Sustainable and Responsible Tourism Management: Concepts, Principles, and Challenges

This report explores the concepts and principles of sustainable and responsible tourism management, and evaluates the challenges faced in the process. It discusses the role of leading global organizations, purpose and principles of tourism development and planning, and the importance of measuring and monitoring sustainable performance. The report also provides a case study of Costa Rica and Maldives, and critically evaluates different approaches to tourism development and planning.

Sustainable and Responsible
Tourism Management

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................3
P1 Explaining the concepts of sustainable and responsible tourism has evolved.......................3
M1 Analysing the concepts according to leading global organizations......................................4
D 2 Critically analysing the application of the concepts for sustainable and responsible tourism
according to leading global organizations...................................................................................4
P2 Determining the role, mission of leading global organizations involved in promotion of
sustainable and responsible tourism............................................................................................5
P3 Exploring the purpose and principles of tourism development and planning to minimize the
adverse effects of tourism............................................................................................................5
P4 Evaluating process of tourism development and planning and challenges............................7
M2 Critically evaluating different approaches to tourism development and planning...............8
D2 Justifying the rationale for measuring and monitoring sustainable performance..................8
P5 Investigating impacts of tourism activity generated by a specific tourism attraction............8
P6 Examining how sustainability principles are implemented for meeting requirements and
expectations of stakeholders........................................................................................................9
M3 and D3 Analysing the contribution of various stakeholders and their importance in
minimizing the adverse impacts on sustainable objectives.......................................................10
P7 Evaluating how sustainability develops and manage at tourist destinations........................10
M4 and D4 Critically evaluating and recommending the solutions to improve sustainable
management...............................................................................................................................11
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................12
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................1

INTRODUCTION
Sustainable and responsible tourism is mainly derived as supporting all the activities
which helps in conserving the eco-tourism. This is mainly the concept established for providing
the ecotourism to all the travellers by respecting the culture, heritage, eco systems, wildlife, and
the environment for creating and exploring the greater and better place. This report provides
details for being appointed as the trainee manager at the DMO. This company is mainly
responsible for managing the tourism and destinations. It is organizing various activities for
attracting the visitors which enhances the local community through providing various services.
Further it helps in specifying about the Costa Rica destination mainly recognized with the beauty
and protecting the rainforests. The chosen destination for comparison is Maldives providing
sustainable tourism to various travellers visiting the destination as by preserving the islands and
its plants with reducing the plastics, also preserving the ecosystems, by rescuing the Marine
animals. This report provides details about the explaining the concepts of sustainable tourism and
determining role of mission and functions for promoting the tourism. Also exploring the purpose
and principles of the tourism development for minimizing the effect of tourism. Further
evaluating the process of tourism and development related to problems. Further investigating the
impacts of tourism and examining the principles of sustainability implemented. Lastly defining
about the sustainability is developed and managed tourism destination.
MAIN BODY
P1 Explaining the concepts of sustainable and responsible tourism has evolved
Sustainable tourism is mainly defining about the tourism involved in for minimizing the
costs by maximizing its environments and nature without harming the natural resources and
surrounding. The main aim of adopting the sustainable tourism is it helps in conserving the
natural forests and provide benefits by resolving the negative impacts on the environments. With
using this concept helps in deriving the nature and the culture followed for achieving the
sustainable tourism (Camilleri, 2018). This mainly impacts low and helps in conserving the local
ecosystem. With the evolution of the sustainable tourism helps in developing various eco-
tourism concepts and taking various initiatives. Further, with the evolution of the sustainable
tourism helps in protecting the natural resources, ecosystems, and preserving the wildlife by
conserving the heritage for providing better tourist experience.

Sustainable tourism in the Costa Rica is mainly recognized with establishing various
practices as of protecting the natation parks and preserving the wildlife for providing the best
experience to the tourist with providing the beauty and nature for deriving the ecosystems and
sustaining the large protection of the tourism with protecting the mother earth by using 100 %
renewable energy.
In the chosen sustainable tourism destination at Maldives adopting various sustainable
practices, as the hotel and all the resorts for providing the sustainable travel to all the tourist
arriving at the destination preserving the islands by protecting form the environmental damage
with reducing the plastic usage and by supporting more marine tourism to the travellers.
M1 Analysing the concepts according to leading global organizations
The leading global organization as the UNWTO provide the sustainable tourism for
travelling at all the destination including the costa Rica. The concept of sustainably according to
this leading organisation is this leading global organization is supporting this tourism with taking
various action as by preserving the biodiversity, adopting various actin for responding to the
climate changes (Mihalic and et.al, 2021). Also, taking initiatives for preserving the tourism by
managing the plastic free and reducing the usage of plastics. Further the organization initiated th
project as by collaborating with the HES for supporting the stages of renewable energy.
Another company is the Responsible Travel providing sustainable tourism to all the
travellers visiting to explore place by using the travel company. As the concept of the sustainable
and responsible travel according to this organization is, it is mainly providing various
sustainability as by providing maximum benefits by preserving plants with lowering the carbon
holidays and protecting the nature and creating the inclusivity with providing the plastic free
holidays. supporting the endangered species with serving vegan meals and conserving funds for
protecting the nature for travelling access the world.
D 2 Critically analysing the application of the concepts for sustainable and responsible tourism
according to leading global organizations
with analysing concept as of the sustainable tourism and the responsible tourism taken by
various leading organizations. As this concept of environment conserving, also socially and
reducing the economically impacts with providing well-being to all the communities. It mainly
helps in creating low impact on the environment and preserves the culture and traditions. Further

it supports in creating the well-being of various communities with generating the sustainable and
equitable income.
Further taking various concepts for conserving and providing the sustainability to all the
travellers it limited revenue form th government impacting as for conserving the sensitive areas.
Further the environmental impacts as many changes are very difficult for detecting and assessing
the coastal areas. Also, th economic stability hinders preservation and protecting the tars and
creating sustainability tourism for Traveller and tourists.
P2 Determining the role, mission of leading global organizations involved in promotion of
sustainable and responsible tourism
The role of the leading global organisation which is involved for proving the sustainable
and responsible tourism to all the travellers travelling at the destination as the main role of the
company is for promoting the sustainable tourism as for achieving the competitive advantage by
the education and training and using effective tools. This mainly helps in providing the
sustainable tourism to all the travellers visiting various countries (Mondal and Samaddar, 2021).
As the leading organization is mainly developing and protecting the bio diversity by conserving
all the natural and heritage. Also, preserving the eco culture and promoting the marine tourism
with using various tools as by posting and aids in promoting the inter cultural understanding.
Also these companies ensure in making and promoting all the sustainable practices
which is used for preserving the biodiversity as for providing the social welfares, taking various
actions for promoting the climatic changing conditions as the tourism and travelling considering
the diverse changes for preserving these aids in taking safety concerns and the plastic initiative
taken by the leading firms supports in solving the problems of protectionist the plastic pollution.
The companies mainly promote the sustainable and the accessible tourism by promoting the
value and offering various supports with advancing the knowledge’s and tourism policies
worldwide (Sica and et.al., 2020). Further the leading companies mission as to preserve the
sustainability tourism and respecting the natural heritage and preserving all the cultural and
natural resources with biodiversity. Also the leading companies also takes various steps for
providing various benefits to all the travellers by preserving the communities and culture for
creating sustainability tourism.

P3 Exploring the purpose and principles of tourism development and planning to minimize the
adverse effects of tourism
Tourism is mainly defining about earning the revenues a for boosting the economy as this
helps in retaining various job and employment opportunities with developing various
infrastructures and helps in creating the sense of the cultural and various exchanged between the
traveller while travelling to various countries. Further the main purpose of developing the
tourism as it helps in ever-increasing and attracting large number of travellers across various
countries for visiting and taking various services with making more attractive destination for the
travellers (Wilson, 2018). While developing the tourism supports with providing various benefits
as of lowering the impacts on the ecological and preserves the wildlife by keeping environment
clean with supporting the local communities.
Further various principle for developing the tourism including as:
Sustainable resources as by making the best use of all the environmental resources for
developing, preserving and conserving the natural heritage with biodiversity.
 Tourism must provide the quality of various employment to all the communities by
linking the local business.
 For developing the tourism must operate with the code of conduct with establishing the
proper standards and guidelines.
 With tourism the education and training programs must provide and preserves the
heritage of the destinations and the other resources.
 Tourism must improve the well-being of all the communities and residents at the
destination at costa Rica.
 This principle ensures as for reducing the wastage and over consumption which helps in
reducing the impact on the environment and providing the quality to tourism.
 Environmental protection act must be established and various other policy must be
followed as for preserving and developing the sustainable tourism.
Moreover, planning as for minimizing the adverse impacts of the tourism as by
minimising flights which helps in reducing the carbon emission. With taking fewer flights helps
in reducing the carbon footprint. Further by Walking and using bicycles with limiting the usage
if public transport helps in reducing the pollution. Further, choosing the eco-friendly activities
while travelling at the costa Rica helps in preserving the animals and supporting the conservation

projects aids in supporting the communities resisting at the destinations (SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT, 2022). Also, this inclusion the importance of using the energy efficient
resources as by constructing the better green energy resources for minimize the impacts in the
environment. Also improving and encouraging the vegan products and providing more plant
based dinner option to all the travellers as by reducing the impact on the sea foods.

P4 Evaluating process of tourism development and planning and challenges
The major tourism stages of sustainable planning that is followed in the Cost Rica is
briefly described as follows:
 Study recognition where need of the strategy to gain competitive advantage is identified
depending upon the various budget and other factors.
 Goals are set through the SMART objectives
 Survey is conducted through the secondary research to gather relevant information.
 New surveys are implemented.
 After this there is analysis of secondary and primary data
 Moreover, after this stage of the tourist planning consist of the initial policy and
formulation where all the policies relating to the tourist are formulated and implemented
in best of manner through proper plans (Sharma, Thomas and Paul, 2021).
 Also, certain set of recommendations are than developed based on the initial policy and
initial plan formulation.
 If the recommendations are found sensible than these are implemented by the strategic
levels executives and made into the practice.
 The last stage in planning process is monitoring the levels of the recommendations and
nature of implementation of plans and identifying the changes that are occurring in the
internal and external environment in doing so.
However, the above tourism development plan might have to face certain challenges and
barriers in the final implementation and some that might be faced by the Cost Rica are as
follows:
Poor Transportation and Communication Facilities: There are higher chances that
Cost Rica is having limited transportation facilities within the country than more people might
not be attracted for the same (Pencarelli, 2020.). Also, if there is lack of proper communication
channels within (country) than people would resist opting for such places.
Lack of Quality Hotels: It is very important that proper tourism development is done
when there are lot of quality hotels developed within the country that are specialized in providing
variety of services to the customers. However, lack of such facilities would not crate challenges
for best planning and implementation.

Pollution: Lot of excessive pollution in the country would only fail the tourist planning
and development activities as people are lest interested in visiting the highly polluted regions.
Also, the country thus needs to focus on improving such services first. For example: Cost Rica in
recent times have put lot of efforts in protecting the overseas and reducing the overseas pollution.
Moreover, the country is very active in using and promoting renewable energy resources so that
it might be co0me more environmental friendly in coming years
Apart from above stated other challenges that Costa Rica might find while attracting the number
of tourist would be getting the right kind of financial help from various government agencies that
helps in promoting the tourism within the country through providing the right amount of services
and funds. Other than this there might be lack of labour within the country that might provide
help in development of various heritage sites and other locations where the tourist are been
attracted.
M2 Critically evaluating different approaches to tourism development and planning
There are various approaches that are used in the tourism planning that are based on the
values that support the planning or on the basis of the policy of the country (Nikazachenko and
et.al., 2018.). Also, it can be said for Costa Rica that it adopts the approach based on the habits,
classes, customs etc. of the guests. Moreover, the planning that is done by the Costa Rica in
promoting more tourists within the country might be monitored closely through setting up of
proper action plan that will measures the performance on regular basis and ensure that corrective
actions are taken on time . Also, review systems might be developed to analyse the planning or
performance management through setting key performance indicators would also help in the
assuring that plans set are fulfilled in right and timely manner.
D2 Justifying the rationale for measuring and monitoring sustainable performance
It is very important for the company to measure the sustainable performance so that
resources might be saved and the best practices might be adopted within the country so that more
people are attracted toward the tourist places within the country.
P5 Investigating impacts of tourism activity generated by a specific tourism attraction
The impacts of various tourism activities that are conducted on tourism attraction such as
Costa Rica might be classified under the three categories such as
Economic: People in current times are more focused on travelling to those places that are
more authentic and wants to experience moments that they have always desired. Also, it can be

said that various tourist destinations like Costa Rica has helped in creating positive impacts
through giving rise of the economy and generating more revenues for the country growth and
development (Kumar, 2020). Furthermore, it can be said that major impact of such tourism
activities in the country is that people are able to consume variety of local goods and experiences
entertainment, foods and beverages that they never heard of.
Social: In context of social impact of any tourism activity within the Costa Rica it can be
said that travellers are able to experiences art and culture of the local people. Also, the people are
interested in investing in the activities that allow them to celebrate the other community’s
festivals. Thus, both local people and travellers are able to know about various new things that
are related with the society norms, values and beliefs through certain tourist activities
Cultural: In the cultural impact it can be said tourism activity within Cost Rica will help
in analysing about various rituals and celebrations among the indigenous people. Moreover, such
type of activities helps in increasing cultural awareness thus creating positive impact on both
travellers and local communities (Vărzaru, Bocean and Cazacu, 2021.). However, it can say that
in spite of increase in the knowledge about various cultures the local communicates of the Cost
Rica might also suffer negatively because of the diminishing identity and values. Also, there are
higher chances that are cultural clashes within the country and increased social stress.
Environmental: Although all the tourist activities that are conducted within the country
are focused on the generating higher revenues ant attracting more travellers but even though the
major demerit is that most of the tourist that visit costa Rica causes lot of pollution in form of
excessive wastage, damage to the natural resources and much more. Hence, it is only degrading
the country best resources.
P6 Examining how sustainability principles are implemented for meeting requirements and
expectations of stakeholders
 Using Resources Sustainably: The principle of using the resources sustainably aims at
meeting the requirements and expectation of stakeholders by its effective implementation
(Kersulić, Perić and Wise, 2020). The environmental resources are used optimally
assuring the essential ecological balance that helps in conservation of authentic heritage. Reducing Over Consumption and Waste: The industry of tourism have high tendency to
overconsume and increase the waste and pollution. This principle in order to meet the

requirements of stakeholders aim to reduce the over consumption and waste generation at
the tourist destinations for a sustainable perspective. Tourist produce twice wastage than
the locals of the place. Awareness programmes and waste infrastructure improvements
help in effective implementation of policy at Costa Rica. Reduce, reuse and recycling
techniques are promoted. Usage of sustainable transports
 Maintaining Biodiversity: The maintenance of biodiversity is the another principle
aiming at the sustainability at the tourist destinations. For the implementation of the
policy funds are channelized at Costa Rica by fuel tax, car stamp duty and fees for energy
concentrating at the protection of biodiversity. Tourism planning is essential for
achieving the satisfactory results for the stakeholders.
 Integrating Tourism into Planning: The another principal for sustainable tourism is
tourism planning. Tourism planning is a strategic way of analysing the tourist
development in past for evaluating the position of tourism, based on which tourism policy
is developed and the developmental strategy is defined. Action programme is elaborated
accordingly. Tourism planning is
 Supporting Local Economies: Tourism largely supports the local economies. This
support is in the form of monetary flow that are associated with the tourism. Tourism is
the source of cash inflows in the tourist destinations (McGrath and et.al., 2020). Local
businesses get boost with the sales they made to the tourist. The expectations of the
stakeholders for the sustained foreign exchange earnings, increasing employment rates,
development of infrastructure, economic stability in long run and economic
diversification gets fulfilled.
M3 and D3 Analysing the contribution of various stakeholders and their importance in
minimizing the adverse impacts on sustainable objectives
 Tourist: Impacts the sustainable objectives largely through the possession of sustainable
behaviour. For instance, maintenance of cleanliness, etc.
 Entrepreneur: Owners of the businesses dealing in the good and services used by tourist
are the stakeholders of the tourism development, they contribute by making their business
operations sustainable.
 Government: Government is the stakeholder creating major impact in minimizing its
adverse effects through the policies and sustainability regulations.

 Community: Makes a huge contribution by marinating the relation with tourist and
guiding them to the green policies of the region.
 Investors: The investors are the stakeholders having low interest and low power.
 Guide: Guide at the tourist places have low interest and high power.

POWER
INTEREST
P7 Evaluating how sustainability develops and manage at tourist destinations
Sustainable tourism means accounting the existing and future impacts of tourism on the
economic social and environmental aspects of the tourist destination. These impacts highlights
that need of tourist, the tourism industry, the environment and the host destinations’ communities
for sustainability in the tourism (Tien and et.al., 2021). The development of sustainability takes
place or initiates from the attainment of equilibrium between the Economic, Sociocultural,
environmental and transversal pillars.
Sustainable tourism develops through the tourism projects. The development is
incorporated at all the levels in the policy. Development or construction is the first phase, this
involves pre defining of all the social, economic and environmental policies right at the point
where the planning and construction of a destination begins. At the next phase, operational or
management phase the environment preventive plans gets embraced. The sustainable phase one
and two combined forms the holistic approach.
For instance, to manage the sustainability at Costa Rica, the 98% of the region’s energy is
derived from the renewable sources of energy (Rodrigues, Liberato and Melo, 2021). In addition,
the forest cover of the country stands at more than fifty-three percentiles. One fourth of the total
land cover of the country comprises of the parks and reserves under protection. From the past
fifty year the country has been implementing a series of innovations in the environmental
GUIDES ENTREPRENEUR
GOVERNMENT
INVESTOR TOURIST
COMMUNITY
High
Low
Low High

policies. The country aims at zero percent carbon emission the year 2050 to limit the global
warming.
For preserving the existence of around 250 verities in species of corals and forty-one
islands having wetland ecosystems the ministry of environment at Maldives has implemented the
coastal protection projects. The world bank is the supporting body behind the implementation.
Alifu Atholhu Uthuruburi Rasdhoo is an area stretched over 214 meters faces coastal erosion,
costal protection project has been implemented with the help of Indian Government. Plastic
Recycling at the large scale also aims towards sustainable approach.
Sustainability in tourism is developed and managed by the combine efforts of the
government, entrepreneurs, locals and tourists (Štrba, Kršák and Sidor, C., 2018). The tourism
that enlarges the advantages for the local communities, and minimizes the adverse effects over
the society and environment, helping the people to conserve their cultures, habitats and species is
considered as sustainable tourism.
For instance, for maintenance of sustainability tourism in the Bhutan, the country follows
the model of tourism based on the ideology of high value and low impact. The requirements that
the company demand from the tourists are strict. The approach was implemented with the
perspective to make the sustainable tourism and restrict the movement of tourists in mass. The
country succeeded in the making of making the tourism sustainable.
M4 and D4 Critically evaluating and recommending the solutions to improve sustainable
management
For the sustainable tourism it is recommended to make sure that the economic operations
duly provide socio-economic advantages. These can be in the form of fair distribution of
employment opportunities, stability in employment, giving community services in the host
countries. This will ensure overall elimination of poverty. Further the optimal use of resources in
the environment by conservation of natural resources and biodiversity. For reducing the carbon
emission at Costa Rica and other destinations it is recommended to increase the use of EV
vehicles. Further increasing the use of environmental friendly practices like reduce, reuse and
recycle will help majorly at large scale.
CONCLUSION
From the above report it can be concluded that Tourism sector plays a very important role
and is very essential to ensure that country is able to have the best utilization of resources and is

able to generate maximum revenues from the visitors. Also, the study had discussed in detail
about concept of sustainable tourism along with determining the role of the leading organizations
for the same. Furthermore, report had identified principles of tourism and its purpose along with
analysing in detail the process of tourism development. Also, challenges and problems faced in
the tourism planning had also been discussed in detail. Further, impact of the tourism activity on
economic, social and various other areas had also been covered under this report. Also, the
principles of sustainability had also been provided that had been successful in meeting various
stakeholders expectations. Lastly, the study had critically evaluated how the sustainability is
developed in various tourist destinations worldwide.

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Online
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT .2022. [Online]. Available
through:<https://www.unwto.org/sustainable-development>
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