Colin Hunter

Sustainable tourism as an adaptive paradigm

Abstract Despite owing its origins to the general concept of sustainable development, the subject of sustainable tourism appears to have evolved largely in isolation from the continuing debate on the meaning of the former. This paper argues that such isolation has resulted in the emergence of an overly simplistic and inflexible paradigm of sustainable tourism which fails to account for specific circumstances. It is suggested that the concept of sustainable tourism be redefined in terms of an over-arching paradigm which incorporates a range of approaches to the tourism/environment system within destination areas. These approaches are outlined for a variety of abstract situations with the aim of demonstrating the legitimacy of different perceptions of sustainable tourism.

On the need to re-conceptualise sustainable tourism development.

Recent years have witnessed the emergence of a dominant paradigm of sustainable tourism development, one which appears to chart a responsible course, balancing the requirements of tourism development with the protection of the environment. However, this paper argues that the predominant paradigm is too tourism‐centric, parochial and, therefore, inherently flawed, and that it effectively condones planning, management and policy approaches which fail to operationalise sustainable tourism in a manner consistent with the general aims and requirements of sustainable development. In particular, it is suggested that the tourism‐centric paradigm encourages inappropriate and inconsistent consideration of the scope and geographical scale of tourisms resource base, whilst also failing to adequately account for the intersectoral context of tourism development In order to re‐engage sustainable tourism development with its parental concerns (those of sustainable development generally), an alternative, extra‐parochial ...

Theorizing the meso level: the household as a crucible of pro-environmental behaviour

This paper identifies the need to develop a conceptual approach that moves away from dichotomous thinking about pro-environmental behaviour by considering the meso level of reality, through which macro level change can be observed and micro level activity can be contextualized. The discussion reviews pro-environmental behaviour literatures, presenting an alternative conceptual approach that incorporates the importance of scale and the social units to which people belong. In particular, the paper argues that greater understanding of the household, as a unit within the meso level, offers an opportunity to rethink the future research agenda for the study of pro-environmental behaviour.

Assessing the environmental impact of tourism development: Use of the Delphi technique

Abstract This article reports the development and application of a methodology for the environmental impact assessment of tourism projects. It reviews the background literature on tourism-related impacts and the wider problems of environmental Impact assessment, including issues associated with measurement. The Delphi technique is presented as a potentially valuable tool for the identification and assessment of environmental impacts. Findings are presented of the application of the developed methodology to a specific tourism project, namely Salts Mill, Bradford. An assessment is then made of the methodology along with an outline for further refinement and testing of the approach.

Application of the Delphi technique in tourism.

Abstract This paper reports the development and application of a methodology for the assessment of environmental impacts stemming from tourism projects. The Delphi technique is utilized as a potentially valuable tool for the identification and assessment of such impacts. The paper outlines the Delphi technique and its potential application for small scale projects where time and cost constraints preclude the use of direct, long term environmental monitoring. The findings of the application of the technique to a specific tourism project are presented. An assessment is then made of the methodology and its relevance to policy makers.

Input of fecal coliform bacteria to an upland stream channel in the Yorkshire Dales

The input of fecal coliform bacteria to the River Skell stream from a small, approximately 0.5 ha, instrumented research site on Pateley Moor in the Yorkshire Dales was investigated. Bacterial concentrations were determined for a total of 433 water samples collected between October and December 1984 from 31 stream bank sites representing three types of near-surface water flow: matrix through flow, nonmatrix through flow, and overland flow. Bacterial concentrations in matrix through flow were found to be very low, but much higher input rates were found in both nonmatrix through flow and overland flow. Overland flow sites were the most important group for the input of bacteria to the channel, both between and during storm events. The rate of fecal coliform input was found to increase during storm events, and there was a strong, positive correlation between bacterial input rate and stream stage height.

Sustainable whale-watching tourism and climate change: towards a framework of resilience

Whale-watching tourism, currently worth

Seasonal changes in the sanitary bacterial quality of water draining a small upland catchment in the Yorkshire dales

1 billion p.a. worldwide, depends upon the continued presence of whale, dolphin and porpoise species (collectively called cetaceans) within a specific area. Current evidence suggests that the distribution and/or abundance of cetaceans is likely to alter in response to continued changes in sea surface temperature with global climate change (GCC). This paper reviews how such changes may affect the sustainability of whale-watching operators from a resilience perspective. Potential implications include changes to the presence and frequency of cetacean species targeted and changes to lengths of tourism seasons to coincide with shifts in migration patterns. The review presents an interdisciplinary framework for evaluating the resilience of whale watching to changes in species occurrence, whereby resilience is the degree of change in cetacean occurrence experienced before tourist numbers fall below a critical threshold. The framework combines likelihood of observing a cetacean, trip type and tourist type, which when quantified could identify which operators are likely to experience a change in tourist numbers given a specific scenario of changing cetacean occurrence. In doing so, a step is taken towards providing a means by which resilience to GCC effects on cetacean species could potentially be provided.

Measuring Responsibility: An Appraisal of a Scottish National Park's Sustainable Tourism Indicators

Abstract The faecal coliform concentration of overland flow and streamwater within a small catchment in the Yorkshire Dales was monitored over a 2 year period. Strong and consistent seasonal trends in bacterial concentration were found. During the height of summer (mid June to the end of August), faecal coliform concentrations in streamwater were found to be significantly higher than at other times of year. Consistently low concentrations were found during winter months. These trends closely followed those identified for semi-permanent overland flow, suggesting a direct causal link between streamwater quality and the bacterial concentration of overland flow entering the stream channel. The seasonal trends identified were explained with respect to long term changes in the size of the store of enteric bacteria existing in the surface soils of the catchment. Changes in land store size were related to seasonal changes in the frequency and amount of rainfall input to the catchment. The implications of the research findings for the management of upland catchments used for water supply or recreation are discussed.

Applying the ecological footprint to ecotourism scenarios

Descriptions of the ambivalent role that tourism plays in sustaining fragile environments, communities and cultures are well rehearsed in the tourism literature. Tourism indicators are increasingly seen as a way to measure and monitor impacts (both positive and negative) in order to practice adaptive management. Responsible tourism focuses on the choices made by visitors and their hosts, emphasising changing behaviour in order to change tourism outcomes. Thus, responsible tourism provides a particular lens by which to consider how to improve the sustainability of tourism. This paper explores whether a draft sustainable tourism indicator set for one of Scotlands new National Parks measures responsible behaviour (by both tourists and the host communities) and responsible tourism practices. Therefore, the analysis focuses on issues of responsibility for what, by whom and whether the tourism strategy in question will result in responsible tourism. The paper reports our findings and reflects on how the lens of responsible tourism might provide a useful perspective from which to appraise tourism indicators in the future.