Enhancing Business Functions and Operations to Manage Effective Results

To make a positive impact on customers during holidays, family trips are essential to ensure effective results in the company. Effective segmentation of functions and operations can also create more time and money for the company to manage its results. Furthermore, considering the provided references, sustainability is crucial for ecotourism industries, and it requires a solutions-oriented research agenda to drive change towards sustainable tourism.

SUSTAINABILITY
PRACTICE

Table of Contents
1.) INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................1
2.) SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES....................................................................................................1
3 ASSESSMENT OF OPERATIONS ............................................................................................2
4. Strength and weaknesses..............................................................................................................4
Strength and weaknesses that are based on analysis...................................................................4
5. Recommendations........................................................................................................................6
Improvement and recommendations...........................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

1.) INTRODUCTION
Sustainable tourism is the concept of travelling a different places as a tourist and focus on
keeping positive impact on the environment. Further it is stated that sustainability tourism
concept is directly linked with the concept of sustainability mobility (Miller, Wiek and
Loorbach, 2014). Forecasting of global economic lead to continued worldwide tourism
development, the quantity depended on the location. It is so because tourism is one of the fastest
and largest growing industries in all over the world. With the help of sustainable tourism there
are some impact of tourism which can be minimized such as respecting the local cultures and
supporting their integrity by favouring those organisation who are trying to conserve cultural
heritage. Moreover by supporting local economies by buying products from local markets. The
present report is based on Tread Lightly Eco tours which is a leading ecological tour service
provider company (Tread Lightly Eco Tours 2017). It suppliers tour packages for blue mountain
world heritage area in 90 minutes west of Sydney. It is specialize in environmental and cultural
aspects of Blue mountain world heritage region. Apart from this there are some most
sustainability issues and challenges which is faced by firm related to socio cultural and
environmental issues which are discussed in this report. Further in this report different strength
and weakness based on analysis have been discussed. Along with this recommendations for the
improvement of sustainability practice is suggested to the selected organization.
2.) SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES
Tread lightly eco tour company is one of the tour company who is facing some issues and
challenges regarding sustainability. Some of the key issues which tour company is facing are
discussed below
Environmental issues which organisation is facing related to the carbon and other
emissions. It is so because Tread lightly eco tour company does not have major contributor of
the green house gas. Further the development of international travel and increase in air traffic
lead to its carbon footprint (Bramwell, Lane & Miller 2016). Hence, increases of this regulatory
burden may affect tour company profitability. There are some effects of pollution and global
warming which have great impact on environment. Further it is important for other companies to
understand its impact so that necessary action can be taken for avoiding it negative impact. Due
to increases in population people and tourist business are not cutting trees near the destination for
1

constructing hotels. This all activity is destroying the natural beauty of particular destination
which become quite tough for tour company to focus on sustainable tourism. Along with this
species of animal and plant life disappear fastly. Further, increase in pollution at particular
destination become one of the barrier for tour company to focus on sustainability (Budeanu,
Moscardo, & Ooi, 2016)). At most of the place people not respect culture of other which lead
to give rise to conflict. Many organisation does not make product and services which are
environmental friendly this lead to increase in pollution and it negatively harm the environment.
Socio cultural issues and challenges faced by Tread lightly eco tour company Tour company
make tour package at different destination according to there own preferences , which may not
be like by people who buy their tour package. Further there are many hotels which are not
making hygienic food which lead to impact the health of travellers. This all are the challenges
and issues which are faced by Tread lightly eco tour company at the time of practising
sustainability tourism.
3 ASSESSMENT OF OPERATIONS
Global sustainable criteria for hotel or tour operators renders specific criteria that
supports for performing the business functions of hotel in effective manner. These criteria
supports the business for meeting with the sustainability practices and it also helps for
performing necessary functions of business in effective manner. Tread lightly eco tours
Australia is a leading tour company offers superior quality travel services for consumers. It is
critical that innovative and strategic approaches that are used by business organizations. ECO
and ROC are two type of certifying criteria that are used in Australia by hotel and tourism
service providers firms (Fatima, Khan & Halabi, 2017).
The ECO certification program makes it ensure that travellers should receive certified
products and services that will render them high quality services. It also makes it assure that
managed commitment to sustainable practices. It is first global certification program which has
been framed and developed for addressing the requirement for identifying ecotourism operators.
This certification is vary product specific and it is required that hotels and tour operators should
answer all the criteria that is related with the products and services that are being provided by the
tour operator firms.
This certificate is provided to the firms for tourism activities that are performed in natural
area and gives emphasis on making optimum utilization of resources. Tourism activities that
2

gives minimal impact on the environment are given the certificate. This certificate renders
innovative and interesting ways for tour operating firms that makes optimum use of resources. It
is also given to the firms who makes positive contribution to conserving the natural environment
help local community people (Bellchambers, Phillips and Pérez-Ramírez, 2016). For all the
certified tour operators, the certification is recognition of high standard of operations. This
certification is also beneficial for grants, license, permits and awards. The certification program
is independently audited and assessed so that high quality standard for compliance and quality. It
also provide recognition to consumers for assuring their commitment for ensuring best
environmental practices. For certification criteria it is required that the products that hotels and
tour operator firm wishes to offer should have at least 50% Natural based focus to customers
(Mian, 2014).
Various types of services that are offered by the hotel and tour operators firms and it
comprise of transportation, food and staying services. 75% Natural based focus is essential for
taking the ECO certificate. It is required that company should have all the required operating
license, approvals and permits from the relevant authorities so that it should be verified at the
time of application for the certificate. It is required that tourism product is fully operational and
bookable. It is also required that business should be committed for meeting with the business
ethics practices that are required by ecotourism Australia (Littlejohn, Needham Szuster, &
Jordan, 2016).
Tread lightly Eco tours Australia have commitment for delivering better and superior
quality tourism experiences. ROC certified tour operating firms should be committed towards
protecting the cultural integrity and authenticity so that they can develop sound business
practices, environmental protection. These type of ROC certified organizations should also work
towards environmental protection and acknowledging indigenous people. For getting ROC
certification it is required that business organizations should have products that focuses towards
presenting cultural values that comprise indigenous cultural value. ROC certification provides a
business with the product focused cultural values and it also aids for consumer for personally
experiencing the local culture and values.
Strategy and approaches used by the firm :-
3

1 Tread lightly eco tour company is working for ensuring environmental protection and all the
activities of the business are performed in Eco friendly manner. All the tour products and
services are based on cultural aspects and services are delivered on the basis of that.
2 Tour company makes it ensure that majority of each consumer's activity time should be spent
on experiencing cultural areas and understanding local culture. It is also required that products of
hotels and tour operating firm should help the clients in direct way for personally experience
local culture with out creating any kind of damage for the natural surrounding environment.
3 It has been made imperative in the company that operations of the organization should
consistently meet with the consumer service experiences and they should have defined customer
service procedures.
4. Strength and weaknesses
Strength and weaknesses that are based on analysis
In respect to make effective results, Tready Lightly Eco Tours in Australia introduced
online reservations. In starting time, they was making their booking facilities with other
enterprises (Kennedy, Cohen and Krogman, 2015). In now nowadays, they have change their
outcomes and operations in own websites. It creates opportunity that assist to survive to provide
different types of travelling services. In this aspect, following strength and weaknesses measures
within the organisation:
Strengths
 The chosen company's staff knows that what thing need to be selling which helps to
customer. It assists to make right decisions for particular area by customer. In this way,
agent can bring value towards their customer (De Silva and Forbes, 2016). In this aspect,
in the company there is strong management which create positive brand image in front of
customers. Tready Lightly Eco Tours has good brand and staff member which generate
positive aspect within the environment.
 Agent of Tready Lightly Eco Tours, in Australia is also dealing in bulk booking airlines.
In this way, they can also deal with various suppliers that make good relations
effectively. The company is locating in the best place that assist to attract various
customer easily. It makes effective and good strategy to ensure participation of people in
goals and objectives.
4

 Travel agent can also offer services from different areas as per customer requirements. In
this aspect, customer can book and travel agent can also look towards each customer
separately. Internet can be hard to navigate with various options and unclear offers.
Hence, travel agent of the chosen firm can offers one stop shopping (Schill and Shaw,
2016). In addition to this, the company has also cruising opportunities that shows
profitability within the environment to enhance productivity of the enterprise. The
organisation has high knowledge towards dealing in international services which create
positive impact on customers.
Weaknesses
 Tready Lightly Eco Tours, in Australia has some weaknesses that is tough time to justify
own value towards customer. They are not see value every time that create negative
impact on customers. In respect to provide value, products and information, it has been
make sure that value will be enhance. In season of holidays, the selected services from
tour operators is not providing appropriate services and results to each person. Thus, it
creates problem to dealing with various people (Miller, Wiek and Loorbach, 2014). The
company has high burden to operate functions in international areas. Thus, it makes
adverse impact on employees to deals with various customers together.
 The chosen company make quickly changes and new pattern. Thus, it creates problem to
understand new system within the environment. Travel agency is not standing towards
technical revolution that give huge market potential in new players within the field.
Management of Tready Lightly Eco Tours is very weak which create negative impact on
operations and functions. Due to weak management, the company is unable to deals with
various customers so that it create adverse impact on firm operations.
 This organisation is not adopting new habits so that it create problem to understand
customer requirements effectively. In addition to this, the cited travel agency is also
lacking to make sustainability of customer due to lack of skills and ability of employee to
deal with customer requirements. It will make sure that all products and services need to
be enhances that requires for the company (De Silva and Forbes, 2016). Cost structure of
Tread Lightly Eco Tours is very high that create problem to enhance operations in
different areas. In this aspect, customer has determining poor believe on company
services.
5

5. Recommendations
Improvement and recommendations
In respect to make effective results and outcomes, it is very important to provide
recommendations towards sustainability. They are as follows:
 In order to attain effective results and performances, Tread Lightly Eco Tours, in
Australia need to work in multiple ways. It can be place to ascertain effectively to make
support to the people. With the help of making contact with various customers together,
they can easily build up the local communities and effective relations. Hence, it is
determining support with particular culture that creates benefits. In addition to this, they
can also enhance their operations through diversifying the outcomes. This is because,
customer demand various types of services at same place.
 In addition to this, it could be recommends that with enhancing multiple ways, tourist can
determines their needs and requirements that creates benefits to them. With allowing
tourist and tourism industry, community can give benefits to communities in which they
are belongs. It also generates idea that giving something back on a trip which appealing
towards new generation of sustainable tourist. With the help of development of services,
consumer can make special events and creating values for developing results.
 Further, it could be recommends that forecasting for future outcomes is very important
that establish for make valuable economic tool. In travel industry, it can be understand
that young people are designing trips so that the enterprise can attract them through
providing discount on group, couple and family, etc. It assists to maintain and fulfil
desires of each person which enhance customer base within the country. Tread Lightly
Eco Tours can also develop their operations which make unique experience and special
access with differentiating services from other businesses. In order to make simple
operations, energy and specialization need to be considering at workplace (Walk tours.
2017).
 Beside this, Tread Lightly Eco Tours, in Australia can also make new services in their
business that make positive impact on customers in effective aspect. During holidays,
family trip enhances so that it is essential to make effective results in the company. In
addition to this, the cited firm can also develop their functions and operations in making
6

different segmentations. It makes create more time and money which need to be
undertake to manage effective results.
7

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Ban, J., & Ramsaran, R. R. (2017). An Exploratory Examination of Service Quality Attributes in
the Ecotourism Industry.Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing, 34(1), 132-148.
Bramwell, B., Higham, J., Lane, B., & Miller, G. (2016). Advocacy or neutrality? Disseminating
research findings and driving change toward sustainable tourism in a fast changing world.
Budeanu, A., Miller, G., Moscardo, G., & Ooi, C. S. (2016). Sustainable tourism, progress,
challenges and opportunities: an Introduction.
De Silva, T. A. & Forbes, S. L., (2016). Sustainability in the New Zealand horticulture industry.
Journal of Cleaner Production. 112. pp.2381-2391.
Fatima, J. K., Khan, H. Z., & Goh, E. (2016). Environmental knowledge and behavioural
outcomes of tourism students in Australia: towards testing a range of mediation and
moderated mediation effects. Environmental Education Research, 22(5), 747-764.
Fatima, J. K., Khan, H. Z., & Halabi, A. K. (2017). Ecotourism Participation Intention in
Australia: Mediating Influence of Social Interactions. Tourism Analysis, 22(1), 85-91.
Kennedy, E. H., Cohen, M. J. & Krogman, N. eds., (2015). Putting Sustainability into Practice:
Applications and Advances in Research on Sustainable Consumption. Edward Elgar
Publishing.
Littlejohn, K., Needham, M. D., Szuster, B. W., & Jordan, E. J. (2016). Pre-trip expectations and
post-trip satisfaction with marine tour interpretation in Hawaii: Applying the norm
activation model. The Journal of Environmental Education, 47(3), 202-212.
Miller, T. R., Wiek, A. & Loorbach, D., (2014). The future of sustainability science: a solutions-
oriented research agenda. Sustainability science. 9(2). pp.239-246.
Online
Panwar, N., Uniyal, D., & Rautela, K. S. (2016). Mapping Sustainable Tourism into Emergency
Management Structure to Enhance Humanitarian Networks and Disaster Risk Reduction
using Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) Initiatives in Himalayan States: The Global
Supply Chain Issues and Strategies. In Designing and Implementing Global Supply Chain
Management (pp. 129-151). IGI Global.
8

Schill, M. & Shaw, D., (2016). Recycling today, sustainability tomorrow: Effects of
psychological distance on behavioural practice. European Management Journal. 34(4).
pp.349-362.
Online
Tread Lightly Eco Tours 2017. Available through: <http://www.treadlightly.com.au/>. [Accessed
on 18th May 2017].
Walk tours. 2017. Available through: <http://www.treadlightly.com.au/walks-tours/>. [Accessed
on 18th May 2017].
9