Catégorie : Sustainable tourism

Catégories
Sustainable tourism

Willingness to pay versus actual behavior

Need for sustainability in tourism?

There is no question that the travel and tourism industry needs to be more sustainable. Between 2012 and 2030, international tourist arrivals are expected to increase by an average of 43 million a year to reach 1.8 billion (United Nations World Tourism Organization, 2014). With this growth comes many negative impacts. For example, examining only one sector of the tourism industry, cruises, evidence shows multiple negative impacts. According to the Lighthouse Foundation (2014), a Caribbean cruise ship creates around 50 tons solid waste, 800,000 litres sewage and 130,000 litres grey water in one week.

Sustainability Demand

Numerous studies over the past few years by multiple travel providers have shown that travelers are willing to spend more money on sustainable travel. A 2012 report by The Travel Foundation and Forum for the Future found that 75% of consumers want a more responsible holiday. A TripAdvisor study also in 2012, stated that 71% of those surveyed said they would make environmentally friendly choices this year. In 2011, a study done by CondeNast Traveler said 58% of their travellers hotel choice is influenced by the support the hotel gives to the local community. Another study in 2011 Kuoni found that 22% of respondents said that sustainability is among the top three influencing factors when booking vacations (www.sustainabletourism.net) . Although consumers say they want more sustainability options, does this actually translate into practice and who are these consumers?

Actual Sustainability behaviour

In order to determine whether tourists had paid for sustainable tourism, research by Ryerson University (Kwan, Liu & Mak, 2014) was undertaken to determine tourist’s past spending. Results showed that 73% understood the meaning of sustainable travel and could outline specific practices that they believed would be more sustainable (e.g. donate to sustaianbility causes, stay at a green hotel, etc.). Thirty five percent had stayed in a green hotel in the last 12 months however over half of respondents were unsure which clearly exemplifies that green or sustainable branding may be a large issue for consumer decision making.

Other sustainability behaviours outlined that 39% often or always purchase local food when travelling. A much smaller percentage (10%) had purchased carbon offsets and 2% donated to a local sustainabilty project when on vacation.

When answering the research question, overall the findings showed that 37% of travellers actually paid more for sustainable tourism options. When asked how much more, however, although only 6% paid 10% or higher costs.

Demographically, it is the younger age groups who are more concerned. 18-24 (22%) and 25-34 (26%) year olds were more likely to pay more than older demographics. Additionally, females seem to be more concerned about the environment than men.

Conclusion

The research clearly states that travelers behaviour is shifting although it is still not commonplace. What is clear from this research is that sustainble tourism options must not priced higher than comparative options as the consumer that is willing to pay significantly more is a niche market.

Another conclusion is that although the consumer is aware of what sustainable tourism is, they may not necessarily be able to clearly identify sustainable tourism travel options or products when making their purchasing decisions. People may be aware of sustainability but they may still choose the easiest and most affordable options. If the industry wishes to see consumers purchase more earth friendly options then they must promote them more clearly to the customer.

This research also shows that if the industry is really going to protect the very resources that promote tourism, sustainability options for tourists needs to become the norm rather than the exception.

Catégories
Sustainable tourism Trends

Trends in Food Trucks: The use of local food

Local food consumption as a consumer trend

In recent years, there has been a visible shift in the demand and consumption of local and organic food. Local foods can be defined as food consumed within 100 miles of where it was produced (Hodges, Stevens, & Wysocki 2014), while other foods travel an average of 1500 miles before it reaches the consumer (Schnell, 2013).

Some of the benefits of eating local include product freshness, enriched flavour, higher nutritional and vitamin values. Research suggests consumers are aware of the benefits of consuming local foods and are willing to pay for it. Results of a recent study done in Florida shows the average spending per consumer on local foods were $43 a month in restaurants (Hodges et al., 2014).  

Do food trucks use local?

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has recently confirmed that street food is being consumed by almost 2.5 billion people daily (Culinary Schools, 2013). The popularity and increase in numbers of this type of mobile operation has gained exposure and interest from customers in recent years.

This is mainly due to the increasing need that diners have for inexpensive, fast, and high quality gourmet food. Although this trend is increasing in restaurants, has the trend been noticed in the newer market – food trucks?

A study of food trucks in Toronto, Canada (Corpuz et al, 2014) found that customers would rather consume something grown in Ontario or Canada as oppose to having something imported into the country. When examining in-depth interviews from food trucks, results showed that 52% of the trucks claimed that they have used local products into their menu, 31% said they incorporate artisanal products, 11% said they use organic. Food trucks also source their food locally (63% source supplies from farmers markets) and claim they used those products to emphasize on healthier and cleaner food (40%) and better quality and taste (46%). Although the use of local or organic food leads to increased cost (83%), food truck operators are committed. As one interviewee stated, “It’s a strong component of our company values. As a company we believe that supporting the environment and maintaining a green footprint of our business is incredibly important”.

The data collected through the interviews indicated that food trucks prefer local because of customer preference.

The future of food?

A key aspect in sustainability for any business model is its customer base. Given the nature of food trucks and this study’s evidence of their passion for sourcing locally, customers associate themselves with the values of these trucks and develop a relationship with the owners. Consumers who purchase from food trucks are looking for a unique dining experience and food truck operators provide a unique offering in the industry.

Perhaps this sector of the food industry will push the local food movement even further.

 

Image: Urban Diner

Catégories
Marketing @en Sustainable tourism

Green marketing in hotels shows increased guest satisfaction

 The Business Case for greening

The idea of implementing sustainability methods into a business has become increasingly a common practice amongst businesses and ‘greening’ has become a major brand differentiators that many businesses are acting upon in order to stand out amongst their competitors (Areseculeratne & Yazdanifard, 2014).

 

 

This is also true among the hotel sector globally. ‘Greening’ is understood to mean increasing overall environmental performance by reducing waste, water and energy. Additionally, the consumer is interested in green hotels. A survey of more than 700 U.S travelers conducted by TripAdvisor (2012), suggested that 71 percent of the respondents planned to make eco-friendly choices in the next 12 months while, 65 percent did so in the 12 month period preceding the survey. Additionally a study done by Mensah and Mensah (2013), found that the majority of consumers surveyed was more likely to book with a hotel that has a responsible environmental attitude. They also found that the majority of tourists have a positive attitude towards environmental management by hotels.

What is unknown however is if the marketing of such environmental practices actually benefits the hotels.

But does green marketing help the bottom line?

In a study conducted by Franco et al, (2014) at Ryerson University, researchers found that 76 % of boutique hotels said that green marketing had a positive impact on their business in general. Additionally 88% of accommodations felt that green practices were ‘Important or Very Important” for their success. Accommodations, however, do not track how much they specifically spend on marketing their ‘green’ achievements (49% could not give an exact figure).

In order to analyze if there were any impacts or more specifically, any benefits from green marketing, the accommodations were asked to rate how green marketing has impacted their business in general. There was a statistical significance when comparing the allocation of revenue to marketing and guest satisfaction (p value =0.014). Additionally, accommodations saw a positive impact when they allocated revenue towards green marketing (p value = 0.05). There was also no significant specific benefit to increased average daily rate (ADR), profit or length of stay as there was no correlation between these factors.

When examining actual practices, the most common environmental practices included water and energy efficient methods where 87 percent of the respondents have applied water efficient showerheads in each guest bathroom, 90 percent had a linen reuse program and 66 percent of respondents have efficient heating/air conditioning systems. More advanced green practices were not as well implemented as only 50% of hotels track their actual water use and only 7% of respondents used solar panels.

Interestingly, hotels did not necessarily obtain certifications to promote their environmental practices. Sixty percent of accommodations claimed they had obtained some sort of green certification that included such labels as LEED, ISO, Green Key, Green Globe or Green Seal.

The main barriers or impediments to implementing green practices were financial (45%) or motivating employees to follow practices (25%). 

Save money and boost reputation

The recent study by Franco et al (2014) shows that it is evident that there is a positive impact when accommodations allocate a percentage of revenue towards green marketing. It supports the notion that if society has a vested interest in environmental issues, it can lead many businesses, including hotels to change their practices (Hu, 2012). Will green marketing alone push industry to improve their ‘greeness’? Perhaps not although this recent research is positive. What is not disputed however is that accommodations can save large amounts of money in costs as well as boost their reputation in the marketplace by monitoring how they are impacting the environment.

Catégories
Sustainable tourism

Community Based Tourism Gives Sustainability a Local Flair

Recent growth and popularity has made sustainable tourism better known and has lead to the introduction of many addition alternative forms of tourism that focus on the social and environmental pillars of sustainability. One of these forms of alternative tourism is CBT (community based tourism) and is characterized as “being local and managed by the community that consequently receives a significant portion of the benefits” (Trejos & Chiang, 2009). It often also works to promote environmental sustainability, especially in protected areas.

Ideally, CBT should be focused on improving the livelihood of the community through the three pillars of sustainability – economic, social and environmental. Recent research by the author into CBT has found that this can be achieved through 6 key elements:

  1. Community participation and training
  2. Private/ commercial partnerships and collaboration
  3. Local management and empowerment
  4. Establishment of environmental and community goals
  5. Assistance from the public and private sectors
  6. Financial considerations for long term sustainability

Community Participation and Training

The success of CBT greatly depends on the community’s ability to work together and agree on a plan of action for their tourism strategy. Community members need to be able to select key leaders and decision- makers so that conflicting viewpoints do not constantly impede the decision- making process. The leaders must also make sure that the community remains actively involved in the project, as CBT in communities that are open and accepting of tourists fare far better than those which show disinterest or resentment towards visitors.

Although cohesiveness and attitude are import for success, having adequate skill and education is also vital for a community. Since many communities that are interested in offering CBT generally have low levels of education, offering courses in hospitality and tourism management, marketing, communication, finance, governance, guiding and English language skills improvement are also vital to the success of a destination.

Private/ Commercial Partnerships and Collaboration

Even if CBT destinations, especially those focusing on rural tourism, seek out educational courses, collaborating with other companies in the tourism industry can still significantly lower a destination’s risk of failure. Partnering with hotels and tour operators can expose a destination to a much wider marketplace through increased exposure and marketing.

Local Management and Empowerment

If the local community has the capacity to successfully manage their own CBT project, this amount of empowered control will create a positive cycle for the area. Community members will be able to further increase their abilities to maintain the wellbeing of the community and increase their local and cultural pride. These skills and pride will then attract more visitors to the area, making the CBT project even more successful.

However, this key must find a balance with the previous key of private/ commercial partnerships and collaboration as too much external ownership will decrease community involvement, but little will limit the market size the community is able to reach.

Establishment of Environmental and Community Goals

Establishing these goals can demonstrate a community’s commitment to sustainability. It is particularly important to establish environmental goals to ensure that the community does not become too focused solely on financial gain. Common environmental goals include conservation projects, waster, water and energy management, organic farming and reforestation.

Since CBT is focused on improving living conditions for the community, social goals are equally important. They often include efforts such as school building, supplying water to residents and training and employing local residents in tourism attractions.

Assistance from the Public and Private Sectors

CBT projects often need assistance funding their ventures, so funding agencies and non- government organisations are often approached to help fund infrastructure improvements, the purchase of equipment and training.

Many countries are also now beginning to introduce national policies for implementing CBT. These policies include technical and financial assistance for CBT development.

Financial Considerations for Long-Term Sustainability

Long-term financial stability is difficult for many CBT projects to achieve due to a general lack of financial knowledge. For this reason, it is suggested that tourism be approach as a means of earning income only in addition to the community’s traditional means of financing itself. Coffee farmers, for example, could achieve this, by introducing coffee tourism, where they would offer visitors tours of their plantations.

Achieving Success

Altogether, achieving success in CBT can be a difficult task, and overcoming barriers such as a lack of capacity, management, marketing and financing can be difficult. However, when balanced leaderships are achieved, a community can enjoy significant benefits in an environmental, social and financial context.

 

Sources:

– Ping, W. “Community-Based Ecotourism and Developmen in Northern Thailand”.

– Trejos, B. & Chiang, L.-H. “Local economic linkages to community-based tourism in rural Cost Rica”, Singapore Journal of Tropical Geography vol 30, 2009, p 373.

Catégories
Products and activities Sustainable tourism

Eco-Friendly Beaches Lead to Higher Profits

As the spring and summer months approach, our heads begin to fill with thoughts of sun, sand and surf, but with every beach offering plenty of all three, locations need to find other ways of setting themselves apart from the competition. Many beaches in Europe and now Ontario are accomplishing this by adopting the Blue Flag certification program: a widely recognised eco-label developed especially for beaches.

Source: Rachel Dodds

About Blue Flag

The Blue Flag program was developed in France in 1987 by the Foundation for Environmental Education in Europe (FEEE) and has since certified over 3000 beaches in 44 countries across the globe, making it the most well- recognised eco- certification program for beaches (www.blueflag.org). While the majority of the certified beaches are in Europe, the program has been gaining popularity in Canada and 16 have been certified in Ontario. For a beach to become Blue Flag certified, it must meet standards in the 4 categories outlined below:

  • Environmental education and information
  • Water quality
  • Environmental Management
  • Water safety

Once these standards are met, the beach can begin flying its Blue Flag and enjoying free promotion on the Blue Flag website (www.blueflag.org).

Choosing a Beach for Your Vacation

A recent study in Ontario funded by the Ausable Bay Conservation Region (Dodds, 2010), found that the health of a beach was a key factor in their overall beach satisfaction and although many Canadians don’t check the health and safety status of a beach before embarking on their vacation, 26% would pack up and leave for another beach if it was deemed unsafe for swimming.

In Ontario, Blue Flag certification was not found to be a significant influencing factor for beach selection as the majority of beach- goers are still generally unaware of the program. However, a similar survey in done in Wales, a country with 42 Blue Flag certified beaches (over 2.5 times as many as the amount in Canada), found that over 63% of survey respondents were aware of the program and that a beach’s certification status was more important than the distance they had to travel to reach the beach (Dodds, 2010). Since Canada is currently planning to expand its portfolio of Blue Flag beaches, it can be expected that certification will become an increasingly significant factor in years to come.

Source: Rachel Dodds

What This Means for a Beach’s Popularity and Profitability

Since local residents spend about $10 each time they visit a beach in their area (about 3 times per week during the summer), their total beach expenditures for July and August total $270. Meanwhile, tourists visit less often, but spend closer to $50 each time they visit a beach. This means that a beach will lose a significant amount of income if patrons, especially locals, decide to leave for another location if their current beach becomes unsafe for swimming.

If a beach chooses to become Blue Flag certified, it will ensure that the beach consistently meets and exceeds safety standards by making sure that water clarity, quality and cleanliness are up to standard and that lifeguards and beach patrols are ready available in case of emergency. These standards will put beach- goers at ease and keep them happy and spending money for longer periods of time.

In addition, certification also requires beaches to have garbage and recycling containers, washrooms and change rooms, access for persons with disabilities and dog- friendly beach areas. Research has found the presence of these features be related to overall beach satisfaction, further improving the beach’s profitability.

Forward Thinking

A sustainable beach can enjoy a wide variety of benefits expanding out not only to the environmental side of sustainability with improved water quality and clarity and protection against erosion, but also towards the social and economical sides of the equation by improving beach patron satisfaction and increasing local business. European beaches have found that by implementing the Blue Flag certification program and increasing its awareness, they have been able to successfully promote this concept. As this idea is just in the process of developing in Canada, it can be expected that as more beaches become certified, Blue Flag status will begin to play a more significant role in influencing where patrons choose to spend their beach vacations.

 

Sources:

– Blue Flag. “Programme eco-label for Beach and marinas” www.blueflag.org, 2012

– Dodds, R. “Determining the Economic Impact of Beaches: Lake Huron Shoreline from Sarnia to Tobermory”. Ryerson University and Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority, Toronto, 2010

– Tudor, D. & Williams, A. “A rationale for beach selection by the public on the coast of Wales, UK”, Area, vol 38 no 2, 2006, p. 153

 

Rachel Dodds, Professor, Ted Rogers School of Hospitality and Tourism Management à l’Université de Ryerson
spitality & Tourism Management, Ryerson University
Rachel Dodds is recognized around the world as an expert on sustainable tourism. She is professor at the Ted Rogers School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Ryerson University and Director of Sustaining Tourism consulting firm. She is the author of the books « Power and Politics » and « Sustainable Tourism in Islands ». Her fields of expertise focus on sustainable tourism, climate changes and social responsibility firms. She holds a Ph.d. from the University of Surrey in England and a master’s degree in tourism management at Griffith University in Australia. She is a founding member of the Canada’s Icarus Foundation, participated in the Sustainability Council for the Tourism Industry Association and is former member of the Travel and Tourism Research Association of Canada. She has lived and worked on four continents and traveled in more than 75 countries. Web siteRachel Dodds analysis

 

Catégories
Sustainable tourism

“Green” practices in British Columbia’s B&B industry

Numerous studies have examined environmental practices in hotels (Winter & Azimi, 2006; Johnson, 2008; Hanna, 2008; Gunter, 2008; Bohdanowicz, 2005), but very few have focussed specifically on the environmental practices of the B&B industry.  Bed and breakfasts (B&B) are defined as lodging establishments set in a residence that offer overnight accommodations and breakfast (Rushmore & Baum, 2001). B&Bs are, by definition, much smaller than typical lodging operations, which are usually full-service hotels; however, the B.C. Ministry of the Environment in 2007 found that residential and commercial buildings in B.C., which include B&Bs, produced 12% of total greenhouse gas emissions.  With the recent Olympics held in British Columbia, the focus had to be on environmental initiatives for all players and actions taken to further this environmental agenda. A study was done to assess the current “green” practices in British Columbia’s B&Bs as well as to determine the awareness of owner/operators about such practices and their level of participation.  The study also identified and measured what owner/operators felt were the barriers and incentives to implementing “green” practices.

The primary data used for this study was based on 146 valid responses from B&Bs in British Columbia (13% of an 1100 sample size), which were completed using an online survey tool in October 2008.  Research found that a significant number of B&B owner/operators indicated they have implemented “green” practices in their operations. The most common “green” practice was recycling; an average 73% of owner/operators “always” recycle. Owner/operators also exhibited environmental awareness by “usually” or “always” purchasing organic (40%), locally grown (66%) and low-toxic items (62%). The tendency to purchase organic and local items depended on availability and the B&B’s location, with remote locations finding this difficult. Additionally, 80% of participants indicated that they take the initiative to learn about environmental management. This shows that the trend of becoming more sustainable is apparent within B&Bs in B.C.

Barriers that hindered B&B operators from implementing “green” practices included financial restrictions, lack of resources and location. The financial restrictions cited as a barrier were also consistent with the response that a monetary incentive would be effective. The majority of respondents were not part of a “green” association that recognizes environmental initiatives through certification. In fact, no standard certification process exists for B&Bs in B.C.

Recommendations from this report outline how stakeholders could help B&Bs develop more “green” practices. First, government and associations could improve communications and increase the availability of feasible “green” practices that B&Bs could implement. The creation, implementation, communication and monitoring of government incentive programs in the field of sustainability would also improve B&Bs “green” practices. Second, an association could be created at the provincial or local level to recognize “green” initiatives through certification. Third, B&Bs could also become more aware of the current provincial and federal incentives offered to establishments for retrofitting.

Overall recommendations for government, associations and industry include the creation of a co-operative marketing initiative involving all three stakeholders.  This initiative could help increase awareness of “green” practices and specifically target the “green” niche market. The study notes that B&Bs are often not considered when discussing the impact of tourism and its contributions to mitigating climate change or moving towards more sustainable tourism. If Canada is to be seen as an eco-conscious destination, the B&B industry must not be forgotten. – new-

Bibliography
– Bohdanowicz, P., «European Hoteliers’ Environmental Attitudes: Greening the Business», Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Administration Quarterly, vol. 46 no 2, 2005, p.188-204.
– Gunter, H., «State programs help define green hotels», Hotel & Motel Management, vol. 223 no 10, 2008, p. 4.
– Hanna, E., «Setting the guestroom for the guest», Hotel & Motel Management, vol. 223 no 10, 2008, p. 48.
– Johnson, A., «Savings by the load», Hotel & Motel Management, vol. 223 no 11, 2008, p. 34.
– Rushmore, S. & Baum, E., «Hotel and Motels: Valuations and Market Studies», USA: The Appraisal Institute, 2001.
– Winter, J. P. & Azimi, S. L., «Less Garbage Overnight: A Waste Prevention Guide for the Lodging Industry», New York: INFORM, 1996.

Catégories
Sustainable tourism

The status of carbon offsetting programs in North America

Carbon offsetting is a controversial practice to reduce one’s carbon footprint; however, this practice has spread worldwide in the last decade. Offsetting attempts to counteract the impact of carbon emissions by drawing carbon out of the atmosphere and/or reducing emissions produced elsewhere. There are many methods of offsetting available, from planting trees (biological sequestration) to renewable energy production (such as wind farms). A commercial market has emerged to provide offsetting services to businesses and individuals, where consumers need only pay the offset provider, who then finances offsetting projects. However, not all types of offset projects are equally effective and each offset purchase must be ‘additional’ to ongoing offsets¹.  In the current unregulated offset market, these issues of ‘permanence’ and ‘additionality’ are difficult to ensure.  Several voluntary standards and certifications have been introduced by the offset industry attempting to ensure sound offsetting practices, but even these standards are controversial. The highest or most reputable voluntary standard is the UNIPCC Gold Standard. Lack of education on offsetting, lack of transparency within the market and scepticism about the effectiveness of carbon offsetting all create confusion for consumers and businesses exploring carbon offsetting.

A 2010 study by R. Dodds et al., “Carbon Offsetting Programs in North America: Assessing the Involvement of the Hospitality and Tourism Industry,” assessed the current marketplace for carbon offsetting providers in North America and the adoption of offsetting by the hospitality industry.  The study identified and contacted 50 carbon offset providers operating in North America. Of the 50 providers, 20 respondents participated in a telephone interview.   This study sought to determine 1) the status of the voluntary carbon offset market in North America and 2) the current level of involvement of the hospitality and tourism industry in mitigating climate change.

Key Findings of the Study

Offsetting and the Hospitality Industry

The study found that, overall, the hospitality industry was the most predominant industry utilizing offset providers, representing 19% of all offset business. Among hospitality and tourism sectors:

  • Festivals and events represented the largest share of offsetting services, accounting for 5% of all offsetting business.
  • Cruises were the least prominent sector of the hospitality industry, representing a statistically insignificant 0.2% of the client base.

Fifteen percent of respondent offset providers report that hospitality represented 75% or more of their client base. However, 32% of all respondent offset providers did not have any clients among the tourism and hospitality industry.

Respondents most often identified cost (40%) and lack of education (40%) as the barriers to buy-in by the hospitality industry and 85% of all respondents strongly agreed that there is confusion in the marketplace regarding carbon offsetting.

Offset Provider Practices

Renewable energy and biological sequestration were the most common types of offset project undertaken by offset providers, with each one used by 65%. Other common types were:

  • Energy efficiency projects (30%)
  • Methane capture (40%)
  • Half of respondents identified biological sequestration as the most popular type of project among clients

The study also found that there are numerous standards and certifications, with respondents identifying 14 different ones in use. The most commonly used standard was the Voluntary Carbon Standard (VCS). The Gold Standard, the world’s best known, was adhered to by four respondents. When asked which was the most credible method, respondents felt that ‘additionality’ was best ensured by standards (67%) and third-party verification (44%).

Implications of the Study

The findings indicate that the hospitality and tourism Industry is beginning to take action on the issues of climate change. Though the festival and events sector is a leader in adopting carbon offsetting practices, more efforts are needed to mitigate climate change, especially in the transportation sector. The study concluded that it is not clear whether the industry is purchasing offsets based on concern for climate change or in response to consumer demand; nor is it clear whether the industry is supporting the highest standard of offset providers or less reliable offset providers.

The recent economic downturn has demonstrated that the industry is highly price‑sensitive and the costs associated with adopting carbon offsetting practices were identified as a major barrier to buy-in for the hospitality industry.

Based on these survey findings, Dodds et al. (2010) call for more government regulation in the voluntary offsetting market to provide clearer standards of practice and a higher level of accountability. Further education regarding climate change and carbon offsetting within the industry is required as lack of education was a common theme among respondents (40%), yet many offset providers have not incorporated client education into their business practices. Some airlines have begun to provide carbon offset credits at the point of purchase, but few consumers are aware of the concept or knowledgeable about how it works.

As demand for offsetting is likely to increase as consumers become better acquainted with the practice, there is a need for regulation and education. If governments provide trustworthy regulation, consumers will become more confident in the value of their offset credits.  In the absence of government regulation, a number of recommendations should be considered and the hospitality and tourism industry should use discretion when adopting carbon offsetting practices. It is important to select offsetting providers that can produce a transparent accounting of their methods and offset projects. Familiarize yourself with the various offsetting methods and issues such as additionality and permanence, and look for the most trustworthy standards.

Industry should note that carbon offsetting is not a solution to the issues of climate change, but simply one part of a holistic strategy to mitigate your impact. Offsetting should be incorporated into a system-wide carbon mitigation strategy and supported by rigorous climate change education.

¹“An offset project is considered additional if it is not business as usual. Typically, this means that the project would not have happened without the extra funding from the sale of offsets.” (David Suzuki Foundation, 2009) Only with the applied concept of additionality can the offsetting program have a net benefit for the climate.

Source:

– Dodds, R., Bessada, T., Garcia-Arredondo, J., McDougall, A., and Thiesen, N. “Carbon Offsetting Programs in North America: Assessing the Involvement of the Hospitality and Tourism Industry”, 2010



Catégories
Ailleurs dans le monde @en Products and activities Sustainable tourism

Does Environmentally Friendly Golf Exist?

As far as environmental responsibility is concerned, golf is neither ahead, nor behind other sectors, and it may take some time before it is considered as ‘responsible recreation’. Golf courses have a long history of being environmentally unfriendly, due to their high water and chemical use, impact on local topography, hydrology and wildlife.1

Nonetheless, golf remains an important activity across Québec’s 362 golf clubs, while worldwide an estimated 25,000 golf courses cater to some 50 million players. Internationally, various organizations and initiatives exist to reduce golf’s environmental impact, but one of the most popular remains the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program. In 2009, 783 golf courses were certified by this program worldwide, including 82 in Canada and 11 in Québec.2

Golf courses that have implemented initiatives to reduce their environmental impact can be recognized by a variety of actions, including:

  • decreased water use
  • improved irrigation systems and water application
  • water quality monitoring
  • reduced or eliminated pesticide use
  • increased natural organic fertilizer use
  • improved spill containment for pesticide mixing and loading areas
  • decreased managed turf grass area to increase wildlife habitat
  • landscaping with native plants to increase wildlife habitats
  • removed exotic invasive plants
  • vegetation planted in and around waterways
  • installed of contained equipment in wash-off area.

Where such environmental actions have been implemented, golf course managers have generally also reported a positive business value or cost savings, according to Audubon International assessments.3

Situation in Québec

Currently, there is no information that systematically documents environmental improvements implemented by Québec golf courses. However, numerous golf courses are actively working towards reducing their negative environmental impact, while several are also in process of certification by Audubon International. The most prevalent positive environmental action presently in Québec remains the reduction of pesticide use, owing to legislation implemented back in 2003 by the Provincial Government.4 According to baseline assessments for the period 2003-2005, Québec’s golf sector used 39,382 kg of active ingredients per year (according to sales figures) and 75.9%, or 29,885 kg, in the form of fungicides.5 In comparison with total pesticide use in the Province, pesticide use by golf represented about 1.1% of the total. The continuous reductions in pesticide use remains important to maintain watershed ecosystem health, but especially since their application by golf courses in Québec occurs almost entirely on permeable soils.

Since 2003, the Québec Pesticides Management Code and its associated regulations require all Québec golf courses to submit a pesticide reduction plan prepared by a certified agronomist to the ministère du Développement durable, de l’Environnement et des Parcs every three years.4 For the period 2006-2009, the objective was to achieve average reductions of 12.9% in the use of fungicides, 9.4% in herbicides, 8.2% in insecticides, 7.4% in rodenticides and 2.8% in growth regulators. The results are currently being analyzed and the objectives for the next three years will be revised in 2010.

Though golf courses in Québec have taken numerous other actions to improve their environmental management, the overall impact of these is not documented, with the exception of the Laurentides, where water use is monitored by public sector organizations. A few golf courses have also installed industrial equipment to filter, treat and reuse wastewater. However, such initiatives are limited to only a few places, since they cost up to CAD 200,000. Elsewhere, golf courses have exchanged their carts for electric versions, implemented recycling programs, and use recyclable or biodegradable balls and tees. Increasingly, some golf courses supply their restaurants with local and regional foods, as in the case of the Rawdon Golf Club, which also received Le Phénix de l’environnement Award in 2009 for having implemented a variety of initiatives to improve its environmental management.6

While there aren’t clearly any 100% eco-friendly golf courses, work is under way to improve management at some places. There is currently a move in Québec to implement a variety of voluntary initiatives in 2010. For example, the Association des terrains de golf du Québec is drafting a sustainable development policy and green program, which will address comprehensive environmental management requirements covering a range of issues, including waste and water management (composting, recycling), hazardous substance use, vegetation around waterways and others. A number of other organizations, such as the Coalition for Responsible Golf, are also working to help golf courses improve their environmental management practices in Québec.

What about green golfers?

Few studies have assessed golfers’ attitudes towards the environment, and none have been reported from Québec. However, in 2008, Golf Digest published a survey that illustrated how perceptions of 650 avid golfers compared with the general American population regarding golf and its relationship with the environment.7 According to this study, golfers were typically male, affluent and older than the general population surveyed and some similarities and differences were noted amongst the two groups concerning environmental attitudes. For example, both groups appeared environmentally conscious and participated in activities like recycling and agreed that government regulation is a necessary approach for addressing environmental issues. However, while golfers also appeared to support the idea that golf is an environmentally friendly/compatible sport, they were less likely than the general population to participate in initiatives such as carpooling. Figure 1 summarizes some of the attitudes towards specific impacts linked to water and pesticide use, which suggests that fewer golfers believe the game’s water and pesticide use has a negative impact on the environment than the general population. The Golf Digest study 7 also suggests that, while golfers agree with the need to improve the environmental management of golf courses, such improvement does not necessarily represent a big plus for increased participation in the game.

golf_vs_environnement1

Some golf courses are also focussing on player education to raise environmental awareness and several try to get players involved by having them volunteer to carry out restoration and environmental works, while others encourage the provision of financial support towards environment initiatives.

Golf clearly has the potential to be more environmentally responsible and the numerous initiatives in place by some golf courses currently leave no room for inaction by the great majority.

Source

(1) Wheeler, K. & Nauright, J. (2006). A green game?: A Global Perspective on the Environmental Impact of Golf. Sport in Society, 9(3) 427-443.

(2) Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses

(3) Audubon International (2007). Golf’s Green Bottom Line: Uncovering the Hidden Business Value of Environmental Stewardship on Golf Courses. Audubon International. 64 p.

(4) Ministère du Développement durable, de l’Environnement et des Parcs. Code de gestion des pesticides. Last access November 4, 2009 http://www.mddep.gouv.qc.ca/pesticides/permis/code-gestion/index.htm

(5) Laverdière, C., Dion, S., and Gauthier, F. (2007). Bilan des plans de réduction des pesticides sur les terrains de golf. Ministère du Développement durable, de l’Environnement et des Parcs. 54 p.

(6) Ministère du Développement durable, de l’Environnement et des Parcs. Les Phénix de l’environnement, édition 2009. Last access October 28, 2009. http://www.mddep.gouv.qc.ca/Phenix/2009/5-realisation-entrep.htm

(7) Golf Digest (2008). Golf and the Environment: Golfer Perceptions and Attitudes Concerning the Game and its Relationship with the Environment. Golf Digest Publication. Research Resource Centre. 25 p.

Catégories
Sustainable tourism

Your Visitors are Taking Environmental Action? Reward Them!

To stimulate demand for sustainable tourism, there may be a greater need for financial incentives for consumers and businesses. Small businesses might especially benefit from financial incentives for implementing operational changes that lead to net resource conservation from measures such as rebates and tax breaks. If the savings were passed onto consumers, it might lead to greater demand and result in faster industry performance improvements. Financial incentives, even if small, have the capacity to draw the attention of market segments (such as the masses that are not yet eco-conscious) and encourage participation in initiatives that may be educational and raise awareness.

Economic incentives are considered a key component of sustainable tourism growth. Yet, there are very few examples of this when it comes to producing or purchasing tourism products. It is well known that existing “eco-conscious” tourists are not really motivated by price and that most others, and especially mass tourists still are. Moreover, studies also show that price is perceived as a significant barrier for purchasing responsible tourism experiences1.

Offering financial rewards is not relevant to all businesses since some tourism operations offer clients opportunities to participate in different activities (especially eco and nature-based) that lead them to better understand the importance of natural resource conservation. It is assumed that such experiences might be rewarding, because they are meaningful at a personal level and clients automatically benefit by learning and can often result in responsible action elsewhere too.

There are many examples of small incentives to encourage responsible behaviour, such as giving a small discount for reusing a cup in café, giving away reusable shopping bags away at stores and so on. But why not reward tourists for partaking in environmental actions? Here are some examples from around the world.

At festivals…

In 2009, Roskilde Festival in Denmark2 focussed some of its environmental initiatives on climate change with its Green Footsteps campaign. The organizers encouraged clients to take at least one environmental action, such as arriving at the festival by public transport instead by car and awarded them with green footsteps for this. A total of 40 000 actions were taken by festival-goers linked to cut energy consumption and CO2 production, and as a reward, those with enough green footsteps could reserve a spot at the camping area before it opened for the general public. Those with the most green footsteps were also invited to join the festival’s Climate Community, a camping quarter providing an enriched visitor experience for participating patrons. They were offered engageing activities, knowledge about climate change, climate friendly showers (energy from wind, sun and humans on bikes) and a dance floor.

At nature parks…

Phillip Island Nature Parks3 (PINP) in Victoria, Australia provides wildlife experiences involving a variety of species, notably the Little Penguins whose conservation and volunteer program also includes a reward component for participants. PINP manages numerous conservation projects such as revegetation and weed removal, amongst others. The park rewards every international and domestic volunteer who helps with conservation works by offering free accommodation. The park also waives park entree fees for participating international volunteers. As do many zoos and aquariums around the world PINP also runs an “adopt an animal” program, where visitors can donate funds to help with penguin and other environmental conservation works. Those who participate become members and once a year receive free tickets to see the penguins. PINP is a not-for-profit organization and does not receive ongoing funding from the government, and it generates its own revenue to ensure business viability.

On tours…

GeoEx4 is a tour company that offers all its travelers who contribute $250 or more to the Living Planet Trust (a donor-directed fund administered by the Tides Foundation of San Francisco) a $250 travel voucher toward a future trip. These tax-deductible donations to the Living Planet Trust are dedicated to offsetting the carbon emissions generated by travelers’ international air passage and to funding local initiatives at the destination they just experienced.

At ski areas…

Several ski resorts in North America have carpool and bus incentive programs, encouraging skiers to take fewer cars to the mountains. For example, at Arapahoe Basin resort5 in Colorado, guests with four individuals in a vehicle are offered a 30% discount on lift tickets. The resort also provides financial support to a local bus system to encourage public transport use and reduce vehicle congestion and air pollution. Similarly, Aspen/Snowmass6 partnered with the City of Aspen to provide carpooling guests (with two or more adults) a free parking pass for all-day parking at the resort.

At airports…

Several airports are also rewarding the eco-conscious. For example, at Boston Logan Airport7 those who drive hybrid cars get preferential parking and taxis with low emission vehicles are eligible for a US $ 25,000 grant (from the government). Hybrid taxis also have privileged front of the line passenger pick-ups at the airport. Similarly, San Francisco airport has a Green Rental Car program that rewards customers renting hybrid cars with a $15 discount8.

On islands…

Targeta Verda9 or Green Card is an initiative of the Balearic Island Foundation to raise funds from tourists for sustainable development projects while giving discounts for visiting attractions and buying commercial products. The card costs 10 euros and is valid for 15 days for visitors, and for one year for residents while its benefits include free bike hire. Funds from the card have also been put towards various ecological restoration projects on the island, heritage interpretation and visitor awareness programs.

While Shopping …

Many tourist attractions (such as zoos) already sell products in their gift shops, which are produced responsibly and in some cases, the purchase of an item may provide a portion of the cost towards some conservation effort (for example, save a threatened animal from extinction). Eco-perks Green Rewards Store10 is a California-based online store that gives eco-points to customers who buy responsibly produced products and services. These could be anything from T-shirts and carbon offsets to stays at places such as W Hotels or Chumbe Island Coral Park in Zanzibar. The company also sells a wide variety of low-impact tourism experiences at various destinations: hanggliding, birdwatching, kayaking, cycling tours and so on. The more people buy, the more eco-points redeemed that can be used to purchase other products and services sold by the company. Eco-points can also be donated to a variety of causes such as environmentally oriented NGOs and ecosystem restoration projects. The company also provides information and tools to help reduce the negative impacts of every-day life.

So what?

It might be worthwhile to provide visitors with some kind of a reward, however small, because it would help communicate some of the environmental actions a company is undertaking that may otherwise be invisible and thereby raise awareness about an issue. Since most consumer groups have expressed some kind of an interest in purchasing green products, this may help also help to attract new clients.

Sources:

1. Reem, C. (2009). PhoCusWright’s Going Green: The Business Impact of Environmental Awareness of Travel. PhoCusWright. Sherman, CT, USA. 29 p.
2. Roskilde Festival. Reserve a spot at the camping area. Last consulted July 7, 2009. http://www.roskilde-festival.dk/uk/news/singlenews/reserve-a-spot-at-the-camping-area/
3. Philip Island Nature Parks. Wildlife and habitat programs. http://www.penguins.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=36&Itemid=19 Last consulted June 16, 2009.
4. Geographic Expeditions. Responsible Travel. Walking the Talk. 2009 http://www.geoex.com/about_us/responsible_travel.asp Last consulted July 7, 2009.
5. Arapahoe Basin. http://www.arapahoebasin.com/ABasin/about/environment/transportation.aspx Last consulted July 6, 2009.
6. Aspen Snowmass. http://www.aspensnowmass.com/onmountain/statsfacts/statsfacts.cfm?area=Aspen%20Mountain Last consulted July 6, 2009.
7. Massachusetts Port Authority. Preferred Parking at Logan for Passengers Driving Clean Fuel Vehicles. http://www.massport.com/about/press_news_cleanvehiclehtml.html Last consulted July 13, 2009.
8. San Francisco International Airport. Save some green when you rent green. http://www.flysfo.com/web/page/tofrom/rental-cars/greenrentals/ Last consulted July 13, 2009.
9. Foundation for a Sustainable Balearics. http://www.targetaverda.com Last consulted June 4, 2009.
10. Eco Perks. http://www.ecoperks.com/ Last consulted July 2, 2009.

Catégories
Distribution networks Sustainable tourism

Canadian Travel Agents and Carbon Offsets

In 2006, 26,400 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide were emitted into the atmosphere, of which tourism contributed 5% (UNWTO, 2008). Of that 5%, air travel was responsible for 40% and land travel for 36%.

The relationship between climate change and tourism is interwoven and interdependent.  Climate change has major implications for the future of tourism because weather conditions factor heavily into the business direction of tourism operators. In Canada, seasonal and outdoor tourism may be adversely impacted by abnormal or unpredictable weather patterns, and costly changes to infrastructure may be required to cope with these changes .

With the growing concern about the effects of climate change and how the tourism industry is vulnerable to these effects, the challenge is to determine the awareness of tourism stakeholders and their level of participation in mitigating such effects.

A 2008 study by L. Kole et al at Ryerson University aimed to determine the level of awareness among Canadian travel agents with regard to climate change, and their willingness to offer carbon offsetting as a mitigation strategy to their clients. The study also aimed to determine whether more information regarding environmental issues and carbon offsetting needs to be provided to travel agents to assist them in channelling this knowledge to consumers.

The study sent an e-survey to 1886 members of the Association of Canadian Travel Agents (ACTA) and 2,500 members of the Canadian Institute of Travel Counsellors (CITC). The study received a 5.9% response rate.

Findings

The study found that while travel agents consider climate change a threat, they were unaware of the tourism industry’s contribution to climate change. Their consumers, travellers, also did not make the connection between climate change and their travel habits. Most travel agents have a ‘basic’ understanding (50%) of climate change and carbon offsetting. More than 50% said their first business priority was ‘making a profit.’ However, 9% of travel agencies said their first priority was ‘spreading knowledge of climate change.’ In addition, although 46% of agents felt it was important to communicate environmental issues related to tourism, they were not encouraged to do so by their agencies.

Some 34% of Canadian travel agents believe their customers would be willing to pay up to $10 as an additional charge for carbon offsets, although they felt that the government should bear the financial costs of carbon offsets. Less than half of these agents ’sometimes’ suggest carbon offsets to their customers while customers ‘rarely’ bring up the option of carbon offsets.

The study concludes that since most travel agents have only a ‘basic’ knowledge and understanding of climate change, they are not sufficiently informed to help transfer knowledge about climate change and carbon offsets to their clients. This is also the main reason that agencies are apprehensive about presenting carbon offsetting as a viable option. Travel agents need to be well-versed in environmental issues and carbon offsetting in order to be ambassadors of environmental change.

Implications

In order to increase awareness, a combined effort needs to be initiated among governments, academic institutions and corporations to educate agents about the effects of climate change on tourism and carbon offsetting. As travel agents are representatives at the frontline of the tourism industry, they wield considerable influence when it comes to travellers’ actions and awareness of environmental issues.

There are a number of approaches for communicating climate change awareness within the tourism industry and for making climate change and carbon offsetting a fundamental part of the industry:

  1. Education Campaign for Agents – climate change and mitigation strategies should be part of travel training institutions’ curriculum.
  2. Increase client awareness through the tourism industry, in order to incorporate this issue into mainstream culture.
  3. Offer clients a flat-rate fee for carbon offsetting.

Travel agents must realize that they can help mitigate the effects of climate change. Agents can inspire action by educating consumers about how their travels contribute to climate change, and by offering them carbon offsetting options to enable them to reduce their carbon emissions.

Sources:

Kole, L., Krestell, S., Parlagreco, L. & Dodds, R. (2008). Climate Change and Carbon Offsetting. Toronto: Ryerson University. 49 pages.

United Nations World Tourism Organization (2008). Climate Change and Tourism:
Responding to Global Challenges. Retrieved from http://www.unwto.org/index.php