Tourism that sustains local culture and the environment

Preliminary findings from two sustainable tourism research projects that the Institute is leading were presented to delegates from Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) countries a workshop in Cusco, Peru on 23rd and 24th March by ISF’s Louise Boronyak, John Glassmire and Associate Professor Mick Paddon. The workshop was organized by Peru’s Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (MINCETUR) on behalf of  APEC’s Tourism Working Group (TWG)

Both ISF projects are being undertaken for the Sustainable Tourism Cooperative Research Centre (STCRC) and the APEC International Centre for Sustainable Tourism (AICST).  They focus  on planning and developing tourism opportunities that protect natural and socio-cultural resources and improve the standard of living in regional and rural communities in APEC countries.

The first project is research into best practice in community-based tourism (CBT) which is generally small scale and can include nature based, cultural, indigenous, agricultural and sporting activities. The potential for thermal tourism is a particular area of interest for this project.. The research team, that also includes the School of Leisure, Sport and Tourism within the UTS Business Faculty, has documented and analysed case studies from around the world. A manual for people who are involved in planning, managing, implementing or overseeing community based tourism is being developed based on these case studies and feedback from the Cusco workshop. The manual will outline the key components and dimensions of successful, sustainable and innovative CBT.

The second project is identifying best practice in the use of clean energy technologies in small to medium accommodation establishments in rural and remote areas such as hostels, small hotels, bed and breakfasts, pensions, guest houses.  The project is looking at the potential for implementing clean technologies within single accommodation establishments and facilitating the uptake of clean technologies across the tourism accommodation sector.   As with the CBT project, the ISF team is focussing its research on international case studies and the product of the research will be a practical manual to provide guidance in decision making
 
Both projects are due for completion by ISF by May and the manuals are expected to be made available by the STCRC and APEC TWG later this year