Like overtourism, sustainability within the tourism context is also shrouded in controversy. This is also largely due to the lack of an inclusive definition of the term. Commonly, the term “sustainability” is described as, “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (Butler 2018, 2).
When sustainable tourism isn’t implemented with a holistic approach in mind a rise in anti-tourism movements or the reluctance to limit tourist numbers begins to emerge. This is due largely to through the fear of, “the potential loss of income and employment, the fear of creating a negative image of a destination towards tourism, and political cost of lower tourist numbers” (Butler 2018, 7).
Common Terms Used to Describe Sustainability Within a Tourism Context
Critiques of Ecotourism
- “There needs to be much more attention paid to the evaluation of global impacts on resources and holistic effects of all types of tourism in different settings, rather than simple labeling of forms of tourism as sustainable or not” (Butler 2018, 3).
- “It is important to focus on how tourism can contribute to overall sustainability rather than whether it is sustainable itself” (Butler 2018, 4).
Defining Last Chance Tourism
- Ties sustainability and overtourism together.
- As a certain species, environment, historic building etc. becomes increasingly rare to find or degrades, there is a growth in appeal to view the spectacle before it disappears for good.
Bibliography
Butler, Richard. 2018. “Sustainable Tourism in Sensitive Environments: A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing?” In Sustainability. 1-11.
March 16, 2015. https://pixabay.com/photos/street-grass-sidewalk-light-urban-675224/.
Holistic Tourism 