Unit 12: Responsible Tourism Policy And Planning For Tourism Authorities

UNIT 12. RESPONSIBLE TOURISM POLICY AND
PLANNING FOR TOURISM AUTHORITIES
Picture source:
Pixabay, www.pixabay.com

Unit outline
Objectives
By the end of this unit, participants will be able to:
• Explain the importance of tourism to governments and the
challenge of sustainable growth
• Describe how to incorporate sustainability into tourism
plans
• Explain the importance of adopting a participatory planning
approach in policy and planning
• Explain the function of impact appraisals in tourism
planning
• Identify policy areas to create an enabling environment for
Responsible Tourism
• Identify instruments for achieving Responsible Tourism
policies
Topics
1. Tourism and its
importance to
government
2. The challenge of
sustainable growth
3. Incorporating
sustainability into tourism
plans
4. Using impact appraisals in
tourism planning for
sustainability
5. Identifying policy areas to
create an enabling
environment for
Responsible Tourism

TOPIC 1. TOURISM AND ITS
IMPORTANCE TO GOVERNMENT
RESPONSIBLE TOURISM POLICY & PLANNING FOR TOURISM AUTHORITIES
Picture source:

Seminar overview: the role of governments in
building responsible tourism
How can we use
impacts appraisals to
achieve responsible
tourism objectives?
TOPIC 4
What is the current
importance of tourism to
governments and why
should we change what we
are doing? TOPIC 1
How can responsible
tourism help maintain
growth but create
greater sustainability?
TOPIC 2
How can we best
incorporate responsible
tourism into tourism
planning? TOPIC 3
What policy areas should
we address to make
tourism responsible and
what instruments are
relevant? TOPIC 5
Picture source:

Tourism’s contribution to the economy of
Vietnam
VND129,969.0bn VND140,179.0bn
VND268,761.0bn
2012 2013 2023
DIRECT CONTRIBUTIONS OF TOURISM TO GDP IN VIETNAM:
CONSTANT VND
Source: World Travel & Tourism Council 2013, Travel & Tourism Economic Impact 2013: Vietnam, WTTC, UK

Tourism’s contribution to the economy of
Vietnam
TOTAL CONTRIBUTION OF TRAVEL & TOURISM TO GDP
CONSTANT VNDbn % WHOLE ECONOMY GDP

Tourism’s contribution to employment in
Vietnam
‘000 JOBS % WHOLE ECONOMY EMPLOYMENT

The total economic value of tourism
to Vietnam in 2013
US$3.7bn
in capital investment
or 8.3% of total
visitor exports
or 4.6% of total
US$5.9bn
DIRECT JOBSor 3.8% of total
1,831,300
US$6.2bn
in direct GDP
or 4.5% of total
Source: World Travel & Tourism Council 2013, Travel &
Tourism Economic Impact 2013: Vietnam, WTTC, UK
Picture source:

Tourism is spurring on infrastructure
development in Vietnam
Picture source:

Tourism is driving investment in Vietnam
“Hue invests 9 billion VND in restoring
traditional trade villages” (09/10/13)
“HA GIANG INVESTS VND 66
BILLION IN RESTORING DONG VAN
ANCIENT QUARTER” (03/10/13)
“Vingroup builds major ecotourism
hub in Binh Dinh” (19/09/13)
“POLAND HELPS PRESERVE HUE’S
KING TU DUC TOMB” (12/08/13)
“VND47 billion to
upgrade dock station on
Titov island” (24/07/13)
“Australia helps protect Ba Be
National Park” (16/09/11)
“PHU YEN LICENSES
TWO TOURISM
PROJECTS” (07/09/11)
Picture source:

Tourism is contributing to local economies and
rural development in Vietnam
Picture sources: http://www.flickr.com/photos/calflier001/6943300353/; http://www.flickr.com/photos/dalbera/4411151036/;
http://www.fotopedia.com/items/flickr-197185820; http://www.flickr.com/photos/marfis75/404877169/; http://www.flickr.com/photos/breweruk/6464624651/;
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stilt_house_by_Muong_people_in_Mai_Chau-Hoa_Binh-Viet_Nam.jpg
Homestay families

Tourism is also contributing to the protection of
natural & cultural heritage in Vietnam

TOPIC 2. THE CHALLENGE OF
SUSTAINABLE GROWTH IN TOURISM
Picture source:

Compromising sustainability compromises
tourism’s competitiveness
?
Picture source:

The challenge of balancing sustainability
and growth
GROWTH SUSTAINABILITY

Some reasons why sustainable tourism has
been hard to achieve 1/2
Economic growth
prioritised
Misconceptions about
value of investment
and foreign exchange
in sustainability
Limited funds for
maintenance
Limited sustainable
development frameworks
Inadequate control
mechanisms
Insufficient rural planning
Tourism in the wrong
place and reason
Limited awareness
Lack of commitment
Limited local
community influence
Picture source:

Some reasons why sustainable tourism has
been hard to achieve 2/2
…and…
sustainable tourism
did not ask anyone to
do anything!
Picture source:

The evolution from sustainable tourism…
ENVIRONMENT
SOCIAL ECONOMIC
SUSTAINABLE
TOURISM
1. BE
ACCOUNTABLE
2. HAVE
CAPACITY

…to responsible tourism
ENVIRONMENT
SOCIAL ECONOMIC
SUSTAINABLE
TOURISM
1. BE
ACCOUNTABLE
3. TAKE
ACTION
2. HAVE
CAPACITY
RESPONSIBLE
TOURISM
We must accept that every
decision and action we make
in our daily lives has an
impact.
We must take
responsibility
for our actions
and acquire the
knowledge,
skills and
resources to
make change.
Being responsible is
not just an intent. It
requires action. And
that action must be
for good - based upon
the law, our ethics and
morals.

Responds to
market demand
The benefits for governments in adopting a
responsible tourism approach
More attractive destinations
Better use of natural and
cultural resources
Creates viable, long-term
economic benefits for all
Picture source:

The influence of government in tourism
destination development
Exploration
Involvement
Development
Consolidation
Stagnation
(Rejuvenate)
(Stable)
(Decline)
Development
threshold
TIME
NUMBEROFVISITORS
MY SON SANCTUARY
HUE
HOI AN
HA LONG BAY
Conceptual diagram of
stage of development for
key heritage sites in Vietnam
Implementing responsible
tourism will keep destinations
stable or even rejuvenate

7 key areas where governments can foster
responsible tourism
41Co-ordinating
sector activities to
enable responsible
tourism
2Managing natural
and cultural
resources
responsibly
3Setting
responsible
tourism
standards
Building
capacity in
responsible
tourism
5Implementing
responsible
tourism
legislation
6Providing
leadership in
responsible
tourism
7Promoting
responsible
tourism
activities

Increasing seasonality in tourism
Picture source:
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/818858

Tourism hot spots / benefits not reaching poor
Picture source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slum

Reduction in the quality of local amenities and
services, and compromises safety
Picture sources:
www.pixabay.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/j-cornelius/2989147380/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbey_Road_Studios
http://www.flickr.com/photos/archer10/5187399563/

Cultural commodification and loss of
authenticity
Picture sources:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/runran/6885362990/
www.pixabay.com
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vietnamese_Dancers.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Vietnam
…is that dance really
traditional? …water puppets are now
souvenirs but do the
tourists understand the
cultural significance?

Tourism development and changes to natural
and social systems
…but who lived there before?
Looks nice…
…and what about the
importance of coastal
areas for protection
from extreme
weather events?
Picture sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benidorm
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/5314774452/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthquake_engineering
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hoi_An_Fish_Market,_Vietnam).jpg
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:House_of_fisherman_Vietnam.jpg
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lecount_Hollow_Private_Beach_Access_Sign.jpg

Pollution affects important ecological processes
and human health
Picture sources:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Smoking_cruise_ships_Nile.JPG
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_B-47_Stratojet
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kk/4712861851/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landfill

TOPIC 3. INCORPORATING
SUSTAINABILITY INTO TOURISM PLANS
Picture source:

The old days of tourism planning –
localised, site specific
HOTEL
Transport
MARKET
GOVERNMENT
Promotion
Site selection
Apply site planning,
landscaping, & engineering
design standards

Today’s tourism planning –
integrated, strategic
HOTEL
Transport
MARKET A
GOVERNMENT
Promotion
Site impacts
AND impacts on
surrounding
environment,
community &
economy
Community
Environment
Economy
MARKET B
MARKET C

The role and importance of tourism planning in
responsible tourism development
TOURISM
PLANNING
Beneficiaries
Types
Form
Timing
Location

Effects of not incorporating sustainability into
tourism planning process
lostopportunities
to maximise positive
impacts
activities and processes
CONFLICTING
more
to find support
more
challengingon the environment,
community and economy
ADVERSE IMPACTS
Greater

Why traditional tourism plans often fail
Lack of flexibility
Lack of strategic
thinking and
vision
Ineffective top-
down planning
Poor linking of
formulation and
implementation
The logical and rational
plans are often too
rigorous and unable to
adapt to changing
conditions
Logical and rational plans
often lack leadership
vision in formulation
processes
Only involving planning
officials or outside
planning experts may
not represent the needs
of all stakeholders
Traditional planning
often fails to link plan
formulation to the
outcomes to ensure
accountability and
measure success

Key principles for integrating sustainability into
tourism plans
ACHIEVING
SUSTAINABILITY
IN TOURISM
PLANNING
Economic
objectives
Social
objectives
Environmental
objectives
Political
objectives
Tourism vs development goals
Plan integration
Top-down vs. local
Ecological balance
Development pace
Environmentally costed
Impacts assessed
Costs vs. benefits
Benefit distribution
Community compatibility
Benefit balance
Tourism seasonality
Employment
Living standard
Cultural appreciation
Compatible designs
Visitor-community needs

Integrating sustainability into tourism plans
NATIONAL
REGIONAL
DESTINATION
TOURISM PLANS
Principal
organisations
Legislative
framework
Stakeholder roles &
functions
Market
environment
BACKGROUND
ANALYSIS
IMPLEMENTATION
REQUIREMENTS
Financing
Marketing
Human
resources
PRINCIPAL
ELEMENTS
Infrastructure
Facilities and
services
Attractions

TOURISM PLANS
Principal
organisations
Legislative
framework
Stakeholder roles &
functions
Market
environment
BACKGROUND
ANALYSIS
IMPLEMENTATION
REQUIREMENTS
Financing
Marketing
Human
resources
PRINCIPAL
ELEMENTS
Infrastructure
Facilities and
services
Attractions
Integrating sustainability into tourism plans
NATIONAL
REGIONAL
DESTINATION
integrate
sustainability
here

TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE
Planning for sustainability in tourism
infrastructure
A. Transport
C. Waste management
D. Recreation & entertainment
E. Health & safety
B. Utilities

A. Key principles for tourism transport planning
Well connected
international air
services
Provision of water
transport options
and experiences
Development of
major land
transport circulation
systems linking
attractions
Comprehensive
network of domestic
airports

Sustainability issues to consider in planning
tourism transport
Destruction of
natural areas in
infrastructure
construction and
operation
Tourism volume vs
destination carrying
capacity
Creation of new
adverse social quality
of life impacts
Others?
Picture source:

B. Key principles in tourism utilities planning
Ensuring sufficient
water to meet
demand
Ensuring sufficient
electricity supply to
meet demand
Ensuring effective
water storage and
distribution
Collecting water
appropriately
according to location

tourism utilities
Overuse of water to
maintain high
visitation sites
Environmental
impacts from
construction &
operation
Adequate and
continuous supply of
safe drinking water and
electricity
High water use by
holiday-makers
Others?
Picture source:

C. Key principles in tourism waste management
Minimising the
volume of liquid
waste and ensuring
proper treatment
before discharge
Developing
structures and
systems to monitor
waste management
practices
Implementing
recycling systems
for paper, plastic,
glass and metals
Ensuring treatment of
solid waste and
proper disposal

tourism waste management
Impact of water
and land pollution
on visitor
satisfaction
Impact of poor waste
storage, collection,
treatment, and disposal
on human and
ecosystem health
Ability of waste
management
facilities to deal
with additional
tourism related
waste
Others?
Picture source:

D. Key principles in planning of recreation &
entertainment facilities
Providing a range of
recreational and
entertainment
options
Development of
effective recreation
and entertainment
areas

recreation and entertainment facilities
Impact of large-
scale facilities on
the local
environment
Social disturbance from
traffic, noise, crowding
and anti-sociable
behaviour
Creation of new
social problems
from local
participation in
new recreational
activities
Others?
Picture source:

E. Key principles in planning tourism health &
safety services
Ensuring provision
of full range of
health care and
safety services
Ensuring health care
and safety services
are easily accessible
Ensuring good systems
are in place to ensure
proper hygiene and
sanitary standards in
F&B outlets

health & safety services
Impacts of mass
tourism on
accessibility of
services to locals
Ability of local services
to handle demand from
additional visitors
Impact of social
services taxes on
local community’s
standard of living
Others?
Picture source:

FACILITIES AND SERVICES
Planning for sustainability in tourism facilities
and services
A. Accommodation
C. Shopping
D. Travel and tour services
B. Food and beverage facilities

A. Key principles for accommodation planning
Understand existing
offer
Ensuring suitable
accommodation
development
Understand projected
demand needs

accommodation
Geographical
positioning impacts
Tourists’ demands vs
community’s interests
Oversupply /
undersupply
impacts
Scale, height and
concentration impacts
Waste, power and
water use impacts
Design impacts
Others?
Picture source:

Promoting supply of
a range of F&B
outlets
Promoting design
parameters
Encouraging sector
development
through incentives
and supporting
services
Enforcing standards of
hygiene, service and
quality
Determining
suitable locations
B. Key principles for F&B services planning

F&B services
Standards in service
and meal quality
Standards of
hygiene
Scale, height and
concentration
impacts
Oversupply /
undersupply impacts
Design impacts
Waste, power
and water use
impacts
Others?
Picture source:

C. Key principles for shopping facilities planning
Improving shopping
attractiveness and
encouraging
diversity
Linking tourism
nodes via shopping
“corridors”
Promoting off-
season activities to
support retailers
Regulating to protect
authentic locally-
made goods
Establishing
premises for locally-
produced goods

Sustainability issues to consider in planning of
shopping facilities
Oversupply /
seasonality impacts
Location and
distribution social &
environmental impacts
Economic leakage from
imported products
Waste from products
and packaging
Economic related dislocation
due to inflated retail land
prices and retail tax
Others?
Picture source:

D. Principles for travel and tour services
planning
Ensuring tourist
information services
are suitably located
Supporting local
guides
Ensuring accessible
training and
certification for tour
guides
Ensuring tour
operators are licenced
and meet required
standards
Fostering
implementation of
codes of conduct

travel and tour services
Standards in tour guiding
and tour operation
Standards in
transportation provision
and environmental
impacts
Safety and security
of tour groups
Impacts of tourists’
behaviour on
communities and sites
Others?
Picture source:

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
Planning for sustainability in tourist attractions
A. Natural attractions
C. Special events & activities
B. Cultural attractions

A. Key principles for natural tourism attractions
planning
Developing natural
resources
information base
Providing natural
resource
interpretation
Implementing
policies and
practices for visitor
satisfaction and
conservation
Creating facilities for
viewing and
experiencing natural
environment

natural tourism attractions
Impacts of activities
and infrastructure
on ecosystems
Limited understanding
of biodiversity and
landscapes
Limited resources
for conservation
and visitor safety
Others?
Picture source:

B. Key principles for cultural tourism attractions
planning
Understanding
cultural resources
Retaining
authenticity
Controlling visitor
impacts
Provision of cultural
information and
interpretation

cultural tourism attractions
Eroding of traditions and
anti-social behaviour
Commodification of culture
and loss of authenticity
Limited resources to understand
function of local culture
Cultural
conflict
Limited resources to protect
cultural heritage sites
Others?
Picture source:

C. Key principles for tourism activities and
events planning
Understanding
existing offer
Provision of
Infrastructure and
services
Provision of
information /
interpretation
Developing and
promoting activities
and events calendar

tourism activities & events
Safety and
security for all
Noise, traffic, waste
and pollution
Undesirable or anti-
social behaviour
Strain on local
infrastructure and
facilities
Others?
Picture source:

IMPLEMENTATION REQUIREMENTS
Creating sustainability in tourism plan
implementation
A. Financing
C. Human resource development
B. Marketing and promotions

A. Key principles for financing of tourism plans
Aggressive pursuit
of foreign aid
opportunities
Supporting
domestic
investment
Offering a range of
incentives
Fostering foreign
private investment

Sustainability issues to consider in financing of
tourism projects
Foreign aid vs. local
development control
Tourism economic
leakage
Investor demands
vs. local needs
Factoring social and
environmental impacts into
economic decisions
Others?
Picture source:

B. Key principles for tourism marketing
planning
Planning is both
strategic and tactical
Current market
situation is
understood
Tourism promotion is
designed for target
markets

tourism marketing
Target markets fit desires
of local community
Targets consider
spend and local
capacity
Seasonality of visitor
arrivals and socio-
economic impacts
Promotions create
realistic expectations,
and are sympathetic to
local culture
Others?
Picture source:

C. Key principles for tourism human resources
planning
Meets needs of
small business, self-
employed, and
government
Policies on tourism
employment and
tourism education &
training
Understanding of
existing situation
Strategy for forecast
future skilled
workforce
requirements

tourism human resources
Availability of
required tourism
skill levels
Adequacy and
accessibility of
education and
training
Tourism sector
working conditions
Accessibility of
employment for
locals
Others?
Picture source:

The need to ensure tourism planning is
participatory
• Recognise the concerns and goals of all
• Engage stakeholders based on interest,
skills and expertise
• Understand and communicate all
values of tourism
• Develop a shared understanding and
vision for tourism
• Identify clear roles and responsibilities
for all
• Implement a structure for good
governance
Industry operators
Government departments
and associations
Visitors
Community
Investors / developers
Land owners
Industry associations
Tourism-related
organisations
Community development &
environmental organisations

TOPIC 4. USING IMPACT APPRAISALS IN
TOURISM PLANNING FOR SUSTAINABILITY
Picture source:

Tourism impact appraisals are a key
requirement in ensuring sustainable tourism
development
Impact
appraisals in
tourism
provide
decision
makers
with:
Understanding of
impacts of tourism
development
proposals
Supportive evidence
about why particular
projects are approved
Potential alternative
development options
with different ranges
of impacts
Mechanism to foster
coordination among
stakeholders
Suggestions for
avoiding or reducing
damage and other
impacts
Mechanism to enhance
public participation in
decision-making
processes

Tourism development impact appraisals must
cover the triple bottom line
TOURISM
DEVELOPMENT
PROPOSAL
ENVIRONMENT
SOCIAL
ECONOMIC
IMPACT APPRAISAL AREAS

Appraising economic impacts of tourism
development
Evaluation:
• Evaluate economic benefits relating
to travel activity, expenditures,
employment, business earnings,
profits, and tax revenue.
• Evaluate economic costs based on
measuring the current situation and
the additional costs that will occur as
a result of the planned tourism
development, or alternatively, the
cost of not making any change
Objective:
Determine the cost or benefit to the
economic well-being of a community
as a result of tourism activities or
development in terms of employment,
income and wealth
Data sources:
Direct observation, surveys of tourist
purchases and expenditure, estimates
of expenditure based on business
receipts or sample surveys of travellers
and tourists

Tourism economic impact appraisal criteria
EXAMPLES OF ECONOMIC IMPACT APPRAISAL CRITERIA
Foreign exchange earnings
Income level changes
Changes in employment opportunities
Investment changes and multipliers
Stimulation of other industries
Changes in balance of payments
Broadening of taxes
Changes to property values
Support of conservation activities
Stimulation of local entrepreneurship

Appraising environmental impacts of tourism
development
Evaluation:
• Analyse predicted effects on the
environment as a result of a planned
tourism project
• Analyse the degree of impact and
change
• Identify the significance of the
changes and impacts
• Identify ways in which the impacts
could be mitigated, ameliorated, or
controlled
Objective:
Evaluate the potential impact to the
environment and its ecosystems from
tourism development and activity with
specific mention to the nature, scale
and likely consequences of any
environmental disturbance
Data sources:
Existing environmental surveys and
statistics, reports, plans and strategies,
observation, minutes of key
stakeholder meetings, focus groups
sessions, interviews

Tourism environmental impact appraisal
criteria
EXAMPLES OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT APPRAISAL CRITERIA
Flora Air
Physical damage Carbon monoxide emission from vehicles, boats etc
Loss of fragile species Fauna
Disturbance to ecological balance Disturbance to habitat
Disturbance of regeneration and growth rates Behaviour patterns
Reduction in vegetation cover and species diversity Killing / removal of animals
Water Disruption of the predator-prey relationship
Reduction in quality of water
Contamination of fish and reef life
Eutrophication leading to weed growth

Appraising social impacts of tourism
development
Evaluation:
• Conduct a baseline profile to
understand the current impacts of the
activity being examined and identify
the groups and communities
associated with the activity
• Assess direct impacts of change felt by
individuals, groups and firms, the level
and nature of potential impacts of the
activity, and the range of potential
impacts of the proposed changes
• Assess indirect impacts of a change at
the broader level as a result of the
impacts felt by those individuals,
groups and firms directly associated
with the change by using regional
profiling, surveys and /or modelling
Objective:
Examine the impact on social, cultural
and political systems that may be
attributed to the impact of tourism
Data sources:
City / province / district council
statistics, reports, plans and
strategies, local surveys undertaken,
existing literature, observation,
minutes from public meetings,
workshop results, focus groups
sessions, telephone hotlines,
interviews

Tourism social impact appraisal criteria
EXAMPLES OF SOCIAL IMPACT APPRAISAL CRITERIA
Changes to economic independence of population groups
Displacement of local communities
Changes to access to traditional economic domain
Changes from traditional occupational structures
Changes in land value patterns
Changes in living standards
Growth of undesirable activities
Adoption of foreign values, ideologies and behaviours
Changes to value placed on traditional art, music, rituals and ceremonies
Changes in attitudes to tourists

TOPIC 5. IDENTIFYING POLICY AREAS TO CREATE
AN ENABLING ENVIRONMENT FOR RESPONSIBLE
TOURISM
Picture source:

8. Social equity
9. Visitor
fulfilment
10. Local control
11. Community
wellbeing
12. Cultural richness
UNWTO’s 12 policy areas for sustainable
tourism
SOCIAL
SUSTAINABILITY
ECONOMIC
SUSTAINABILITY
1. Economic
viability
2. Local
prosperity
3. Employment
quality
ENVIRONMENTAL
SUSTAINABILITY
4. Physical
integrity
5. Biological
diversity
6. Resource
efficiency
7. Environmental
purity
Picture source:

Meeting Policy Area 1: Economic viability
ECONOMIC
VIABILITY
Understand the market
Deliver visitor satisfaction
Maintain good trading conditions
Maintain and project attractive destinations
Support business
PRACTICES TO MEET THE POLICY

Meeting Policy Area 2: Local prosperity
LOCAL
PROSPERITY
Reduce leakages
Strengthen links between businesses
Increase visitor spending

Meeting Policy Area 3: Employment quality
EMPLOYMENT
QUALITY
Increase employment opportunities
Ensure and enforce labour regulations
Provide skills training and career advancement
Ensure wellbeing of workers who lose their jobs

Meeting Policy Area 4: Physical integrity
PHYSICAL
INTEGRITY
Tourism developments appropriate to environment
Minimise physical impact of tourist activities
Maintain high quality rural and urban landscapes

Meeting Policy Area 5: Biological diversity
BIOLOGICAL
DIVERSITY
Work with protected areas
Promote ecotourism
Use tourism to encourage sustainable land management
Work with private parks and reserves
Minimise damage to natural heritage from tourism
Raise visitor awareness of biodiversity
Raise support for conservation

Meeting Policy Area 6: Resource efficiency
RESOURCE
EFFICIENCY
Account for resource supply in tourism planning
Minimise water consumption by the tourism sector
Use land and raw materials efficiently in development
Promote a reduce, reuse, recycle mentality

Meeting Policy Area 7: Environmental purity
ENVIRONMENTAL
PURITY
Promote the use of more sustainable transport
Reduce the use of environmentally damaging chemicals
Avoid discharge of sewage to the seas and rivers / lakes
Minimise waste and disposing with care
Inﬂuence the development of new tourism facilities

Meeting Policy Area 8: Social equity
SOCIAL
EQUITY
Develop income opportunities for the disadvantaged
Utilise income from tourism to support social programmes

Meeting Policy Area 9: Visitor fulfilment
VISITOR
FULFILMENT
Provide safe and satisfying experiences for all visitors
Provide holiday opportunities for disadvantaged
Maintain a duty of care to visitors
Monitor and address visitor satisfaction

Meeting Policy Area 10: Local control
LOCAL
CONTROL
Ensure engagement and empowerment of local communities
Improve conditions for effective local decision making
Empower indigenous and traditional communities

Meeting Policy Area 11: Cultural richness
CULTURAL
RICHNESS
Ensure effective management and conservation of
heritage sites
Work with communities on sensitive presentation
and promotion of culture and traditions

Meeting Policy Area 12: Community wellbeing
COMMUNITY
WELLBEING
Promote the use of more sustainable transport
Reduce the use of environmentally damaging chemicals
Avoid discharge of sewage to the seas and rivers / lakes
Minimise waste and disposing with care
Inﬂuence the development of new tourism facilities

The draft Vietnam Responsible Tourism Policy
framework
RESPONSIBLE TOURISM
DYNAMIC & EFFICIENT
COMPETITIVENESS & SUSTAINABILITY
SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
KNOWLEDGE & UNDERSTANDING
NATURAL & CULTURAL RESOURCES
HUMAN CAPITAL & RESOURCES

1. A dynamic & efficient tourism sector
Action Areas Key Issues
1.1 Policy &
Planning
• Recognition given to RT in development policies
• Policy gaps and overlaps
• Restrictive and unclear policies
• Lack of quality data for planning, policies and investment
planning
1.2 Efficient
Sector
Functioning
• Inter-ministerial coordination
• Implementation of plans and regulations
• Visa issuing for tourists
1.3 Supportive
Business
Environment
• Financial and regulatory restrictions
• Tourism sector is not adequately recognized
• Tourism investment policies not support sustainable
development
• Taxation Issues
1.4 Stakeholder
Cooperation
• Support stakeholder engagement in tourism planning

2. Competitiveness with sustainability
2.1 Promoting
Good Business
Practices
• Negative competition leads to lower quality of services
• Unfair treatment of tourists by businesses
2.2 Enhancing
Product
Development
• Lack of variety and distinctive products and services
• Improve quality of products and services
• More local products that add distinction and local benefits
2.3 Strategic
Marketing and
Promotion
• VN brand better supported and taken up by the sector
• Higher yielding markets that create more economic impact
• VN is currently viewed as a “one time visit destination”
• Lack of funding for effective marketing
2.4 Support to
Positive Visitor
Experiences
• Fair treatment of tourists at destinations
• Ensure the safety of tourists at destinations

3. Broad-based socio-economic development
3.1 Social
Inclusion
• Tourism related benefits are not reaching as much as possible
• Lack of planning processes that include local people
• Lack of opportunities for the disadvantaged
• Lack of support to micro-enterprise development
3.2 Poverty
Reduction
• Planning and policies not linked enough to poverty reduction
• Support the development of tourism where poor reside
• Barriers for businesses to engage disadvantaged people
• Barriers for disadvantaged people participating in tourism

4. Expanding knowledge and understanding
4.1 Public
Sector
(national/
provincial/
local)
• Lack strong government commitment for Tourism
• Higher yielding-lower impact tourism not recognized
• Lack of recognition of the importance of sustainable tourism
• Stakeholder engagement to achieve effective sector functioning
• Lack of understanding for the RT approach to planning
4.2 Business
Sector
(manageme
nt / staff)
• Lack of awareness on responsible businesses practices/operations
• Importance of quality over quantity not fully realized
• Low capacity in managing tourist & local community interaction
4.3 Visitors
and Hosts
• Tourists behaving inappropriately at tourist sites
• Lack of information about local communities and customs
• Improving treatment of tourist at the community level
• Host communities not always happy with tourism
4.4 General
Population
• Low awareness on the importance of tourism

5. Investing in human capital / resources
5.1 Governance
(public sector, all
levels)
• Government / provincial / local staff with tourism responsibilities
have little experience or training on tourism
5.2 Business
Sector
(management
and staff)
• Many tourism business managers lack to skills necessary to both
operate efficient businesses or contribute effectively to RT
• Staff of many tourism businesses have little understanding on
sustainable and RT
5.3 Local People • Lack of skills for people living at or near tourism sites prevent
participation and contribution to the tourism sector
5.4 Employment
& Decent Work
• Working conditions in some cases not at appropriate standards
• Health and working insurance not comprehensively available

6. Conservation and enhancement of resources
6.1 Cross-
cutting
Issues
• Overcrowding at sites
• Destruction of resources by tourists / business practices
• Commercialization leading to degradation of resources
• Negative impacts from other economic sectors
• Weak cooperation amongst local stakeholders at tourism
sites
• Weak policy support for the conservation of cultural and
environmental resources in tourism policies and planning
6.2 Natural
Resources
• Businesses operating in environmentally unsustainable ways
• Low awareness and policies, strategies related to climate
change and the impacts on, and from, the tourism sector
6.3 Cultural
Resources
• Conflicting interests between agencies responsible for
heritage conservation and tourism development/promotion

Using instruments to support responsible
tourism policies
• Governments can use
instruments to influence the
sustainability of tourism
• For best effect, all
instruments should be
applied in ways that are
complementary and mutually
reinforcing
Instruments have different
functions:
• To measure levels of tourism
and impacts
• To control aspects of
development and operation
• To influence behaviour and
impact
• To encourage voluntary
adherence to sustainable
approaches and practices
• To influence enterprises and
tourists to make operations
and activities sustainable

Using indicators and monitoring to support
responsible tourism policies
• Set sustainable tourism
objectives
• Establish a baseline
• Set targets for policies
and actions to achieve
objectives
• Incorporate assessment and evaluation of
implemented actions
• Make provisions for continuous improvement
Picture source:

Using limits of change to support responsible
tourism policies
• Establish limits of
economically,
environmentally and
socially acceptable
change
• Help manage levels of
undesirable impact
Picture source:

Using national tourism laws to support
• Set out the
responsibilities of
governments and their
agencies towards tourism
• Sustainable tourism
principles should be
incorporated into the preamble and the
wording of articles to ensure harmony
Picture source:

Using regulations to support responsible
tourism policies
• Help enforce compliance
• Can include:
– Interactions with local
environment and
community
– Allowable activities and
forms of activities
– Accessibility to places and / or frequency of use
– Qualification requirements
– Construction and building standards
Picture source:

Using land use planning & development
controls to support responsible tourism policies
• Influence the type and
location of tourism
development and
activities
• Can prioritise areas and
sites for conservation for
tourism activities
• Can ensure sustainable land use
Picture source:

Using tourism impact assessments to support
• Require developers to
assess potential impacts
of development
proposals
• Ensure sustainability by
identifying costs and
benefits to the economy, society and
environment
Picture source:

Using taxes and charges to support responsible
tourism policies
• Business tax and tourist
tax can help affect
businesses and
consumer behaviour
• Charges can help control
visitor numbers
• Revenue raised can be used for management,
conservation, or support local community
development projects etc
Picture source:

Using financial incentives and agreements to
support responsible tourism policies
• Influence behaviour of
enterprises by offering
ﬁnancial benefits for acting
in a certain way
• Can require enterprises to
perform in a specific
environmentally / socially /
economically sensitive way
• Can be used to assist particular types of sustainable
tourism activities and direct government
investments in sustainable tourism ventures
Picture source:

Using voluntary mechanisms to support
• Non-legally binding codes of
conduct and guidelines for
visitors and enterprises
• Help establish
expectations or
requirements of behaviour
• Certification schemes can also be
promoted to help improve quality
standards
Picture source:

Using supportive instruments to support
• Provision of infrastructure
and services - fosters
tourism development
• Capacity building - feeds
demand for skilled labour
and enhances local
employment and income
• Marketing and information
services - support economic instruments, guidelines
and certification, as well as facilitate market access,
promote particular forms of tourism or products, and
influence visitor behaviour
Picture source:

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Unit 12: Responsible Tourism Policy And Planning For Tourism Authorities

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Unit 12: Responsible Tourism Policy And Planning For Tourism Authorities

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