International Institute for Environment and Development 
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| International Institute for Environment and Development |
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IIED Links: |
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Tourism Research Themes
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Related Links: |
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Good Governance for Sustainable Tourism
How can national governments ensure strong long-term environmental planning and good management of the tourism industry without erecting development barriers and discouraging investment in tourism? If tourism regulations become too restrictive in any one location, the global industry is easily able to substitute one destination for another - This was demonstrated recently in the Caribbean when a number of governments tried to impose a tax on cruise ships for waste disposal. The cruise lines responded by simply moving to islands that didn’t apply the tax and were more than happy to capture the extra business. However, without excellent legislation, tourism has the power to destroy natural environments and negatively impact local communities. The difficulty for governments is easy to see. However, there are several possible solutions to be explored. Currently, few countries have national sustainable tourism policies and even fewer are integrated into wider development plans. At the local level, planning for sustainable tourism could involve the development of Local Agenda 21s to ensure that tourism is well-integrated into the broader local economic base. It is at this destination level that local communities, through their planning structures and elected representatives, can effectively have some control over tourism and reap rewards from its presence. Constructive dialogues with government and with the private sector are an essential part of this process. Projects: Copyright © 2005 International Institute for Environment and Development. |
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