Delivered at the 2014 Gossinger Distinguished Lecture Series, at NYU's Tisch Center for Hospitality, Tourism and Sports Management, my presentation focused on the phases and evolution of Sustainable Tourism (ST) over the past quarter century (incidentally the same timeframe as the growth of the Internet..) The presentation began with a recognition that the tourism resource base is eroding at a rapid rate. However an overview of the basic principles of sustainable tourism suggests we have the knowledge and the tools to greatly accelerate the implementation of ST procedures and practices. The timeline begins (Phase 1: early 1990’s) with the preparation of broad based ST Policies (Canada, Bahamas, Palau), and Ecotourism Plans (late 1990"s). The presentation then traces the evolution towards greater levels of specificity (and possibly relevance) including ST and Ecotourism Certification Programs (Phase 2: 2000-2010). More recently (Phase 3: 2010-2015) there has been a shift to Employee ST training and Certification (Bahamas) and the integration of ST standards within the basic Quality Assurance accommodation grading programs (Morocco, Lesotho, Southern Africa). Yet despite all these efforts and market concern for the environment relatively little has been accomplished in integrating sustainability into the majority tourism of operations worldwide. This is in part because of the lack of awareness (and perhaps interest) by most senior management teams. Perhaps no more than 2%-3% of the managers of accommodation facilities (worldwide) have ever received training in ST procedures, technologies and practices. The Challenge therefore falls to the current hospitality and tourism management students and recent graduates to develop a professional 'Culture of Sustainability’. Furthermore, in this current phase (2015-2020), sustainability must become an integral part of all graduate and undergraduate tourism and hospitality management educational programs. The resources upon which the industry is built are diminishing at a remarkable rate with the vast majority of those professionals working in the sector lacking both the technical skills and awareness to implement sustainable tourism practices. It is therefore the responsibility of the tourism management schools to immediately integrate sustainability into their core program.

1. S

2. S

3.
S Our DIMINISHING tourism
environment
S Revisiting sustainability
PRINCIPLES
S 25 year SCAN of a
‘modest’ adaption of
sustainability
S URGENT: Strengthen all
sustainable tourism
training + education
S A COMMITTMENT to
developing an individual
‘Culture of Sustainability”

4. ONGOING: Depleting of ALL our natural resources
S Excessive water consumption:
S Global accommodation onsite demand: 5 trillion liters (5 billion m3) or 1.3
trillion gallons/year (2013)
S Global warming (Tourism is 5% of global CO2 emissions)
S Loss of biodiversity and ecosystem integrity
S Water Degradation: industrial contamination
S Desertification and Deforestation
S loss of topsoil (industrial agriculture)
S Toxic chemicals: VOC, cleaners, solvents, glues

5. S TOURISM GROWTH (Volume)
S Double international arrivals by 2030
S 200 million additional outbound 8+ billion domestic
Chinese trips by 2020
S Expansion of BRICS outbound tourism
S 35,000 new aircraft (21,000 for fleet expansion) by 2030
S INCREASED VISITOR EXPECTATIONS
S Bigger swimming pools,
S More 4 and 5 star properties
S Embedded water requirements (food, plastics, etc)

6. S “there was only one consideration to take into account.
Don’t look at the matter from your own point of view. I
don’t look at this matter from the way those living in the
village now will be affected. Look at it from the point of
view of our grandchildren”; ‘The Compassionate
Universe’ by Egnath Eswaran, page 53
S “we do not inherit from our ancestors, we borrow it from
our children”; Haida Elder/Chief Seattle

7. S “Humanity has the ability to make (tourism)
development sustainable – to ensure that it
meets the needs of the present (tourists
and tourism businesses) without
compromising the ability of future
generations (tourists and tourism
businesses) to meet their own needs”.
-- World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987.

8. From the:
‘Encyclopedia of Tourism and
Hospitality’, Chapter 3: ‘Developing
Sustainable Tourism’
J. MacGregor, Van Norstrand Reinholt
Publishing, NYC, NY, 1993

9. S PRINCIPLE 1: Limit tourism impact on the planet (global) and
the region (local) to a level that is within its carrying-capacity.
S Minimize tourist consumption of raw materials and energy
S 2 star properties consume less than 3/4/5 star
S Water management and conservation: can cut water consumption 40%
S PRINCIPLE 2: Maintain the stock of biological wealth in the
region.
S Conserve ‘Life support services’ and the processes that allow life to be
productive, resilient and adapt to tourism impacts
S Maintain chemical balance, recycle nutrients, water/air pollution free
S Manage supply chain for sustainability and diversity

10. S PRINCIPLE 3: Minimize the depletion of non-renewable
resources.
S Tourism is a consumer of plastics, metals, fossil fuels, and water
S Integrate recycling and composting into all operations
S PRINCIPLE 4: Promote long-term [sustainable] economic
development that increases the benefits from a given stock of
resources and maintains or grows natural wealth.
S Promote new technologies; solar/wind/ batteries/engines
S Operations must charge the full price of resource use and damage;
consumption tax, surcharge
S Integrating value-added products by improving and diversifying
product lines

11. S PRINCIPLE 5: Provide for an equitable distribution of the
benefits and costs of resource use and sustainable
management.
S Benefits spread across gender, age [intergenerational], class/
culture and physical/visual ability
S Ensure adequate training and access to all required sustainable
management skills
S PRINCIPLE 6: Provide for effective participation of
communities and interest groups in the decisions that most
affect them and their environment.
S Participation of all community members and special interest groups
S Ensure commitment to sustainable planning,
development, management and operations

12. S PRINCIPLE 7: Promote the values that encourage
others to achieve sustainability.
S Provide leadership, transfer knowledge, create awareness
and demonstrate a sustainability ethic
S Promote responsibility across the entire tourism supply chain
S PRINCIPLE 8: Establish a ‘sustainability culture and
knowledge base’ throughout all levels of tourism
education and training
S Integrate CORE curriculum environmental awareness and
sustainability principles in tourism institutions worldwide
S Educate on application of technologies and techniques

16. S 1990, Canada’s : ‘An Action Plan for Sustainable
Tourism Policies’, ecoplan:net
S Evening brainstorming session (5 hours, 8 international experts
S Areas of Responsibility; i) Government ii) Tourism Industry,
iii) NGOs and iv) Tourism Education Institutions
S 5 Sustainability Themes:
S Integrated planning and management
S Social and economic benefits; fair trade, equity, local hiring, SME
S Cultural and traditional Heritage conservation and enhancement
S Sustainability education and awareness
S Biodiversity protection and enhancement; water,
energy, waste management, hazardous materials,

17. S 1994; The Bahamas Sustainable Tourism
Development Policies and Implementation
Strategy, ecoplan:net
S Issues particular to small island States; inefficient water use, cruise ship
dumping, litter and marine debris, high level of imports, illegal fishing
S 32 Policies and Action Plan:
S Planning, EIA, public consultation, intergenerational and gender equity, local
involvement and benefits
S Marketing and Green Management, energy and water conservation, hazardous
waste, purchasing procedures, etc.
S Heritage protection and restoration
S Research, audits and monitoring
S Marine Debris reduction, enforcement
S Winner; Green Globe Achievement Award: WTTC

18. S 1996: Republic of Palau Sustainable Tourism Policies
ecoplan:net
S 1992; Clayoquot Sound (BC) Area Sustainable Tourism
Development Master Plan (Canada’s First), ecoplan:net
S 1995-2002: a) National Ecotourism Master Plans
S Australia (1994), Botswana (2002), Bulgarie (2002), Philippines
(2005), Laos, Bhutan, Vietnam (1999 - 2004), Ecuador (2002)
S b) Regional/State and National Parks Strategies,
ecoplan:net
S Province of Saskatchewan Ecotourism Master Plan, Canada
S Brasov County (Agrotourism) Strategy: Romania
S Retezat National Park Sustainable Tourism, Romania)
S Province de Chtouka Aït Baha (Morocco)

19. S 1992-96: Ecotourism Planning, Product Development +
Marketing Workshop: Banff Center for Management/ecoplan:net
S 1994-95 Commonwealth Caribbean Sustainable Tourism +
Green Management Workshop Series, Commonwealth
Secretariat, Bahamas Ministry of Tourism/ecoplan:net
S WINNER: Green Globe Achievement Award (1996)
S 1994-1996 Brazil Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism
Workshop Series, Conservation International/ecoplan:net
S 2002 Morocco Sustainable Rural Tourism Workshops, USAID
and Chemonics International/ecoplan:net

20. S (A) Generated more than 120 Ecotourism/Green
Certification Programs
S Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT): Certification for Sustainable
Tourism Program - CST
S Québec Marine Ecotourism Certification (2001)
S Australia Nature Tourism + Ecotourism Accreditation Program (2002)
S Romania Ecotourism Standards and Certification (2006) USAID
S Egypt Ministry of Tourism: Green Star Hotel Certification Programme
S Ecotourism Ireland
S Chile: National System for Distinction in Sustainable tourism

21. S (B) Organization or Association Programs
S STEP Eco-Certification: Sustainable Tourism International
S Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria
S European Ecotourism Labeling Standard (EETLS)
S Rainforest Alliance Standard for Tourism Operations
S Green Globe,
S Green Key,
S EarthCheck
S Center for Ecotourism and Sustainable Development
S Japan Ecolodge Association

22. S Botswana Green, Green Plus and Ecotourism
Certification Program, ecoplan:net
S Based on Ecotourism Certification Feasibility Study
S Expansion of a proposed ‘ecotourism certification program’ to
include Green and Green + standards
S Ecotourism Best Practices Guidelines Manual and Technical
Standards Manual
S Accommodation Operator Handbook
S Validation by 350 accommodation suppliers
S Eventually integrated into Quality Assurance Standards
S WINNER: 2010 Tourism for Tomorrow Award

24. S Bahamas National Guide Sustainable Tourism Certification
Program (2010) ecoplan:net
S 3 tier Guide Certification (entry, premiere and master)
S Birdwatching, Sea Kayaking, Fly-fishing
S Sustainable tourism standards, technical knowledge
S Training Manuals and Workshops
S Assessor Training Workshop and Support Materials
S On Island Guide Train-the Trainer Program
S The Knowledge, Network, Education, and Training (KNET)
Working Group
S Identifying educational materials

25. Star
Grading
Programs
Quality
Assurance
Responsible
Tourism
Universal
Accessibility

26. S Morocco Rural Tourism (Accommodation and Restaurant)
Quality Assurance + Ecotourism Certification Program
ecoplan:net
S Local operator awareness program
S Training of local assessors
S Marketing support (web site, FAM Trips, etc.)
S Winner: 2009 Tourism for Tomorrow Award
S Southern Africa Harmonized Accommodation Star Grading
Program (2009 – 2011) ecoplan:net
S 250 Quality Assurance, 60 responsible tourism, 40 accessible/
inclusive tourism standards
S Mandatory by 2016
S Cooperative Management Structure and
Marketing program (RETOSA and Member states)
S Endorsed by 14 Ministers of Tourism

27. S Kingdom of Lesotho QUALStar Accommodation
Grading Program IESC/ecoplan:net
S Revised Minimum Requirements for a business license
S Composting, linen policy, low flow restrictors, CFL’s
S Accessible parking and entrance, trained staff
S Stakeholder Sensitization Workshops (95% attendance)
S 15 day Assessor + 3 day Master assessor training program
S 350 standards across 6 accommodation categories
S Website and Communication Strategy
S I2 Pilot Assessments
S Awards Committee Training

28. S CURRENT GLOBAL SITUATION:
S Despite 25 years of policies, plans, and certification programs;
65% of North American and 85% of worldwide hotels practice little
or no sustainability initiatives.
S 1 trillion gallons (5 trillion liters) of water untreated/year (2015)
S Millions of liters of untreated toxic chemicals (cleaners, plastics)
from accommodation and restaurant sectors/year
S 80% accommodation managers (GM, F + B, CFO, operations, etc.)
have little knowledge of sustainability practices
S URGENT GLOBAL SOLUTION
S Worldwide expansion of compulsory sustainability training in ALL
tourism and hospitality management programs
S Distribute sustainable tourism techniques and practices
to private sector tourism suppliers

29. S All Tourism Technical, College and Universities
S Shift from elective courses to core program
S Respond to current and future demand for sustainable
awareness and knowledge
S Policies, Programs, Practices, Processes
S In house training for current hospitality managers and tourism
planners
S Create International Tourism Educators Sustainability
Task Force

30. S Accommodation and Attraction Supplier Workshops
S 2-3 day workshops that introduce suppliers to:
S Introduce resource depletion issues facing the industry
S Demonstrate Techniques and Technologies associated with
sustainable operations
S Waste management, water conservation, CO2 reduction
Community project contribution, purchasing policies
S Performing internal audits; Water, Waste, Energy, etc.
S Prepare 3-year Corporate Green Management Strategy and
Action Plan
S Use of Green Management Planning Workbook

31. Sustainable Tourism
Policies and Plans,
Ecotourism Strategies,
Facility Certification
and Grading programs
Sustainable tourism as
a CORE program
Integrating
sustainability into all
courses content
Training faculty in
sustainability
2-3 day intensive
workshops
Develop Company
Green Management
Strategy + Action
Plan

32. Going beyond sustainable
tourism training and
certification to:
Develop a ‘Culture
of Sustainability’ in
your life, your home
and your workplace

33. jmacgregor@ecoplannet.com