In 2007 the UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organisation) has held a meeting in Davos/Switzerland concerning the importance of climate change for a tourism destination and the consequences that it might bring. The result: Global warming is going to affect the industry permanently. For some of us this may seem a distant scenario but in many parts of the world consequences can already be seen. One of these places are the Fiji Islands, the main tourist destination in the South Pacific. This article on the islands after the 2009 floodings aims to deconstruct the definiton of sustainability as a global and local solution and to analyze possible disadvantages in its application.
Beach tourism has always been the main scope for tourism in the Fijian archipelago. The crystal clear water and the stunning coral reefs are famous in tourist circles all over the world. Unfortunately, this environment is as vulnerable as it is beautiful. The rising sea level is flooding the lower lying islands and contaminating freshwater reserves, coral reefs are dying due to the rising temperature of sea water and beaches are eroded within the tidal surges. In 2009 the islands have been devastated by floodings caused by global warming, shocking both locals and tourists. After what has been interpreted as a warning the claim of sustainable tourism development is constantly being made. There has to be considered that recently there has been a rapid growth in Fiji mass tourism, which is deeply hitting the fragile environment. This does not seem to shock the government, which is still launching expensive tourism campaigns to extend the market towards the U.S. and Europe. What could be a reason for this unsustainable behavior?
Tourism has been without a doubt the main income source for Fiji in the last years. Until 1987 the islands were considered one of the most progressive countries in the South Pacific but recently the economic situation has changed. The country is heading towards a dictatorship, manufactory and sugar industry are degrading and only the tourism sector seems to survive. Is a change towards sustainability easily applicable and what does this mean for the travel industry?
In some resorts professionals have been hired to “educate” the tourists about responsible behaviour; unfortunately this is a very expensive operation due to the lack of qualified local personal. Even if this method can be applied, there has to be considered that the Fiji are reached mostly by long distance flights and therefore pollution can not be avoided. Maybe the most important problem considering sustainable tourism development is the fragility of the environment: The Fiji Islands are simply too delicate for hosting large scale mass tourism. But can the nation survive without?
Sustainability might be a beautiful idea but it is not possible to be fully applied in every destination, as it is not (for now) in Fiji. By limiting the number of tourists the islands would loose money and by hiring experts they would increase their expenses. Even if these steps towards sustainability are made, could this stop the rising sea level which is threatening the islands?
This might not be an answer to the Fijis problems and it might be hard to find one; nevertheless it clearly shows that sustainability is as many other things in life: easier said than done and never for free.
Sources:
- Biman C. Prasad, Clem Tisdell (2006), “Institutions, Economic Performance and Sustainable Development. A case study: The Fiji Islands”, Nova Science Publishers, New York, USA
http://books.google.com/books?id=wb_qI9_rZU0C&printsec=frontcover&hl=nl&source=gbs_v2_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q=&f=false
- Richie Kenzie (2009), “Fiji, it’s been an ordeal”, Travel Weekly Australia
http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdf?vid=3&hid=5&sid=0f1baab9-2e92-4c59-9c5f-4f72012a2489%40sessionmgr10 - Camie Foster (2007), “Fiji moves forward”
http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdf?vid=4&hid=5&sid=0f1baab9-2e92-4c59-9c5f-4f72012a2489%40sessionmgr10 - Jeff Wild (2008), “Disappearing sand, hotter sun and rising sea”, Contours
http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=hjh&AN=35343168&site=ehost-live - Alvaro Moreno, Susanne Becken (2009), “A climate change assessment methodology for coastal tourism”, International Centre for Integrated Assessment and Sustainable Development (ICIS), University Maastricht, Netherlands
http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=hjh&AN=42523663&site=ehost-live
WOW! Philipp, personally one of my favorite articles because it reflects my doubts about the whole sustainable tourism debate. I’d love to be able to believe that sustainable tourism is applicable in any destination, can ensure people’s home, stop climate change, fight poverty and save our beloved planet! But I can’t! In my eyes, often it is hardly more than idealsitic ideas of a small group of academics who glorify the few benefits without recognising the unrealistic implementation.
I know I should provide some alternative solutions now after criticising sustainable tourism for not being the universal panacea, but unfortunately I can’t!
Kim Hueneke
(Student TDM Masterprogramme NHTV)