIST program of the DOT in partnership with the World Bank Group and national government agencies will be a platform for integrated approach and collaboration, is supervised by the Tourism Coordinating Council (TCC).

Technical missions to the targeted destinations are expected to be conducted in October.

SEND cheers in the comments below to the tourism sector for practicing sustainable tourism!

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7 PHL tourist destinations being built as sustainable tourism showcase communities

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Seven tourist destinations in the Philippines are being built up as resilient, inclusive, sustainable tourism showcase communities. The Department of Tourism (DOT) announced towards the weekend that plans are in place for coordinated efforts between the agency and key stakeholders to help local communities thrive amidst nationwide tourism efforts.

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Bhutan's tourism works on the "high value, low impact" rule. This rule has been accomplished by implementing severe section prerequisites and a standard guest tariff. The day-by-day tariff incorporates vital costs for a visit like a convenience, an authorized local area expert, dinners, and climbing hardware. However, a large portion of the tariff is used to maintain and develop the country's infrastructure and contribute towards Bhutan's free health care and education.

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Of late, sustainable tourism has become a buzzword in the travel industry as more and more travellers, especially younger ones, try to conserve the environment, sustain the well-being of local people and reduce the carbon footprint. Some destinations, too, are becoming focussed on the issue.

Turquoise blue water, white sandy beach and limestone rocks enveloping the entire landscape made the Thai island of Phi Phi popular among Indian tourists. Later, Leonardo Di Caprio's 2000 film The Beach highlighted the beauty of this island and this led millions of tourists to head to the area to live their island fantasy. Over the years, almost two decades, the massive number of visitors led to rapid degradation of the island's ecosystem. Once a clean picture-perfect island with a diverse eco-system, Phi Phi had become an overcrowded island filled with litter. And finally, in 2018, the local government acted to protect its jewel and shut the islands to tourists, to allow the ecosystem there to regenerate and recover from the devastating over tourism. The temporary closure continued through 2019 as well.

Phi Phi was not the first destination that Thailand had to close off to tourists. The South East Asian nation's success in attracting tourists from all over the world saw nearly 40 million visitors in 2019. And just as the Phi Phi islands, the Thai government had been forced to also shut another top destination, Koh Tachai, in order to regenerate the local ecosystem.

Mass tourism or over-tourism is a real problem that several destinations across the world are facing. Tourism as beneficial as it might be for the economy, over-tourism is the main reason why several ecosystems suffer. The rapid growth of tourism around the world has led to an unprecedented number of people landing up on key spots each year. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, in 2018, 1.4 billion tourists visited various parts of the world, as against only 25 million in 1950! No wonder then that several destinations around the world are facing the stress of over-tourism that is not only hampering the natural ecosystem of that place but also proving to be a problem among locals. For example, Peru received 1,578,030 visitors in 2018 which forced the Peruvian government to put a four-hour time limit on Machu Pichu, similarly Venice which is sinking under the weight of over-tourism being host to 20 million tourists, the residents have complaint about the non-accessibility of their local streets and the city in general which forced the government to restrict tourism.

In 2018, Boracay in the Philippines closed its doors for tourism to focus on redevelopment. "The Boracay experience is the ultimate lesson in balancing development and protecting the environment. The lessons learned here are not for Boracay alone but also the other island destinations around our beautiful country," says Bernadette Romulo-Puyat secretary, Department of Tourism government of Philippines. Boracay became famous for its white beaches and coral reefs that made it a slice of heaven for people travelling to the Philippines. Sadly, that image of heaven started crumbling as more and more people made their way to Boracay. The island became a ground for unprocessed garbage that was directly dumped into the water. Thus, President Rodrigo Duterte called the beaches a cesspool and decided to close the beaches for visitors.

This is the main reason why the tourism boards across the globe are seriously considering sustainable tourism and destinations are taking measures so overcrowding can be avoided. Some of the destinations focused on developing sustainable tourism:
Bhutan
The Dragon Kingdom is perhaps the best example of a country adopting sustainable tourism as a preventive measure rather than as a cure once devastation has been wrought on the destination. For over three decades now, Bhutan has been pioneering the concept of controlled tourism and used it very effectively in ensuring sustainability in the long run. By limiting the number of tourists allowed to visit the country and setting a minimum amount per night that the tourists have to spend, the tiny Himalayan nation has ensured that tourism has not only contributed significantly to foreign exchange earnings and government revenues but also to generate income and employment generation and regional development to a certain extent.

It has created opportunities for the development of locally owned and operated private sector enterprises. The tourism industry in Bhutan is founded on the principle of sustainability, meaning that tourism must be environmentally and ecologically friendly, socially and culturally acceptable and economically viable, which is in line with the operational of sustainable tourism in Bhutan. Therefore, all the visitors to Bhutan are required to book through a registered/ sustainable tour operator for their visit to Bhutan. The country has recently decided to limit the arrivals from its largest market - India, in order to ensure that sustainability prevails!
Costa Rica
Another notable example of sustainable tourism put in practice before its ecology was threatened is the Central American nation of Costa Rica. The tiny nation, blessed with a rich biodiversity and lush green forests dating back thousands of years, has taken a range of initiatives to promote tourism that sustains and indeed enhances its environment. One of the primary eco-destinations in the world, Costa Rica has an extensively developed sustainable tourism sector with a large number of ecotels or hotels following sustainable practices. From greener infrastructure to using locally grown products and involving the local community, Costa Rica has made several changes in how they view tourism. Few notable hotels encouraging sustainable tourism in the country are:
Finca Bellavista treehouse
A planned, modern and sustainable treehouse community, it has taken up several initiatives which include fresh food, working with local communities, and organic farming.
Almonds and Coral
Awarded the highest level of eco-certification, Almonds and Corals has attempted to integrate their hotel into natural surroundings and conserve nature. Practices include green building design, recycling as well as a ban on use of chemical fertilisers in its farms.
Thailand
There are plenty of ways to travel responsibly around Thailand. "TAT is determined to protect and conserve the environment as part of our on-going Lot Lok Luea (Reduce Plastic Waste) project, which invites the general public and the travel industry to stop using single-use plastic and opt to use alternative natural materials. This not only protects the environment but also promotes the use of organic materials that save the Earth and adds value to local resources," says Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, deputy governor for international marketing - Asia and South Asia Tourism Authority of Thailand. In place of plastics, visitors are encouraged to use reusable environmentally friendly alternatives. In 2012 when ecotourism and adventure travel association came to audit Lisu lodge as a part of their certification process, the lodge was awarded ninety-seven out of a hundred. The building has been constructed around key pillars as preserving the environment and keeping the local community intact by respecting their culture and providing employment opportunities. The structure is entirely made out of locally sourced material. Preserving local culture was another speciality. Lisu village is open to visitors who can experience the song and dance by the hill-tribe members. They can also consult the local shaman, ritual doctor, to help them with health or mystical issues. Another example that is raising the standard of sustainable tourism in Thailand is Kho Khao. Kho Khao is an island celebrated for its sustainable tourism, and conservation of its biodiversity where they recycle waste, save water and energy. The new hotels that have been built in recent years are energy efficient and designed to reduce the island's carbon footprint by 20 pc.
Maldives
Maldives, since the time of the former President in 2009 has been working on being the first carbon-neutral destination by 2020. The coral reef is a big attraction in the Maldives and the government and the hotels are trying to conserve that. The resorts are trying to reduce their footprints by choosing ways to conserve energy, manage water, and recycling their waste. Rainwater harvesting is also something resorts are adopting because that would save an approx 109,500 litres of water every year. Furthermore, to reduce the damage they have started planting endemic species like the jade tree, sea hibiscus, and malikuruva rose so the ecosystem can be balanced.
Nepal
Tourism is rooted in Nepal as it is the largest industry and provides the largest source of revenue and foreign exchange. Though often it ends up in the news of the wrong kind such as ecological destruction in the Himalayas and the garbage dumps all along the mountain peaks, Nepal has been moving along the sustainable tourism route for a while now.

It was in 1973 that the country enacted laws on protecting its National Parks and the rich wildlife they are home to, leading to the establishment of the various protected area for the conservation of ecosystem and development of the community. Another major landmark was attained way back in 1986, when the Annapurna Conservation Area project was set up. In 2013, WWF Nepal, together with government of Nepal, launched the Sustainable Communities Initiative in Amaltari village, Nawalparasi under Terai Arc Landscape program. This is not only for promoting sustainable tourism but also to serve as a major source of income to conserve biodiversity and foster the local economy.
Colombia
The ministry of tourism in Colombia is putting a lot of effort into ensuring that more tourism means more opportunity for local people. The best example of that is the Caribbean island of Providencia. This tiny slice of paradise is an incredible example of harnessing the power of tourism to empower and benefit the local community. Locals have banded together to refuse big chains coming in and building resorts and instead have insisted that local people should reap the monetary benefits of tourism.
Baja Peninsula, Mexico
Baja Peninsula has a fragile ecosystem that has been compared to the Galapagos Islands. Protecting those precious reefs is especially important with the rapid growth of tourism. This is why they are adopting sustainable tourism and effective ways to recycle waste and protect their ecosystem. The hotels are using more locally sourced materials and involving the locals so that the tourist not only feel they made an eco-friendly choice but also take back home a unique experience.
Published in India Outbound Magazine February 2020

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Sustainable Tourism, a Buzzword in the Travel Industry? - INDIA OUTBOUND

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Of late, sustainable tourism has become a buzzword in the travel industry as more and more travellers, especially younger ones, try to conserve the environment, sustain the well-being of local people and reduce the carbon footprint. Some destinations, too, are becoming focussed on the issue.

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Sustainable Development Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

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Sustainable Development Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

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Of the 16 other goals set by the United Nations, SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth promotes “sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all”. It reaffirms the mutually supportive relationship between economic and social policies, full employment and decent work.

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"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"