Sustainability Work

At the centre of the Regional Tourism Strategy (Towards 2015) is its vision for the region to be one in which tourism is not only commercially successful and satisfying visitors but also one that is a benefit rather than a burden to the environment and residents.

The work of South West Tourism and its partners was recently recognised by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) in being selected as one of three finalists in the international "Tourism for Tomorrow" awards. The video below features highlights of the awards ceremony.

This holistic goal is guiding the work of South West Tourism (SWT). SWT has been involved as a partner in projects aiming to improve tourism's environmental and social impact since the early 1990s but in the last few years it has been particularly proactive.

Between 2005 and 2008 it recruited specialist staff in sustainability and implemented a programme in partnership with other bodies in the South West and beyond which aimed to engage tourism businesses, destination managers, visitors, decision makers and their own staff. Key actions and achievements during this time included:

• Promotion of a ‘bite-sized' awareness campaign for businesses - Action of the Year. Focussing on one theme per year (e.g. saving energy), over 100 presentations to 2,000 businesses in 2 years with popular resources to help get businesses started.
• Roll out and promotion of a national green certification scheme - South West now has more green certified tourism businesses than any region in Europe (around 500).
• Influence on integrating a sustainable approach to national quality standards and training courses
• Production of case study and introductory publications for tourism businesses.
• Workshops and assistance for sub-regional destination managers on how to integrate sustainability in their work and organisations.
• Partnership with Sustainability South West in delivering a visitor communication campaign - Future Footprints - and production of popular room cards with sustainable messages (40,000 requested to date).
• Training, audits and action within South West Tourism's office to become the 1^st regional tourist board to achieve ‘Gold' level green certification.
• Integration of environmental and social issues within SWT research.

In the last year SWT has become a smaller, strategic organisation with the focus of work on sustainability switching towards advising, supporting and influencing partners and internal staff to adopt an approach where sustainability is embedded:

• Monitoring and developing research and intelligence relating to sustainability and transferring that knowledge to partners/ businesses.
• Reviewing the regional tourism strategy through use of scenario planning to ensure it is equipped to deal with current and future conditions.
• Influencing key policy-making and funding decisions within and beyond tourism.
• Development / dissemination of tools that help others to take more sustainable decisions - e.g. REAP Tourism (an eco / carbon footprint tool for destinations), VICE Evaluation Tool (a self-appraisal tool for tourism projects).
• Advice and support to key partners (sub regional destination bodies, Regional Development Agency, regional tourism skills body).
• Increased focus on raising awareness of adaptation to the effects of climate change.
• Sharing and exchanging experience with tourism bodies in UK and overseas.

To read more about what we're doing to encouraging the development of sustainable tourism in the South West, please see the pages listed below:

REAP - Resource and Energy Analysis Program

International Sustainable Tourism Networks

Adapting to a changing climate

If you are looking for information on how to make your business more sustainable, click here.