Introduction to Sustainability

Well, you know my feelings about learning by discovery rather than by simply uncritically accepting assertions made by writers, academics and ‘experts’…. so Task 1 will hardly come as a surprise to you.

Task 1.  Define ‘Sustainabilty’ and ‘Sustainable Tourism’.

In teams of SIX, work together to produce definitions of the above two terms.  (Obviously in terms of the latter our previous work on defining Tourism may be helpful).  Start with ‘sustainability’ and work up to ‘sustainable tourism’.

Once again, I would remind you that good definitions tend to cover all the who / what / when / where / why / how ‘angles’ – so you have a ‘menu’ to double check against your definition: does it include them all.

We will be pooling our definitions and trying to create a master definition.

Don’t be put off by the fact that I am asking you not to read textbook definitions for the moment….. because to you sustainability IS no more and no less than you believe it to be!   Also you may like to know that experts, politicians and academics rarely agree upon its meaning either!!!

Once we have created this master definition together, we will compare and contrast it with the ‘accepted’ and ‘official’ definitions: we may have something to learn from them – but I am pretty sure they will have something to learn from us too!!

I will try to record your thoughts and ideas: the principal attributes of your definitions using the following framework:-

• Foci
• Aim
• Players / Responsibilities
• Beneficiaries
• Process
• Output

Task 2.  Impacts and Implications of our Definition

Consider the impacts and implications of our definitions of ‘sustainability’ and ‘sustainable tourism’ for key players in the industry:

• the Minister with Tourism Responsibility
• you as a tourism consumer yourself
• you as a future tourism industry manager
• for major tourism sub-sectors like: air transport; tourism destinations; hotel groups; independent hotels……
• for Tourism Alsace
• for Tourism teaching institutions like IUT Colmar

What SHOULD all the above be doing in the light of our definition of sustainability…. ARE we doing it…. if not, HOW may we be persuaded to or forced to do it if the health of the planet so requires…………….??????

Again, work in your teams and be prepared to present your considered opinions and ideas.