Name: Sustainable Tourism Development — Chapter 2
Uploaded: 2026-08-19
Duration: 11 min 59 s
Description: [image]. TOURISM IMPACTS AND SUSTAINABILITY. CHAPTER 2.

[image]. TOURISM IMPACTS AND SUSTAINABILITY. CHAPTER 2. 

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Chapter 2: Sustainable Tourism Development

Lecturer III Pamantasan Ng Lungsod Ng Maynila

LEARNING OUTCOMES. What you will be able to do after this lesson. 

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What you will be able to do after this lesson

Define sustainability, sustainable development, and sustainable tourism development

Discuss the historical development of the sustainable tourism development concept

Explain the principles of sustainable tourism development

Make a critique of the sustainable tourism paradigm

The rice terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras — centuries of indigenous, sustainable resource management, cited by UNESCO.

Definitions  →  Principles  →  History since 1948  →  The Philippine paradigm  →  The critique

Sustainable Tourism Development — Chapter 2

INTRODUCTION. Tourists can love a destination to death. 

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The economy, the environment, and society are the three legs of the tourism tripod. If one or two legs are too short, tourism collapses.

Mass tourism focuses on making money. The pressure this puts on the environment and society destroys the very foundations of the industry — the destination itself.

Sustainable tourism development is the response: a paradigm that balances economic growth, environmental protection, and social equity.

Peak-season crowds in Boracay. Mass tourism concentrates profit — and pressure — on the same small strip of paradise.

DEFINITIONS. Sustainability: the capacity to continue, indefinitely. 

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Sustainability: the capacity to continue, indefinitely

Webster's New International Dictionary (1986)

To sustain is "to cause to continue; to keep up without interruption, diminution, or flagging; to prolong."

IUCN, UNEP & WWF — Caring for the Earth (1991)

Improving the quality of human life while living within the carrying capacity of supporting ecosystems.

The long-term cultural, economic, and environmental health and vitality of a community — linking social, financial, and environmental well-being.

In sum: sustainability is the ability of something — an activity, an industry, a society — to continue for an indefinite period of time.

A living ecosystem outlasts any single generation — the essence of the word "sustain."

DEFINITIONS. The idea is old: indigenous peoples practised it first. 

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The idea is old: indigenous peoples practised it first

"The earth does not belong to man, man belongs to the earth. All things are connected like the blood that unites us all. Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself."

— Attributed to Chief Seattle of the Suquamish, in a letter to the U.S. government in the 1800s

Chief Seattle (Si'ahl), photographed in the 1860s

UNESCO — BEST PRACTICES ON INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE

Botswana (Southern Africa)— using native tree species adapted to harsh local conditions

Burkina Faso (West Africa)— traditional soil-fertility management and water-harvesting practices

Arctic & sub-arctic Canada — Inuit and Cree knowledge of beluga whales, sturgeon, and changing water quality in the Hudson Bay bioregion

Philippines — the Ifugao mastered water resource management, terrace construction on compact soils and stones, and rice varieties suited to mountain conditions (Kawasaki 2012)

The term became a buzzword only in the late 1980s (Swarbrooke 1999) — the practice is far older.

DEFINITIONS. Sustainable development: meet needs, protect the future. 

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Sustainable development: meet needs, protect the future

"Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."

— Brundtland Commission, Our Common Future (1987)

In particular, the essential needs of the world's poor — to which overriding priority must be given.

The limits that technology and social organization impose on the environment's ability to meet present and future needs.

The report's warning: endemic poverty leads to environmental disasters. Sustainable development therefore requires meeting the basic needs of all — with opportunities for a better life.

The Blue Marble (Apollo 17, 1972). One finite planet — the premise on which the Brundtland Report was written.

DEFINITIONS. Sustainable tourism: manage resources, respect limits. 

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Sustainable tourism: manage resources, respect limits

"…the management of all resources in such a way that economic, social, and aesthetic needs can be fulfilled while maintaining cultural integrity, essential ecological processes, biological diversity, and life support systems."

— UNWTO, Sustainable Tourism Development: Guide for Local Planners (1988)

1 · Informed participation of all relevant stakeholders 2 · Consensus building and strong political leadership 3 · Constant monitoring of impacts, with preventive or corrective measures 4 · High tourist satisfaction and a meaningful visitor experience 5 · Awareness-raising on sustainability issues and practices

UNWTO's position: any form of tourism can be made sustainable.

Kalanggaman Island, Leyte — the fragile sandbar ecosystems the definition exists to protect.

PRINCIPLES · LANZAROTE 1995. Fifteen principles of sustainable tourism — I. 

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Fifteen principles of sustainable tourism — I

World Conference on Sustainable Tourism, Lanzarote, Canary Islands (1995). Sustainable tourism development must…

Be ecologically bearable in the long term, economically viable, and ethically and socially equitable for local communities

Guarantee the sustainability of the resources on which it depends

Respect the fragile balance of many destinations — especially small islands and environmentally sensitive areas

Consider its effects on the cultural heritage, traditions, and dynamics of each local community

Support solidarity, mutual respect, and participation of public and private entities — from the local to the international level

Support cultural, technological, and professional innovation within an integrated planning and management approach

Adopt quality criteria for preserving the destination and satisfying tourists — determined jointly with local communities

Be fully integrated into, and contribute positively to, local economic development

PRINCIPLES · LANZAROTE 1995. Fifteen principles of sustainable tourism — II. 

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Fifteen principles of sustainable tourism — II

Improve the quality of life of all people and enrich the socio-cultural life of each destination

Permit a more equitable distribution of the benefits and burdens of tourism activity

Protect environmentally and culturally vulnerable spaces from high-impact tourism models

Promote alternative and diversified forms of tourism, beyond the mass model

Build networks for research, information, and knowledge transfer on sustainable tourism technologies

Support environmentally compatible management systems, feasibility studies, demonstration projects, and international cooperation

Adopt and implement codes of conduct that create responsible tourism behaviour

HISTORY OF THE CONCEPT. 1948–1972: the world wakes up. 

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IUCN founded to unite governments and NGOs for nature conservation

Harrison Brown's The Challenge of Man's Future frames the themes of "sustainable"

Rachel Carson's Silent Spring exposes the environmental costs of pesticides

Club of Rome formed to model population, industry, and resources

First Earth Day — about 20 million Americans join teach-ins

Founex Report links environment and development; Ward & Dubos publish Only One Earth

Stockholm Conference — the first UN summit on the environment; Limits to Growth warns of "overshoot and collapse"

Earthrise (Apollo 8, 1968) — seeing Earth whole helped fuel modern environmentalism.

HISTORY OF THE CONCEPT. 1973–1992: from warnings to a global framework. 

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1973–1992: from warnings to a global framework

George Young's Tourism: Blessing or Blight spotlights tourism's negative impacts

IUCN's World Conservation Strategy carries "sustainable development" into the policy debate

The UN approves the World Charter for Nature

Brundtland Report (Our Common Future) defines sustainable development; calls for equity, participation, institutional reform

Philippine Strategy for Sustainable Development approved; Blueprint for a Green Economy values nature in national accounts

Wood & House's The Good Tourist targets traveller behaviour

Rio Earth Summit (UNCED) — Rio Declaration, Agenda 21, conventions on biodiversity and climate; the Philippines creates the PCSD, Asia's first

Rio de Janeiro, host of the 1992 Earth Summit.

HISTORY OF THE CONCEPT. 1993–2004: tourism gets its own rulebook. 

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1993–2004: tourism gets its own rulebook

1993 — UNEP & ICLEI: Tourism and Local Agenda 21, on the role of LGUs; the Journal of Sustainable Tourism begins publication 1994 — Turner et al. map the sustainability spectrum, from very weak to very strong 1995 — World Conference on Sustainable Tourism, Lanzarote: the Charter for Sustainable Tourism 1996 — UN publishes A Practical Guide for Indicators of Sustainable Tourism 1997 — Kyoto Protocol signed; Berlin Declaration links biodiversity and sustainable tourism 1998 — UNWTO: Guide for Local Authorities on Developing Sustainable Tourism

1999 — Global Code of Ethics for Tourism approved in Santiago; the WCTE is created in 2001 to monitor it 2000 — Millennium Summit adopts the Millennium Development Goals, benchmarked to 2015 2002 — Johannesburg Summit (Rio+10): poverty eradication and environmental protection as core objectives 2003 — Djerba Declaration on Tourism and Climate Change 2004 — UNWTO Guidebook: Indicators of Sustainable Development for Tourism Destinations — 40+ issues, 62 experts, 20+ countries

Source: chapter timeline, based on UNWTO publications and UN conference records.

THE SUSTAINABILITY SPECTRUM. One word, four positions: the sustainability spectrum. 

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One word, four positions: the sustainability spectrum

Anthropocentric and utilitarian. Growth-oriented and resource-exploitative; well-being through free-market growth and technology; man-made capital can substitute for natural capital without limit.

Anthropocentric and utilitarian, but growth is managed and modified. Resource-conservationist; concerned with inter- and intra-generational equity — yet still assumes near-infinite substitution.

Ecosystems perspective; resource preservationist. Decouple environmental harm from growth; keep natural assets constant; a steady-state economy with zero economic and population growth.

Bioethical and eco-centric. Minimal use of natural resources; Gaianism — the Earth as a superorganism; anti-growth, with reduced human population.

After Turner et al. (1994) and Hunter (1997) — the same word "sustainable" can sit anywhere on this continuum.

MEASURING SUSTAINABILITY. Measuring sustainability: the UNWTO core indicators. 

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Measuring sustainability: the UNWTO core indicators

Ten baseline indicators for destinations (UNWTO 2002), pairing each measure with the issue it tracks

1 · Site protection IUCN category of site protection 6 · Waste management Percentage of sewage from the site receiving treatment 2 · Stress Tourist numbers, annual and peak month 7 · Planning process Organized regional plan for the destination 3 · Use intensity Persons per hectare in the peak period 8 · Critical ecosystems Number of rare and endangered species 4 · Social impact Ratio of tourists to locals at peak period 9 · Consumer satisfaction Visitor satisfaction, survey-based 5 · Development control Formal environmental review and density controls 10 · Local satisfaction Resident satisfaction, survey-based

The 2004 UNWTO guidebook extends these into 40+ sustainability issues, distilled by 62 experts from more than 20 countries. Use this list again in the chapter activity.

HISTORY OF THE CONCEPT. 2005–2015: from millennium goals to a universal agenda. 

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2005–2015: from millennium goals to a universal agenda

UNWTO–UNEP publish Making Tourism More Sustainable — A Guide for Policy Makers

Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth takes climate change mainstream

Climate Change and Tourism — Responding to Global Challenges

Rio+20, "The Future We Want" — green economy, institutional framework, and the mandate for the SDGs

UN Global Action Programme on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)

The Sustainable Development Goals — a universal agenda for people, planet, and prosperity, to be achieved by 2030

1 · No poverty 2 · Zero hunger 3 · Good health & well-being 4 · Quality education 5 · Gender equality 6 · Clean water & sanitation 7 · Affordable & clean energy 8 · Decent work & economic growth 9 · Industry, innovation & infrastructure

10 · Reduced inequalities 11 · Sustainable cities & communities 12 · Responsible consumption & production 13 · Climate action 14 · Life below water 15 · Life on land 16 · Peace, justice & strong institutions 17 · Partnerships for the goals

THE PHILIPPINES. The Philippines: from mass tourism to paradigm shift. 

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The Philippines: from mass tourism to paradigm shift

Undifferentiated mass tourism — boost arrivals, maximize revenue for government and business

Disillusionment — child prostitution, drugs, and social costs force a rethink; the DOT is trimmed and refocused

Sustainable facilities, regional dispersal, diversification; the National Ecotourism Strategy promotes rural agritourism

Tourism Act (RA 9593) declares tourism an engine of socio-economic growth and cultural affirmation

The National Tourism Development Plan embeds sustainable development — action plans on water, solid waste, and natural and cultural heritage

Puerto Princesa Underground River — protected-area tourism in practice.

"…tourism as an indispensable element of the national economy and an industry of national interest and importance…"

— Republic Act 9593, Tourism Act of 2009

THE PARADIGM. Three dimensions, one balance. ENVIRONMENT. 

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Connelly's Venn diagram (2007) — development is sustainable only at the intersection.

Development is sustainable only when all three dimensions develop in a balanced manner — the "three Es": economy, Earth, and ethos (Connelly 2007; Therrien 2011).

In Puerto Princesa, a 1970s focus on tourist revenues fed sex tourism; a 1990s focus on environmental protection bred social malaise. Protected-area rules constrained the Tagbanua's swidden-farming livelihoods (Dressler 2006) — balance was missing in both decades.

THE PARADIGM IN PRACTICE. Status of Sustainable Tourism Initiatives. 

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Status of Sustainable Tourism Initiatives

Creation of Indicators for evaluating and monitoring tourism projects Adoption of environmental management practices — e.g. environmental taxes that fund conservation The growth of alternative tourism — agritourism, ecotourism, even slum tourism — with lighter impacts than mass tourism  Integration of Sustainability as criteria entering accommodation classification systems Adoption of sustainable principles such as participatory planning and gender equity in government processes Passage of protective laws — protected areas, environmental impact assessment, endangered-species protection, smoking bans Integration of concerns on marginalized groups — the poor, women, indigenous peoples — included in tourism planning Research and awareness — the Journal of Sustainable Tourism (since 1993) and more responsible tourist behaviour

CRITIQUE. Tourism is not development by default. Moscardo (2007) debunks the myth of tourism as an automatic instrument of sustainable development. Three beliefs stand in the way:. 

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Moscardo (2007) debunks the myth of tourism as an automatic instrument of sustainable development. Three beliefs stand in the way:

That tourism can be sustainable "in its own right," considered in isolation from other activities (Butler 1999)

Uncritical planning models that treat communities only as resources for tourism (Hall 2000)

Focusing on "sustainable tourism" rather than tourism for sustainable development disempowers local stakeholders

Add the local political realities: structures that mute residents' voices (Johnson & Wilson 2000), professionals who assume locals lack the skills to decide (Moscardo 2006), and the dominant belief that tourism serves tourists, not residents (Collins 1999).

Tourism is one of many development options. The goal is not to sustain tourism per se, but to sustain the community as a whole — tourism as a tool for community development, not the community as a resource for tourism.

WRAP-UP. Discuss, debate, then see for yourself. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS. 

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1 · Differentiate sustainable development from sustainable tourism development. Can tourism be sustainable and yet not lead to sustainable development? 2 · According to sustainable tourism theory, any form of tourism can be sustainable. Do you think mass tourism could be sustainable? Why or why not? 3 · With all of the principles cited as being prerequisites to sustainable development, would you say that the concept is implementable? Why or why not? 4 · In pursuit of sustainable tourism development, sometimes, the environmental aspect is given more emphasis relative to the economic and social concerns. Is this a concern? Why or why not? 5 · How would you rate the relative influence of the following stakeholders identified by the UNWTO as being the key players in tourism development - governments, the travel industry, local communities, tourists? 6 · Critiques have assailed tourism for causing the decline rather than the progress of local communities. Provide empirical evidence to support or contradict this by drawing on the experience of destinations in the Philippines.

Visit the national park closest to your residence. Compare your observations with the list of sustainable development indicators. Is development at the park sustainable?

A mangrove boardwalk, Mindoro — a candidate field site for the activity.

[image]. SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT · CHAPTER 2. 

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SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT · CHAPTER 2

Keep the tripod standing — meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Questions and the field activity are on the previous page · Discussion continues in class

Sustainable Tourism Development — Chapter 2

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