1. SKÅL international and Sustainable tourism
Julie Marsaud
Sustainable Development Project Manager
JohnsonDiversey France

2. Contents
What is sustainable tourism? Eco-, responsible, sustainable tourism? International conferences and programs What « being sustainable » means? Why is being sustainable good for business? Tourism sustainability performance tools SKÅL’s commitment towards sustainability What can SKÅL do now? Perspectives Useful contacts

3. What is sustainable tourism?
“Sustainability principles refer to the environmental, economic, and socio-cultural aspects of tourism development…
… Achieving sustainable tourism is a continuous process and it requires constant monitoring of impacts
Thus, sustainable tourism should:
Make optimal use of environmental resources (…)
Respect the socio-cultural authenticity of host communities (…)
Ensure viable, long-term economic operations (…)
Maintain a high level of tourist satisfaction (…)”
UNWTO (2004)

4. Eco-, responsible, sustainable tourism?
Ecotourism: lower tourists’ environmental impacts while offering mostly nature-related activities
-> Considered more militant than any other form of tourism
Responsible tourism: make tourists aware of the social impacts of their trip, respectful of the cultural and economic benefits and drawbacks for local people
-> More related to local communities’ development and/or discovery
Sustainable tourism: lower tourists’ environmental footprint while providing economic development means for the host country
-> Allow the maintenance of future tourism, both at the environmental and social scales

5. International conferences and programs
2000: UN Millenium Development Goals statement
2002: Contribution to the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), Johannesburg
2007: 2nd International Conference on Climate Change and Tourism, Davos
1995: World Charter for Sustainable Tourism
2000: Tour Operators’ Initiative for Sustainable Tourism Development (TOI)
2002: International Year of Ecotourism
2005: The Marrakech Process: 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) (International Task Force on Sustainable Tourism Development – ITF-STD)
Worldwide Day for Responsible Tourism / World Tourism Day
UNEP’s Green Passport / …

6. What « being sustainable » means?
Monitor impacts on the environment: resources use, energy consumption, waste production, wastewater treatment…
Monitor impacts on local economy, population development…
-> With a double objective: minimizing the negative impacts and maximizing the positive ones
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) ≠ Sustainable Development
Being sustainable in a process ≠ in a program
-> Different objectives, prerequisites, commitments, targets

7. Why is being sustainable good for business?
Strategy: a proactive corporate leadership
Understand potential risk exposure
Ensure peace of mind in relation to new environmental legislation
Improve business networks and reach
Competitivity: optimized processes, competitive edge and market access
Reduce operating costs
Reduce reputational risk and cost
Secure investment plans
Social impact: increased credibility and fame
Address consumers, shareholders and investors concerns
Increase employee involvment and participation
Avoid accusations of Greenwash

8. Tourism sustainability performance tools
Codes of conduct / charters
WTTC Code for Environmentally Responsible Tourism Businesses
Manuals / tools / guidelines
The International Ecotourism Society’s guidelines for tourists and operators
Award programs and competitions
SKÅL International tourism awards, Conservation International World Legacy Awards
Certification programs
GreenGlobe 21, Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST), Sustainable Tourism Eco-certification Program (STEP)
Indicators and benchmarking
WTO indicators of sustainable tourism
Lifecycle analyses (LCAs)
British Airways Holidays work in St Lucia

9. SKÅL’s commitment towards sustainability
SKÅL as an organization
Is perfectly fitted to “think global, act local”
Has been a sustainability promoter long before its definition
Is already engaged in large-scale actions and projects
Can benefit from its international strategic partnerships
Highlights
101 tips for sustainable tourism
Memorandum of Understanding with UNEP
Promotion of UN’s STEP program
Since 2002: SKÅL International Ecotourism Awards
-> Different ways to raise members’ awareness and involvment towards sustainable tourism

10. What can SKÅL do now? Recall the Comittee’s recommendations to members
Define SKÅL’s sustainable tourism policy and strategy
State sectoral and/or geographical objectives, targets, and program
Establish procedures and training to implement the plan
Monitor performance at all scales (club to international)
Periodically review, evaluate, and improve system
-> Build up an easy-to-implement program and interact with members to progress

11. What can SKÅL do now? Increase SKÅL’s renown and partnership with
Political and economic stakeholders
Environmental and social NGOs
Media…
Develop educational materials and technical tools
Website for members
Training programs and information platform for staff
Brochures for customers
Promote the use of management and assessment tools
Charter
Guidelines
Certification
EMAS and/or ISO norms …

12. Perspectives 2010: The Tourism Sustainability Council
Formed in september 2009 by the merging of the partnership for Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC) and the Sustainable Tourism Stewardship Council (STSC)
Brings together all interested parties: governments, UN, tourism private sector, universities and research organisms, NGOs, certification programs…
Addresses ambitious and widely adaptable objectives
Aims at providing global sustainable tourism guidelines and international accreditation
-> An important potential partner for SKÅL International

13. Useful contacts UNWTO: United Nations World Tourism Organization
UNEP: United Nations Environmental Program
UNDP: United Nations Development Program
UNESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
GOST: Global Observatory on Sustainable Tourism
GDRC: Global Development Research Center’s Sustainable Tourism Gateway
TOI: Tour Operators’ Initiative for Sustainable Tourism Development
STI: Sustainable Travel International
Tourism Sustainability Council
ICRT: International Coalition for Responsible Tourism
WEF: World Economic Forum
WWF: World Wildlife Fund …

14. Recommendations for SI to link this pps to the Skal Intl website under Responsible Tourism however we recommend the pps should include a brief introduction and the pps should be shortened.
ISC EA May 2010