The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has presented a new policy framework for the sustainable management of tourist destinations, calling on governments, destinations and businesses to adopt a more holistic approach so that tourism development creates long-term value for residents, visitors and businesses.
In the new policy brief entitled “Destination Stewardship: Creating Value for All”, WTTC proposes seven key principles for the design and management of destinations, shifting the focus from visitor numbers to resident satisfaction, the equitable distribution of economic benefits and the long-term resilience of destinations.
According to WTTC, when tourism development is planned in a timely manner and with the participation of local communities, it can enhance the daily well-being of residents, while creating significant economic and social benefits.
The Council notes that the tourism dialogue must go beyond the logic of measuring arrivals and focus on how a destination’s development is managed. It states that successful destinations are those that plan early, collaborate with local communities, make better use of available data, seek to expand tourism activity to more periods and areas, and reinvest tourism revenues in local communities.
The seven principles proposed by WTTC are:
- joint planning and cooperation of all stakeholders involved,
- measuring success based on resident satisfaction,
- timely planning,
- better understanding and assessment of challenges,
- development of more destinations and extension of the tourist season,
- transforming tourism into shared prosperity for local communities,
- readiness to face future challenges.
The policy brief is accompanied by examples of the application of these principles in various destinations. Madrid is presented as an example of a strategy based on the extension of the tourist season and the decentralization of tourism activity. Colorado stands out for its cooperation between the public and private sectors and the participation of residents in the design of tourism policy, while Bogota has utilized data analysis and timely planning to improve destination management.
Dubrovnik is also being highlighted as an example of more effective management of cruise ship arrivals, New York for developing tourism experiences beyond traditional points of interest, and the Balearic Islands for reinvesting tourism revenues in projects that directly benefit local communities. WTTC also cites initiatives implemented in Copenhagen, Japan, Ljubljana and South Korea.
Alongside the long-term directions, the Council also proposes immediately applicable measures, such as the systematic monitoring of residents’ attitudes towards tourism, the mapping of pressure points with better use of data, the promotion of lesser-known destinations, the promotion of responsible visitor behavior, the more effective communication of the benefits of tourism to local communities and the creation of coordinated crisis management mechanisms.
WTTC President and CEO Gloria Guevara said that when destinations are managed well, tourism creates jobs, strengthens local communities, protects natural and cultural heritage and contributes to long-term prosperity. She said the organization’s seven principles provide a practical framework that can be adapted to the needs of each destination, so that tourism can continue to support economic growth while improving the quality of life of residents and the experience of visitors.
Source: money-tourism.gr