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The Greater Caribbean This Week -
Pro-Sustainability Agendas |
TOUR OPERATORS ARE
an important part of the tourism distribution system. They
organise and provide packaged holidays, and are responsible
for delivering large numbers of tourists to the Greater
Caribbean region each year.
Primarily based in tourist-generating markets, these buyers
of our tourism product visit the region, evaluating the
quality of the tourism services, accommodation facilities,
tours and other ancillary services in selected destinations.
Tour operators engage in spirited negotiations with
hoteliers and other service providers, either at the tourist
destinations at annual travel marketplaces overseas, or
both, selecting the best quality of product and those
offering value for money, as appropriate to their target
markets.
The tasks of planning, negotiating, contracting and
administering the travel packages is complex and
time-consuming. The exercise begins as much as one year
before the winter or summer packages are released to the
market. While the traditional view of the tour operators’
role is linked to marketing travel, European tour operators
have proven that they are also concerned with tourism
sustainability.
In the year 2000, a network of tour operators recognised
that their long-term success depends on tourism
sustainability and collaborated to develop the Tour
Operators Initiative (TOI).
The primary objectives are to promote the use of sustainable
development principles and practices into their daily
operations, and to improve the sustainability of the Tourism
Industry in general. |
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In the TOI’s
statement of commitment, Tour Operators recognise their
responsibility to develop and operate in ways that reduce
environmental impacts, benefit host communities, safeguard
the future livelihood of local people and ensure the
protection of destinations for future generations.
The members of TOI are involved in three primary areas of
activity aimed at improving the social, economic and
environmental status of the tourism sector. They work at the
destination level with a wide cross-section of stakeholders
and, through stakeholder consultations, the Initiative
developed a system of performance indicators on sustainable
development for tour operators
The TOI also created a guide for good practices in the
accommodation sector, and the sustainability criteria for
selecting and contracting service suppliers.
There are several good practices on record since the
inception of the TOI. For example, EXODUS, a UK based tour
operator specialising in adventure travel, developed a
responsible tourism policy and committed to designing
socially, economically and ecologically sound tours.
In the Exodus mission statement, the company promises to
operate tourism that fosters understanding, appreciation and
conservation of the culture and environments they visit.
In practice, Exodus hires more local guides to interpret the
experiences, and purchases local products and services, and
in so doing, supports the local communities. There is also a
limit to the size of the tour group, based on the local
conditions. The company contributes to natural resource
conservation and ensures that local communities participate
and benefit directly from the tourism activity.
The company has reaped many benefits since its Responsible
Tourism Policy was implemented, amongst them, positive
publicity in the media and industry recognition, and was
highly commended by British Airways Tourism for Tomorrow
Awards.
Bookings increased amongst a niche of clients who selected
Exodus tours because of their company’s responsible tourism
philosophy. The heightened awareness amongst staff who have
embraced the issues and policies has enhanced the
intellectual capital at Exodus.
In an ideal world, more companies should seek to develop
responsible tourism policies and integrate sustainability
into the business strategy and decision-making. The desired
outcome is for clients to recognise these core values as an
industry standard which will positively influence their
travel choices. |
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