Tourism is a dynamic and pervasive industry that provides a range of benefits and value to organisations, communities and regions that participate in the industry. Tourism can provide value for a destination in a number of ways
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Tourism is a dynamic and pervasive industry that provides a range of benefits and value to organisations, communities and regions that participate in the industry. Tourism can provide value for a destination in a number of ways:
- Economic – increased and diversified economic activity; flow-on economic benefits through a community; stimulus for economic development and investment;
- Social / Cultural – enhanced quality of life, community development, employment and income, conservation of cultural heritage, increased amenity, community pride;
- Environmental – awareness of environmental significance, conservation of natural and built environments, implementation of sustainable practices.
Many destinations have previously focused only on the economic value of tourism. However integrating both economic and non-economic impacts provides a more holistic view of tourism and better informs destination management decisions. Understanding and communicating the value of tourism within a community is important in order to:
Destination Management Tip
Assessing and communicating both economic and non-economic impacts provides a more holistic view of the value of tourism and better informs sustainable tourism management decisions.
- Engage stakeholders, including governments, investors, businesses and the community, in understanding and recognising the importance of tourism within the community;
- Ensure stakeholder commitment to tourism and destination management;
- Link economic and community development to sound and sustainable tourism practice;
- Engage social, political and cultural capital to enhance the value of tourism in a destination.
A number of tools have been developed to assist destinations to measure and communicate the economic, social and environmental value of tourism. What is clear from the research is that a consistent, transparent and robust method is needed and that tourism should be considered in the context of other industries in areas such as contribution to Gross Domestic Product, Quality of Life and environmental sustainability. More information is provided below about assessing the economic, social and environmental value of tourism to destinations, as well as lessons on communicating the value to the community and stakeholders.
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