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English teaching materials for students at AGH UST Krakow, Poland

 

by Elżbieta Kania (AGH UST ) You are free to display and print these materials for your personal, non-commercial use, but you may not 

otherwise reproduce any of the materials without the prior written consent of the owners. You may not distribute copies of the materials in 

any form (including by e-mail or other electronic means.)

 

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM 

 

Key words 
 
sustainable tourism 
intercultural understanding 
cultural heritage 
conserving resources 
host 
 
 
I Pre-reading questions 
 
1. How do you think sustainable tourism differs from ecotourism? 
 
2. Have you heard about the concept of responsible tourism? Can you explain it? 
 
3. What does responsible tourism expect from tourism stakeholders and from tourists 
 
   themselves? 
 
II Work in groups of three or four. Discuss with your friends how sustainable tourists can  
 
 reduce the negative impact of tourism. Exchange your opinions with other groups 

 
III Read the articles about sustainable and responsible tourism and compare the information 
 
      they present with your answers. Is there anything you have not mentioned? 
 
IV What is responsible hospitality about? Think of some examples that would illustrate this 
concept. 
 
 
 
 
 
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_tourism 
 
Sustainable tourism
 is tourism attempting to make as low impact on the environment and 
local culture as possible, while helping to generate future employment for local people. The 
aim of sustainable tourism is to ensure that development brings a positive experience for local 
people, tourism companies and the tourists themselves. Sustainable tourism is not the same as 
ecotourism. 
 
 
 
 
 
 

background image

English teaching materials for students at AGH UST Krakow, Poland

 

by Elżbieta Kania (AGH UST ) You are free to display and print these materials for your personal, non-commercial use, but you may not 

otherwise reproduce any of the materials without the prior written consent of the owners. You may not distribute copies of the materials in 

any form (including by e-mail or other electronic means.)

 

 
. Sustainable tourists can reduce the impact of tourism in many ways: 

 

informing themselves of the culture, politics, and economy of the communities visited 

 

anticipating and respecting local cultures, expectations and assumptions 

 

contributing to intercultural understanding and tolerance 

 

supporting the integrity of local cultures by favoring businesses which conserve 
cultural heritage and traditional values 

 

supporting local economies by purchasing local goods and participating with small, 
local businesses 

 

conserving resources by seeking out businesses that are environmentally conscious, 
and by using the least possible amount of non-renewable resources 

Increasingly, destinations and tourism operations are endorsing and following "responsible 
tourism" as a pathway towards sustainable tourism. Responsible tourism and sustainable 
tourism have an identical goal, that of sustainable development. The pillars of responsible 
tourism are therefore the same as those of sustainable tourism – environmental 
integrity, social justice and economic development
. The major difference between the two 
is that, in responsible tourism, individuals, organizations and businesses are asked to take 
responsibility for their actions and the impacts of their actions. This shift in emphasis has 
taken place because some stakeholders feel that insufficient progress towards realizing 
sustainable tourism has been made since the Earth Summit in Rio. This is partly because 
everyone has been expecting others to behave in a sustainable manner. The emphasis on 
responsibility in responsible tourism means that everyone involved in tourism – government, 
product owners and operators, transport operators, community services, NGOs and 
Community-based organization CBOs, tourists, local communities, industry associations – are 
responsible for achieving the goals of responsible tourism. 

 
Responsible tourism 
Responsible tourism is regarded as a behaviour. It is more than a form of tourism as it 
represents an approach to engaging with tourism, be that as a tourist, a business, locals at a 
destination or any other tourism stakeholder. It emphasizes that all stakeholders are 
responsible for the kind of tourism they develop or engage in. Whilst different groups will 
see responsibility in different ways, the shared understanding is that responsible tourism 
should
 entail an improvement in tourism. Tourism should become ‘better’ as a result of the 
responsible tourism approach. 
Within the notion of betterment resides the acknowledgement that conflicting interests need to 
be balanced. However, the objective is to create better places for people to live in and to visit. 
Importantly, there is no blueprint for responsible tourism: what is deemed responsible may 
differ depending on places and cultures. Responsible Tourism is an aspiration that can be 
realized in different ways in different originating markets and in the diverse destinations of 
the world (Goodwin, 2002). 
Focusing in particular on businesses, according to the Cape Town Declaration on Responsible 
Tourism, it will have the following characteristics. 

 

minimises negative economic, environmental, and social impacts 

 

generates greater economic benefits for local people and enhances the well-being of 
host communities, improves working conditions and access to the industry 

 

involves local people in decisions that affect their lives and life chances 

background image

English teaching materials for students at AGH UST Krakow, Poland

 

by Elżbieta Kania (AGH UST ) You are free to display and print these materials for your personal, non-commercial use, but you may not 

otherwise reproduce any of the materials without the prior written consent of the owners. You may not distribute copies of the materials in 

any form (including by e-mail or other electronic means.)

 

 

makes positive contributions to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage, 
to the maintenance of the world’s diversity 

 

provides more enjoyable experiences for tourists through more meaningful 
connections with local people, and a greater understanding of local cultural, social and 
environmental issues 

 

provides access for people with disabilities and 

 

is culturally sensitive, engenders respect between tourists and hosts, and builds local 
pride and confidence 
 

Sustainable tourism is where tourists can enjoy their holiday and at the same time respect the 
culture of people and also respect the environment. It also means that local people (such as the 
Masaai) get a fair say about tourism and also receive some money from the profit which the 
game reserve make. The environment is being damaged quite a lot by tourists and part of 
Sustainable tourism is to make sure that the damaging does not carry on. 
 
 
 
Responsible hospitality 
 
As with the view of responsible tourism, responsible hospitality is essentially about creating 
better places for people to live in, and better places for people to visit. This does not mean all 
forms of hospitality are also forms of tourism although hospitality is the largest sector of the 
tourism industry. As such we should not be surprised at overlaps between responsible 
hospitality and responsible tourism. In the instance where place of permanent residence is also 
the place where the hospitality service is consumed, if for example a meal is consumed in a 
local restaurant, this does not obviate the requirement to improve the place of residence. As 
such, the essence of Responsible Hospitality is not contingent upon touristic forms of 
hospitality. 
 
While Friedman (1962)famously argued that, admittedly within legal parameters, the sole 
responsibility of business was to generate profit for shareholders the idea that businesses’ 
responsibility extends beyond this has existed for decades and is most frequently encountered 
in the concept of corporate social responsibility. There are numerous ways businesses can and 
do engage in activities that are not intended to benefit shareholders and management, at least 
not in the short term. However, often acts of corporate social responsibility are undertaken 
because of the perceived benefit to business. Usually in hospitality this relates to the cost 
reductions associated with improved energy efficiency but may also relate to, for example, the 
rise in ethical consumerism and the view that being seen to be a responsible business is 
beneficial to revenue growth. 
 
As per the Cape Town Declaration on Responsible Tourism, responsible hospitality is 
culturally sensitive. Instead of then calling for the unachievable, responsible hospitality 
simply makes the case for more responsible forms of hospitality, hospitality that benefits 
locals first, and visitors second. Certainly, all forms of hospitality can be improved and 
managed so that negative impacts are minimized whilst striving for a maximization of 
positive impacts. 
 
 
 
 

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English teaching materials for students at AGH UST Krakow, Poland

 

by Elżbieta Kania (AGH UST ) You are free to display and print these materials for your personal, non-commercial use, but you may not 

otherwise reproduce any of the materials without the prior written consent of the owners. You may not distribute copies of the materials in 

any form (including by e-mail or other electronic means.)

 

 
V What other collocations with the word sustainable do you know and what is their meaning? 
 
VI Translate into Polish sentences in bold. 
 
 
 
 
 
 

THE GEOTURISM CHART 

 
 

Source:  ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geotourism ) 
 
I Pre-reading question. 
 
 In what sense is geotourism a broader concept than sustainable tourism and ecotourism? 
 
II Read The Geotourism Chart and match the words in the column with their definitions. 
 
adhere  

 

 

making sth less severe 

disseminate 

 

 

the act of taking care or or managing sth 

resilience 

 

 

to prevent sth harmful from from spreading or becoming worse 

civic   

 

 

having beautiful natural scenery 

alleviation 

 

 

to spread information 

stewardship   

 

the ability of a substance to return to its original shape after  

 

 

 

 

damage 

sprawl  

 

 

making sth less harmful 

contain  

 

 

to keep sth 

retain   

 

 

to cover a large area 

scenic   

 

 

connected with people who live in a town or city 

mitigating 

 

 

to stick firmly to sth 

 

 
 
Geo-tourism(NGG-tourism program) is "best practice" tourism that sustains, or even 
enhances, the geographical character of a place, such as its culture, environment, heritage, and 
the well-being of its residents. 
 
The concept of Geographical sustainable tourism with coining the word Geo-tourism, was 
introduced publicly just in the USA in a 2002 report by the Travel Industry Association of 
America (as of 2009 this organization adapted name to U.S. Travel Association) and National 
Geographic Traveler magazine. National Geographic senior editor Jonathan B. Tourtellot and 
his wife, Sally Bensusen, coined the term in 1997 in response to requests for a term and 
concept more encompassing than ecotourism and sustainable tourism 
 
 
 
 

background image

English teaching materials for students at AGH UST Krakow, Poland

 

by Elżbieta Kania (AGH UST ) You are free to display and print these materials for your personal, non-commercial use, but you may not 

otherwise reproduce any of the materials without the prior written consent of the owners. You may not distribute copies of the materials in 

any form (including by e-mail or other electronic means.)

 

The National Geographic Society defines geotourism as tourism that sustains or enhances the 
geographical character of a place – its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well-
being of its residents. 
 
National Geographic Society has also drawn up a "Geotourism Charter" based on 13 
principles:[7] 
 
  1.  Integrity of place: Enhance geographical character by developing and improving it in 
ways distinctive to the local, reflective of its natural and cultural heritage, so as to encourage 
market differentiation and cultural pride. 
   2. International codes: Adhere to the principles embodied in the World Tourism 
Organization’s Global Code of Ethics for Tourism and the Principles of the Cultural Tourism 
Charter established by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS). 
   3. Market selectivity: Encourage growth in tourism market segments most likely to 
appreciate, respect, and disseminate information about the distinctive assets of the locale. 
   4. Market diversity: Encourage a full range of appropriate food and lodging facilities, so as 
to appeal to the entire demographic spectrum of the geotourism market and so maximize 
economic resiliency over both the short and long term. 
    5.Tourist satisfaction: Ensure that satisfied, excited geotourists bring new vacation stories 
home and encourage friends to experience the same thing, thus providing continuing demand 
for the destination. 
   6. Community involvement: Base tourism on community resources to the extent possible, 
encouraging local small businesses and civic groups to build partnerships to promote and 
provide a distinctive, honest visitor experience and market their locales effectively. Help 
businesses develop approaches to tourism that build on the area’s nature, history and culture, 
including food and drink, artisanry, performance arts, etc. 
   7. Community benefit: Encourage micro- to medium-size enterprises and tourism business 
strategies that emphasize economic and social benefits to involved communities, especially 
poverty alleviation, with clear communication of the destination stewardship policies required 
to maintain those benefits. 
   8. Protection and enhancement of destination appeal: Encourage businesses to sustain 
natural habitats, heritage sites, aesthetic appeal, and local culture. Prevent degradation by 
keeping volumes of tourists within maximum acceptable limits. Seek business models that can 
operate profitably within those limits. Use persuasion, incentives, and legal enforcement as 
needed. 
   9. Land use: Anticipate development pressures and apply techniques to prevent undesired 
overdevelopment and degradation. Contain resort and vacation-home sprawl, especially on 
coasts and islands, so as to retain a diversity of natural and scenic environments and ensure 
continued resident access to waterfronts. Encourage major self-contained tourism attractions, 
such as large-scale theme parks and convention centers unrelated to character of place, to be 
sited in needier locations with no significant ecological, scenic, or cultural assets. 
    10.Conservation of resources: Encourage businesses to minimize water pollution, solid 
waste, energy consumption, water usage, landscaping chemicals, and overly bright nighttime 
lighting. Advertise these measures in a way that attracts the large, environmentally 
sympathetic tourist market. 
    11.Planning: Recognize and respect immediate economic needs without sacrificing long-
term character and the geotourism potential of the destination. Where tourism attracts in-
migration of workers, develop new communities that themselves constitute a destination 
enhancement. Strive to diversify the economy and limit population influx to sustainable 

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English teaching materials for students at AGH UST Krakow, Poland

 

by Elżbieta Kania (AGH UST ) You are free to display and print these materials for your personal, non-commercial use, but you may not 

otherwise reproduce any of the materials without the prior written consent of the owners. You may not distribute copies of the materials in 

any form (including by e-mail or other electronic means.)

 

levels. Adopt public strategies for mitigating practices that are incompatible with geotourism 
and damaging to the image of the destination. 
   12. Interactive interpretation: Engage both visitors and hosts in learning about the place. 
Encourage residents to promote the natural and cultural heritage of their communities so 
tourists gain a richer experience and residents develop pride in their locales. 
   13. Evaluation: Establish an evaluation process to be conducted on a regular basis by an 
independent panel representing all stakeholder interests, and publicize evaluation results. 
 
 
 
   
III Which article of the chart says that: 
 
 1. Tourists should enhance their knowledge of the places they visit 
 
2. Tourism businesses should do their best to avoid depleting natural resources in the places 
visited by tourists. 
 
3.It is important to prevent excessive sprawl of resorts. 
 
4. It is good for the environment to limit the number of tourists visiting a place 
 
5. Authorities should control the flow of workers from outside to tourist destinations. 
 
6. Tourism of a region should be evaluated regularly by  an independent body. 
 
 
IV Complete the blanks in the text with the words from the list. 
 
focuses, sustainability, incentive, branding, incorporate, principle, revenues, generic, 
contribute, artisanry, do-no-harm, enhancement 
 
 
 
Like true ecotourism, geotourism promotes a virtuous circle whereby tourism 
1…………provide a local 2………… to protect what tourists are coming to see, but extends 
the 3…………… beyond nature and ecology to 4…………… all characteristics that 
5……………. to “sense of place”—historic structures, living and traditional culture, 
landscapes, cuisine, arts and 6……………, as well as local flora and fauna. Geotourism 
incorporates 7…………… principles, but in addition to the 8…………… ethic, geotourism 
9…………… on the place as a whole. The idea of 10…………… allows for development 
based on character of place, rather than standardized international 11…………., and 
12………….. architecture, food, and so on. 
 
 
V. Project 
 
 Work in groups of three or four to plan a five-day holiday for a group of business 
representatives who are coming to Poland. Make sure that your plan is based on the  
principles listed in the Chart. 

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English teaching materials for students at AGH UST Krakow, Poland

 

by Elżbieta Kania (AGH UST ) You are free to display and print these materials for your personal, non-commercial use, but you may not 

otherwise reproduce any of the materials without the prior written consent of the owners. You may not distribute copies of the materials in 

any form (including by e-mail or other electronic means.)