Lecture responsible tourism unit 16 responsible tourism for tour operators

UNIT 16 RESPONSIBLE TOURISM FOR TOUR OPERATORS Picture source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cycle_rickshaw_in_Hanoi.jpg Unit outline Objectives Topics By the end of this unit, participants will be able to: • Understand the importance and benefits of applying responsible tourism to travel and tour operation in Vietnam • Apply responsible employment policies and strategies • Explain procedures for reducing energy, water and waste • Understand the role of responsible tourism organisational policies and how to implement them • Explain how to develop economically viable responsible tourism products • Understand the steps required to develop a responsible tourism supply chain • Implement responsible tourism marketing and communication • Identify how to support local tourism destinations Overview of tour and travel sector in Vietnam Implementing responsible tourism in internal management Developing responsible tourism products Creating responsible tourism supply chains Ensuring responsibility in marketing and communications Responsible support to tourism destinations RESPONSIBLE TOURISM FOR TOUR OPERATORS TOPIC TOURS & TRAVEL SECTOR OVERVIEW & THE NEED FOR RESPONSIBLE TOURISM Picture source: http://www.fotopedia.com/items/flickr-4473340424 Composition of the tours and travel sector Transport operators Attractions Picture sources: http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1364221; http://www.flickr.com/photos/needoptic/9861409444/; http://www.flickr.com/photos/dalbera/4399833574/; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Southern_Vectis_coaches_at_Bustival_2010.JPG; http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Victoria_Hoi_An_Hotel_Ressort_und_Spa.jpg; http://www.flickr.com/photos/calflier001/6943300353/ Key sector figures GLOBAL1 VIETNAM2 800 10,000 17,000 12% Outbound tour operator arrivals international-market tour operators domestic-market tour operators registered tour guides Excludes packages! Tour Operators’ Initiative for Sustainable Tourism Development 2003, Sustainable Tourism: The Tour Operators’ Contribution ESRT 2013, Vietnam Tourism Marketing Strategy To 2020 & Action Plan: 2013-2015 (Proposed), ESRT, Vietnam Why tours are particularly important to the international market in Vietnam Picture sources: http://thethaovanhoa.vn/xa-hoi/doi-ve-tra-ve-tau-tet-phai-truoc-10-gio-tau-chay-tru-30-gia-ve-n20121202171607247.htm; http://vietnamlandingvisa.blogspot.com/2012/08/frequent-confusion-about-vietnam.html; http://www.tropicalisland.de/vietnam.html; http://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/blog/2012/mar/29/talented-students-may-lose-out The power and influence of tour operators TOURIST ACCOMMODATION Influence TOUR OPERATOR Influence Promotes and / or provides trade by including in packages or recommending to guests TOUR GUIDES Provides employment within organisation or by contract Promotes and / or provides trade by including in packages or recommending to guests RESTAURANTS Influence TRANSPORT Engages boat, bus, train, plane and other transport operators to move guests to / at attractions ATTRACTIONS Promotes and / or provides trade to natural and cultural attractions through tours The tour operator multiplier effect: A key to responsible tourism 1/2 Typical tour operator: tour operator 30 tours / year 25 guests / tour 750 responsible travellers / year = 750 stays in green hotels = 750 meals in local restaurants = 750 visitors to sustainable destinations … The tour operator multiplier effect: A key to responsible tourism 2/2 and if just 1% of Vietnam’s 18,000 tour operators acted responsibly, we could have 135,000 responsible travel trips in year! Typical tour operator: 180 tour operators (1%) 30 tours / year 25 guests / tour 135,000 responsible travellers / year Potential negative impacts of unsustainable practices Friction, distrust and disharmony Social values and cultural conflict Visitor safety and security Restricted economic development Destruction of natural environment Economic leakage Depletion of natural resources Why the tourism private sector has a responsibility to promote responsible tourism • The tourism private sector is central in the tourism system giving them power and influence over how tourism develops • Collectively tourism enterprises are highly connected to the nature and impacts of tourism on destinations • Links and partnerships with tourism authorities, other businesses and the local community are key areas where the private sector can influence sustainability Picture sources: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vietjet_Air_VN-A686_Pepsi_livery_(11100523213).jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C6%A1m_t%E1%BA%A5m http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rex_Hotel The power and influence of the tourism private sector BUSINESS Influence Promote and / or provide trade to local businesses Provide employment within their organisations (hotel, tour operator, restaurant, attraction, etc) Influence COMMUNITY TOURISM ENTERPRISE GOVERNMENT Provide revenue through payment of tourism tariffs & taxes Influence SUPPLY CHAIN ACTORS Purchase component goods & services to create tourism products VISITORS Provide tourism goods & services (enable the “tourism experience”) ways the private sector can influence sustainable tourism in destinations Engagement with tourism authorities Working with like-minded organisations Raising awareness in local communities Private sector engagement with destination tourism authorities B Participate in destination policy & planning processes A Participate in public sector organised conferences, meetings & fourms D Engage in public-private partnerships C Participate in public sector surveys / research Picture sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handshake http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/news/index.php?phrase=heok%20hui&start=10&category= http://www.flickr.com/photos/mhcseattle/1111568504/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/ilri/7549725204/ Working with like-minded organisations The tourism private sector can indirectly influence destination development and sustainability by: Work with business • Join an industry association or group and lobby internally and externally for greater sustainability Work with NGOs • Collaborate with NGOs engaging in sustainable tourism projects to foster positive change Pro-Poor Tourism Project in Quan Ba, Ha Giang Province, Vietnam Location Duration Funding Objectives Quan Ba District, Ha Giang, Viet Nam 48 months Caritas Luxembourg, Caritas Switzerland and Misereor Overall Objective: reduce poverty of local communities through establishing an incomegenerating activity by -and for the villagers based on available and unique cultural and natural resources, its sustainable management and fostering their cultural identity Specific Objectives: • • • • By 2013, each commune has 2-3 villages that generate income from pro-poor tourism (homestay, services, local products, fees, and others); On average each village receives minimum 150-200 tourists a year (maximum 720 tourists a year) for night by 2013; At least 40 households (5 per village) have regular employment and income from PPT activities and 10% belong to the poorest category; Villages and tourist companies (8-10 in total) work together based on a MoU of PPT (2010) Helping raise awareness in local communities about the importance of sustainable tourism Schools, universities & colleges • Speaking opportunities • Course input Seminars & conferences RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT SUSTAINABLE TOURISM Scholarships & donations • As a presenter • As a delegate • Sustainability scholarships • Sustainability resources D Help fund sustainable tourism in destinations How the private sector can help finance sustainable tourism destinations Encourage donations Promote & gain customer support 1.Send business to heritage sites Partner, sponsor & fundraise Help with business plans & funding proposals Picture sources: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wonderlane/4284011682/ http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Internet1.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxfam http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Looseleaf.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature Sending business to heritage sites • In Vietnam market analyses highlight significance of nature and culture as key motivations for travel • Promoting heritage sites also fosters greater appreciation of nature and culture and helps develop revenue to finance protection and promotion • How? – Tour operators Incorporate natural and cultural heritage sites into range of tour packages – Hotels, restaurants etc Recommend visiting heritage sites to customers if asked by customers ACTIVITIES & ATTRACTIONS OF HERITAGE SITES • Hiking • Cycling • Observing wildlife • Boating • Homestay experiences • Traditional art and crafts • Viewing historical relics • Observing cultural performances • Appreciating architecture • Observing religious traditions Assisting local organisations to prepare business plans and funding proposals What? • Local organisations working in sustainability frequently lack the knowledge and skills to strategically develop their organisations • Two key activities that can help strengthen institutions to be more economically sustainable are strategic business planning and financing Why? • To help support organisations that are building a destination that is socially, environmentally and economically healthier and happier and more attractive for tourists to visit How? Assist organisations doing good work to prepare simple business plans Assist social and environmental organisations identify funding opportunities and to develop funding proposals Partnering, sponsoring or fundraising to support environmental and social causes • Directly support sustainability activities in destinations by: – Helping finance NGO or community development activities – Donate unneeded equipment to needy organisations – Sponsor internships – Provide prizes of company goods or services at fundraising events – Give staff time off to participate in volunteering activities Picture sources: http://www.itu.int/osg/csd/cybersecurity/gca/cop/together.html Promoting and gaining customer support in sustainability activities • Visitors often learn about sustainability issues after they get to the destination • Providing opportunities to support sustainability activities in the destination can tap into the goodwill that is aroused • Businesses can link heritage sites with visitor support • Some common types of visitor support for sustainable development include donations, volunteering and advocacy Print material Include information about how to support conservation and social development in the company brochure, flyer and displays around common areas Digital communication Put on your website info about sustainability issues, support activities and how to get involved Enable electronic donations Play a video on the way to heritage sites Personal recommendations Inform tour guides and service staff about how visitors can support heritage conservation and get them to communicate this to guests Encouraging customers to donate to sustainability activities • Encouraging donations means providing ways for customers to directly provide finance for sustainability activities • Three key requirements: Make it easy for customers to learn about a particular sustainability issue, activity, or organisation (who, what, why, how) Be able to respond to questions Provide clear ways for people to make contributions • How? – – – – Provide a donations “drop box” Add a certain amount to the holiday price Add a fee or donation to a guests’ bill Send a % of profits to a charity Picture sources: http://www.freefoto.com/preview/04-28-50/US-Dollar-Bills Xin trân trọng cảm ơn! Thank you! ... participation Examples of responsible tourism products Responsible tourism destination Responsible tourism attraction Responsible tourism accommodation Responsible tourism transportation Madagascar... marketing and communications Responsible support to tourism destinations RESPONSIBLE TOURISM FOR TOUR OPERATORS TOPIC TOURS & TRAVEL SECTOR OVERVIEW & THE NEED FOR RESPONSIBLE TOURISM Picture source:... http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Recreational_cyclists_take_breaks_while_driving_on_a_bicycle _tour. jpg The key elements of responsible tour operation Responsible tourism internal management TOPIC Responsible tourism products TOPIC Responsible tourism supply chains TOPIC Responsible