GRiSSH::Tourismos : an international multidiciplinary journal of tourism | Vol.7, No.1, 2012 | Integrating sustainability into tour operator business : an innovative approach in sustainable tourism

Information

Integrating sustainability into tour operator business : an innovative approach in sustainable tourism

Part of : Tourismos : an international multidiciplinary journal of tourism ; Vol.7, No.1, 2012, pages 213-233

Issue:

Vol.7, No.1, 2012

Pages:

213-233

Section Title:

Research papers

Author:

Abstract:

Tour operators are the key elements in the tourism system; they are the link between the tourist and the destination. As a result, tour operators are in many ways the key to achieving more sustainable forms of tourism. This study aims at examining the actual experience of tour operators who adopted sustainability practices in their business with the purposes of: 1) Identifying the priority implementation areas; 2) Determining the most important motivators which encourage tour operators to adopt more responsible strategies; 3) Exploring the outcomes and benefits as well as the major obstacles and barriers that deter the integration of sustainability strategies in the tour operator business. For this study 32 tour operators have been investigated. In addition, in-depth interviews with destination stakeholders have been conducted to reflect their experience.

Subject:

Other social sciences

Subject (LC):

Keywords:

supply management, CSR, sustainable tourism, tour operator

Notes:

Περιέχει σχήματα, πίνακες και βιβλιογραφία

References (1):

Berman, A. (2001). Essential statistics for public managers and policy analysis, CCE press, p. 146Boyce, C. & Neale, P. (2006). Conducting in-depth interview for evaluation input, pathfinder international tool series.Brammer, S. & Pavelin, S. (2004). Building a good reputation. European Management Journal, Vol. 22, pp.704- 713.Budeanu, A. (2005). Impacts and responsibility for sustainable tourism: A tour operator's perspective. Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol. 13, No.2, pp.89-97.Budeanu, A. (2009). Environmental supply chain management in tourism: The case of large tour operators. Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol. 17, No.16, pp.1385-1392.Carbone, G. (2004). Tour operators' responsibility and best practices example, Tour Operators Initiative program officers. Paris, UNEP.Cochrane, J. (2006). How can tour operators contribute to sustainable development, Communicating Development Research, UNEP and Ministère de l’Écologie et du Development Durable, id research highlight.Chheang, V. (2009). State and tourism planning: A case study of Cambodia. Tourismos journal, Vol. 4, No.1(Spring), pp.63-82.Dejong, M., Steenkamp, J., Fox, J. & Baumgartner, H. (2008). Using item response theory to measure extreme response style in marketing research: a global investigation. Journal of marketing research, Vol. 45, No .1, pp.104-115.Dodds, R. & Butler, R. (2010). Barriers to implementing sustainable tourism policy in mass tourism destination. Tourismos journal, Vol. 5, No.1(Spring), pp.35-53.Font, X. & Cochrane, J. (2005a). Integrating sustainability into business, a management guide for responsible tour operations. Paris, UNEP, WTO.Font X. & Cochrane, J. (2005b). Integrating sustainability into business, an implementation guide for responsible tourism coordinators. Paris, UNEP, WTO.Font, X., Tapper R., Schwartz K. & Kornilaki M. (2008). Sustainable supply chain management. UK, John Wiley & sons.Fredericks L., Garstea, R. & Monforte, S. (2008). Sustainable tourism destination: A pathway for tour operators. Sweden, Blekinge Institute of Technology.Frey, N. & George, R. (2010). Responsible tourism management: the missing link between business owners’ attitude and behavior in the cap town tourism industry. Tourism Management, Vol. 31, No.5, pp.621-628.Gilgs, B. & Ford, N. (2005). Green consumption or sustainable lifestyle identifying the sustainable consumer. Future, Vol. 37, No.6, pp.481-504.Gronau, W. & Kaufmann, R. (2009). Tourism as a stimulus for sustainable development in rural area: A Cypriot perspective. Tourismos journal, Vol. 4, No.1(Spring), pp.63-82.Guian, A.L. (2006). Conducting as in-depth interview, University of Florida: I FAS extensive, Gainesville.Harssel, J. (1994). Tourism and exploration. USA, Prentice Hall international.Holden, A. (2008). Environmental and tourism, 2PndP ed. USA, Routledge.Hunt, S., Wood, V. & Chonko, L. (1999). Cooperate ethical value, and organizational commitment in marketing. Journal of Marketing, Vol. 53, pp.79-90.Inskeep, E. (1999). Tourism planning: an integrated and sustainable development approach. New York, Van Nostrad Reinhold.Malhotra, N. (1996). Marketing research, an applied orientation, 2PndP ed. USA, Prentice Hall International.Mason, P. (2003). Tourism impacts, planning and management. UK, Butterworth-Heinemann.Miller, G. & Twining-Ward, L. (2005). Monitoring for sustainable tourism transition. USA, CABI Publishing.Mowforth, M. and Munt, I. (2003). Tourism and sustainability: development and new tourism in the third world, 2Pnd Ped. London, Routledge.Rebollo, F. & Baidal, J. (2003). Measuring sustainable in mass tourism destination pressure, perspective and policy response in Torrevieja. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, Vol. 29, No.11(2-3), pp.181-203.Sigala, M. (2008). A study chain management approach for investigating: The role of tour operators on sustainable tourism the case of TUI. Journal of Cleaner Products, Vol. 16, No.15, pp.1589-1599.Swarbrooke, J. (1999). Sustainable tourism management. UK, CABI Publishing.Tapper, R. & Font, X. (2005). Tourism supply chain, Report of desk research project for the travel foundation, Leeds Metropolitan University, Environment Business & Development Group.Tepelus, C. (2005). Aiming for sustainability in tour operating business. Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol. 13, No.2, pp.99-107.Tour Operators Initiative for Sustainable Development (2002). Sustainable reporting guideline. Paris, UNESCO, UNEP.Tour Operators Initiative and Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) (2002). Tour operators' sector supplement for use with the GRI 2002 Sustainability reporting guidelines. Http://www.globalreporting.org/NR/rdonlyres/A4FE86BB-8627-4262-974B-47CC292C1D25/0/SS_TourOperators_ENG.pdf. Accessed the 14P Pth of September, at 10:00 .Tour Operators Initiative (2003). Sustainable tourism, the tour operators. Paris, UNEP.Tour Operators Initiative (2005). Integrating sustainability into business, Management guide for responsible tour operators, Http://www.toinitiative.org/fileadmin/docs/publications/Sustainability_in_Business_-_Management.pdf Accessed the15 th of August2009, at 11:00.Tour Operators Initiative (2007a). Integrating sustainable into the tour operators supply chain. Http://www.toinitative.org/index.php?id=53 Accessed the 14 th of June 2009, at 12:30.Tour Operators Initiative (2007b). Good practice. Http://www.toinitiative.org/index.php?id=48. Accessed the 14 th of June 2009, at 14:30.United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) (2002). Sustainable tourism turning the tide, Sustainable Tourism Briefing Program, economic brief No4. Http://www.stakeholderforum.org/fileadmin/files/SF_Briefing_Papers/bp_tourism.pdf Accessed the15 th of August, at 13:00.United Nations (2001). Managing sustainable tourism development, ESCCAP Tourism Review No.22. New York, UN.Wijk, J. & Persoon, W. (2006). A Long Haul Destination: Sustainable reporting among tour operators. European Management Journal, Vol. 24, No.6, pp.381-395.World Tourism & Travel Council, International Federation of Tour operators, International Hotels & Restaurants Association and International Council of Cruise Line and United Nations Environment Programme (2002). Industry as a partner for sustainable development. UK, Beacon Creative.World Tourism Organization. (2004). Indicators of sustainable development for tourism destinations. Madrid, Spain: WTOZhang, X., Song H. & Huang, G. ( 2009). Tourism supply chain management: A new research Agenda. Tourism Management, Vol. 30, No.3, pp.345- 358.