Project title
Contribution of tourism to the achievement of the SDGs - A methodological study on the measurement of tourism contribution: GSTC Destination Criteria and the SDGs
Research Unit
Primary investigator
Co investigators
Project period
2021/5/19 ～ 2022/3/31
Project summary
Today, SDGs are becoming a key word in the tourism and travel sector. In the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the tourism sector is expected to contribute to the achievement of the SDGs. There is however no unified standards to indicate what and how they should be promoted. This is one of the reasons why SDGs initiatives in the sector have remained tokenistic (so-called SDG-wash).The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) sets and manages a set of sustainable tourism indicators for destinations and the tourism industry, including hotels and tour operators. Each indicator is linked to the relevant SDGs, but the rationale behind such relationship is not clear. This study focuses on the GSTC Destination Indicators (GSTC-D) and examines the relevance of each indicator to the SDGs through field research. In particular, how various range of tourism initiatives can contribute to which of the SDG targets is examined. As case studies, municipalities that have been selected as SDGs Future Cities by the Cabinet Office are invited to participate. It is expected that the projects will provide some insights into sustainable tourism destination management with specific vision of contribution to the achievement of the SDGs.
Activity reports
Based on the understanding of the relationship with the SDGs in the GSTC sustainable tourism standards (GSTC-D, I), this study aimed to review or the system (organization, approach, resources) of promoting sustainable tourism in destinations (ie management structure, guidelines and indicators, human resource development； operational support) and develop a system (concept, approach) suitable for Japan. The study aimed to conduct interviews with experts in sustainable tourism standards, including GSTC, private sectors and NGOs involved, including organisations such as EarthCheck, Global Destination Sustainability, Travelyst, Booking.Com. Additionally, SDG Future Cities and the initiatives of developed regions in the promotion of sustainable tourism were investigated, and as a further practical outcome, seminars and workshops were conducted in regional destinations to investigate the needs at the destination level. The result shows that although the SDGs refer to tourism in Goals 8, 12 and 14, they mainly relate to increasing employment, but the the role of tourism as an economic activity is clear and important in promoting sustainable regional development. Many of the experts stated that "aiming for balanced environmental, social and economic development without being bound by the individual targets of the SDGs is important. This (balance of three elements) has been said since the early promotion of ecotourism in the 60s. SDGs do not bring novel perspectives, but the SDG framework nonetheless makes tourism's contribution clearly visible. It is effective and beneficial that the relationship between the standard items (indicators) and SDGs are clearly presented with relevant tourism examples. In future, methodology and approach to specifically monitor the tourism contribution and its progress will be needed.
There are two significant outcomes of this study. Firstly, the findings can be formulated into specific recommendations for a sustainable tourism promotion system as policy recommendation. Among the examined studies, those that seem to be the most efficient and suitable for the Japanese context are those of Slovenia, Finland and Thailand, as the three countries have in common a consistent support, promotion, human resource development and The operating body is an independent organisation closely linked to the government, and its management and administration personnel are long-term positions. These are considered essential conditions for further promotion of sustainable tourism especially at national level. The organisation needs to be an institution that continues to carry out government-led sustainable tourism promotion projects, indicator management and operation, and human resource development. In addition to the function of coordinating not only local communities and their sustainability promotion personnel, but also experts, training trainers and other related parties, based on the government's vision, the organisation must also have broad cooperation with international organisations, universities, business organisations and other relevant parties.
Secondly, the Sustainable Tourism Assessment & Review Tool (START), an online tool of the Sustainable Tourism Guidelines (JSTS-D), on which this study will be made available nationwide. This tool will be used for comprehensive assessment, monitoring and promotion of human resource development in destinations, including tourism operators, and will serve as more than just a 'tool'. The theoretical and practical results in these two areas are of great social significance as a contribution to tourism studies (sustainable tourism destination management, regional development, human resource development and assessment indicators), sustainable regional development and the promotion of the SDGs.
