Wednesday, August 18, 2010

The Green Tourism Phenomenon

By Anna Nadette

Everything is going green in this day and age. Even in the tourism sector a concept such as Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS) has evolved. Having over 700 members already it awards a Bronze, Silver or Gold Award to the components of the HoReCa industry depending on the level of energy efficiency they have achieved each is.

The members in this Scheme make sure that the business does not impact the environment in a less positive way. They employ various tools to achieve this objective. These can range from using energy saving light bulbs to talking walks in the wildlife and hiring cycling services for tourists to move around the town.

Everything including heating, lighting, food, and transportation is available at the GTBS accommodations. So you will find the whole range of services that any HoReCa industry offers. And not in any less compromised way.

The need for green tourism was felt when the tourist became selective of their choices due to environmental concerns. This trend was due to the growing popularity of topics such as climatic changes, destruction to wildlife, carbon emissions, and waste management. So to meet up to this challenge the concept of an earth friendly tourism was evolved.

You need a long term commitment with this concept so you need a strategy. This strategy ensures better coordination with all the stakeholders that form this industry. Without a comprehensive strategy that synergizes individual efforts, we may fall short to provide a sustainable development.

This strategy is multi-fold. We start by assessing the existing environmental health. This gives us a holistic view of the kind of green management that is required. We outline the support structures that would be needed in the future for this policy's implementation.

Second, we build a green vision. This serves as a guiding principle. Different scenarios in which different decisions would have trade-offs with different environmental impacts are viewed.

Last but not the least; the vision has to be achieved. This cannot be done without the involvement from the government, the civil society and the private sector. A comprehensive regulatory body that has representatives from all these stakeholders should be set up only then can a call for such a transformation can take place.

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