DestiNet for Destinations - Knowledge Base

TOPICS & OBJECTIVES

HELPFUL QUESTIONS & INFORMATION

 1 Natural and cultural heritage

1) Enriching the visitor’s experience of natural and cultural heritage

1. How can an interpretation plan be prepared for a destination?
2. What kinds of heritage products/offers/events are appropriate for different markets?
3. What new techniques can be used in interpreting heritage themes?

2) Managing tourism impacts on natural and cultural heritage

1. In what ways can tourism damage biodiversity and natural and cultural heritage?
2. What international bodies, policies and conventions are concerned with tourism and natural or cultural heritage?
3. How can the impact of tourism on biodiversity and cultural heritage be monitored?
4. How can tourism be well managed in protected areas and sensitive sites?

3) Supporting conservation through tourism

1. In what ways can the development and operation of tourism enterprises support conservation of natural and cultural heritage?
2. How can money be raised from tourists to support conservation and management activity?

2 Sustainable transport and travel

1) Ensuring an integrated approach to sustainable transport

1. How can integrated sustainable transport plans be prepared for a destination?
2. How should concerns about the environmental impact of transport effect the pattern of tourism and choice of markets in a destination?
3. What are the best ways of providing effective information to tourists on sustainable transport options?
4. How can visits to a destination using public transport be successfully promoted?

2) Developing soft mobility products 

1. What interesting and innovation approaches have been taken to develop walking and cycling tourism in destinations?
2. How can new technologies be used to develop sustainable tourism transport offers (e.g. electric vehicles)?

3) Monitoring and offsetting the environmental impact of tourism transport

1. What information is available on the environmental impact of different forms of transport?
2. How can a destination encourage offsetting of transport emissions and what are the best schemes for this?

3 Destination management and good governance

1) Establishing multi-stakeholder governance structures for tourism in destinations

1. What mixture of interests should be included in destination governance structures for tourism?
2. How can tourism structures reflect the need for engagement at different levels – regional, local, community?
3. How can tourism trade bodies be actively involved in destination management?

2) Using strategies, plans and tools to manage destinations

1. What are the key steps to take in preparing destination management strategies and plans?
2. What information is needed about visitors, businesses, the environment and residents and how can this be collected?
3. What tools can be used to influence the development and management of tourism in a destination to make it more sustainable?

3) Monitoring the impact of tourism in destinations

1. What practical indicators can be used to show the sustainability of tourism in a destination?
2. How can the impact of tourism be monitored cost-effectively, based on these indicators?

4 Certification and marketing

1) Using certification schemes to identify and encourage good practice

1. What sustainability certification schemes are currently available for destinations to use with their businesses?
2. Should destinations consider setting up their own sustainability standards and certification schemes?
3. How can quality standards and assurance be integrated with sustainability standards and certification?

2) Promoting recognised sustainable tourism destinations and products

1. How can a destination that has followed a sustainability agenda gain more marketing benefit from this?
2. How can a destination provide certified sustainable businesses with more marketing advantages? 

5  Climate change, energy and resource efficiency

1) Adapting to the effects of climate change

1. How can the likely effects of climate change be identified within a destination, including effects on the product and on market demand?
2. What strategies and actions can be used to adapt to the impact of climate change on tourism?
3. How can awareness and response to the future effects of climate change be increased?

2) Mitigating the contribution to climate change

1. How can the overall contribution of tourism to carbon/greenhouse gas emissions be measured for a destination?
2. What targets should be set and actions taken towards climate change mitigation
3. How can more support for climate change mitigation be generated?

3) Managing resources  and controlling pollution

1. What steps can a destination take to minimise use of water for tourism?
2. What steps can a destination take to minimise use of non-renewable energy for tourism?
3. How can solid and liquid waste generated by tourism, or affecting it, be reduced and better managed?
4. How can other forms of pollution generated by, or affecting, tourism (including noise and light pollution) be reduced? 

6 Sustainable supply chain management

1) Analysing the tourism value chain in a destination

1. How can the contribution of different elements of tourism to the local economy in the destination be identified?
2. How can the main opportunities for strengthening local supply linkages and reducing economic leakages be identified?

2) Encouraging businesses to source supplies locally

1. How can a destination encourage and assist local businesses to use more local produce and services?
2. How can the local availability of good quality produce and services for tourism be strengthened?
3. How can the relationship between local businesses and incoming and international tour operators be strengthened?
4. How can local businesses be encouraged to work more closely together in networks and clusters?

7 Knowledge networking, training and education

1) Establishing partnerships and networks (tourism learning areas)

1. What existing knowledge networks exist on sustainable tourism that are relevant to destinations?
2. What kinds of local structure are most effective as local knowledge networks/ learning areas within a destination and who should be involved?
3. How can tourism sustainability issues be covered most effectively in knowledge networks/ learning areas?

2) Delivering education and training

1. How can knowledge and skills gaps and learning needs on tourism sustainability in a destination be identified?
2. What kinds of organisation are best placed to deliver training and education about sustainable tourism?
3. How can sustainability be integrated in general tourism and hospitality training?
4. What materials are available to assist with education and training on sustainable tourism?

8 Sustainable consumption and production & tourism (overarching)

1) Integrating sustainable consumption and production with tourism

1. What initiatives and information are linking the goals of reducing poverty and corruption, achieving welfare and peace through tourism?