posted on 2023-11-02, 00:05authored byCathie Withyman
Tourism is the world’s largest and fastest growing industry (UNWTO, 2012). It is a global phenomenon with widespread impacts that are both positive and negative. In this context, there is increasing pressure on tourism providers and destination managers to demonstrate sustainable practices and efforts to protect and conserve the natural environment upon which most tourism depends. Eco or sustainable certification has been highlighted as a key tool in sustainable tourism management (Bien, 2007; Font, 2009; Honey, 2008), but after nearly 30 years in the marketplace, uptake of certification remains low (Dodds & Joppe, 2009b). The aim of this research is to gain an insight into how sustainable tourism certification is currently viewed, implemented and promoted as a tourism management tool in a biosphere reserve setting. The case study setting of this research is Noosa Biosphere Reserve in Australia. One hundred tourism firms were surveyed and in-depth interviews were conducted to gain a comprehensive insight into the activity system of sustainable tourism certification. Cultural Historical Activity Theory was used as a methodological analysis framework to assist in the identification of expansive learning opportunities from the surfacing ‘tensions’ and ‘contradictions’. The study found that certification uptake is limited by internal and external constraints faced by the tourism operator. As well, the voluntary nature of certification coupled with an absence of leadership from destination management organisations and government, has compounded operator perception that certification is not a particularly valued sustainable development management tool. It emerged that the development and expansion of motivational drivers would be useful to encourage uptake of certification by tourism operators.
History
Location
Central Queensland University
Additional Rights
I hereby grant to Central Queensland University or its agents the right to archive and to make available my thesis or dissertation in whole or in part through Central Queensland University’s Institutional Repository, ACQUIRE, in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all copyright, including the right to use future works (such as articles or books), all or part of this thesis or dissertation.
Open Access
Yes
Era Eligible
No
Supervisor
Professor Michael William Horsley ; Dr Susan Davis ; Dr Scott Richardson ; Dr Matt Eliot