A look at the status of sustainable tourism practices in Minnesota, with a focus on actions in the areas of energy and water, as well as the perceived benefits and barriers to implementing these practices.

1. Who?
STATE OF SUSTAINABLE TOURISM IN MINNESOTA
$$$
Most frequently cited difficulties in the adoption of sustainable tourism
practices ( % agree ):
TIME &
ENERGY
INITIAL
COSTS
LACK OF
INFORMATION
57%
Most frequently cited positives in the adoption of sustainable tourism
practices ( % agree ):
55% 47%
VS.
IMPROVED CUSTOMER
PROSPECTS
IMPROVED
ORGANIZATIONAL
IMAGE
REMAINING
COMPETITIVE
61% 57% 56%
How?What?
54%
Completed/Ongoing
use of CFLs
45% 78% 64% 36%
40% 39% 36%
N/A
Completed/ Ongoing
Just beginning
Under consideration
No attempt
Water plan to
make repairs or
replace
equipment when
rate changes
indicate problems
Collecting
rainwater/
stormwater
to use
whenever
possible
Large areas
swept or
vacuumed
instead of
washed down
Properly
disposing of
hazardous
chemicals and
avoiding
disposal into
sink and toilet
Preventative
maintenance
program
Using water
saving
fixtures/devices
Providing
customers
with ideas for
water
conservation
practices
This study identifies the status of sustainable tourism practices
among MN tourism industry organizations & if/what changes
have occurred since 2007.
Tourism is an $11.9 billion industry in Minnesota and supports
almost 240,000 jobs (Explore Minnesota, 2013).
Sustainable tourism ““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”” ( WTO 2005).
Building knowledge about the current state of sustainable
tourism in Minnesota will provide information to effectively:
design and distribute needed resources, identify where
opportunities lie to improve sustainable practices, and identify
barriers to sustainable practice implementation.
Sample: 3540 recipients in Explore Minnesota Tourism’’s
database, including lodging, camping, events/festivals, retail, &
government sectors.
Questionnaire: Developed in cooperation with Explore
Minnesota Tourism to assess current actions in the areas of
energy, water, air, waste, landscaping, & purchasing related to
sustainability. It included questions concerning attitudes
regarding the benefits & barriers to implementing these
practices.
Administration: March 2013 the survey was sent out
electronically via SurveyMonkey using a modified Dillman et al.
(2009) technique. Of the viable sample (3420), 16% responded
(n=535) & 61% completed the questionnaire (n=354).
of 2013 respondents reported Completed/Ongoing
for collecting rainwater or stormwater
11%
2013 INITIAL ASSESSMENT OF WATER & ENERGY PRACTICES
Renee Barker & Ingrid E. Schneider, Ph.D.
Comparison of most and least frequently
implemented energy actions across the years:
Industry sector
representation (n=535):
Thanks to Explore MN Tourism as a project
partner, Carlson Chair for Travel, Tourism &
Hospitality for project support, &
Undergraduate Research Opportunity
Program for funding
A collaboration of the College of Food, Agricultural & Natural
Resource Sciences & University of Minnesota Extension
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
2007 2010 2013
Completed/ongoing
Daylight
CFLs
Not attempted
Renewable Energy
Professional Energy Audit
Retail 4%
Lodging/Camping 39%
Convention/Visitor
Bureau 39%
Event/Festival 15%
Government 5%
Other 27%
2010 response: 11%
2007 response: 9%
2013 response: 11%
Daylight used to greatest possible
extent
Use of compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs)
Use of Energy Star qualififed equipment
EMS used to prevent circulating air,
heating, cooling, or lighting when not
necessary
Providing customers with ideas on
energy conservation practices
Including an energy audit by a qualified
professional
Use of renewable energy
No attempt
Under consideration
Just beginning
Completed/ Ongoing
N/A
60%
54%
38%
27%
30%
40%
47%
20%
15% 22%
22%
21%
Tourism region
representation: