Managment of Tourism (Edexcel IGCSE Geography)

Sustainable Tourism in Cyprus

Spec point — 4GE1-S3.065

• Tourism is important to Cyprus as it provides thousands of jobs and contributes an average of 20% to the country's GDP

• Cyprus island is partitioned into the Turkish Northern Cyprus and the Greek Cypriot Republic of Cyprus

• This case study will focus on the southern Greek part of the island

• Cyprus has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers (average 28°C) and rainy winters (average 10°C)

• Due to a series of water shortages, annual demand now outstrips supply and Cyprus is classified as 'water poor'

• There is an increasing reliance on desalination plants

• The desalination plants:

  • increase energy consumption
  • only provide 45% of the increased demand
  • are harmful to the environment

• In 2006 the Cyprus Sustainable Tourism Initiative (CSTI) was launched to develop a sustainable approach to tourism in Cyprus through:

  • improving the quality of life in poorer communities disadvantaged by tourism
  • promoting the preservation, conservation and protection of Cyprus's environment, whilst sustainably using its natural resources
  • reducing Cyprus's carbon footprint due to tourism
  • promoting research and education in sustainability

Sustainable projects

• Managing water

  • Gardens and landscaping account for up to 22% of a hotel's water consumption
  • Limiting the use of grass and exotic vegetation which require frequent watering
  • Encouraging hotels to use native plants as they naturally adapt to less rainfall and are representative of Cyprus
  • Reducing the number of swimming pools

• Managing energy

  • Increasing the use of renewable energy - solar power is a major source of energy for Cyprus
  • Use of energy-saving devices in hotels and public spaces
  • Reducing the use of plastic and plastic waste

• Other projects

  • Improving conditions on beaches through organised beach cleaning events
  • Working with the tourism sector to reduce demand and consumption of single-use plastics in tourist hotspots such as Ayia Napa
  • Organising turtle watches during hatching time to ensure the hatchlings get to the sea and not into hotel resorts
  • Encouraging rural tourism to spread the benefits among poorer communities through art and history projects, accommodation and local events

• Reducing Cyprus's carbon footprint in a significant manner is difficult as most tourists arrive by air and tour the island either by car or coach

Ecotourism in Bhutan

Spec point — 4GE1-S3.065

• Ecotourism aims to ensure that visitors leave as small a carbon footprint as possible to the benefit of the community and environment
• As one of the poorest developing nations, Bhutan can claim to have one of the most sustainable tourist industries in the world
• Bhutan's tourist sector is one of the most exclusive travel destinations in the world with a reputation for a spectacular natural environment, authenticity, remoteness and a well-protected cultural heritage
• Ecotourism is usually run by private enterprises, however, Bhutan's government has adopted a different approach of 'high value but low volume' tourism creating a sense of exclusivity
• After 300 years of self-isolation, Bhutan opened its borders to tourists in 1974
• Due in part to the realisation that hotels built for the King's coronation could be used to accommodate paying guests and so boost foreign exchange and provide much-needed revenue for the country's development
• Initially only 2500 foreign visits were allowed, that number has now doubled reinforcing the exclusivity
• All tourists are escorted in groups to specific locations and must travel on officially approved tour operators
• All are expected to pay a 'Sustainable Development Fee' or surcharge of $200 (£167) per day
• The surcharge goes towards offsetting tourists' carbon footprint and upskilling workers along with protecting Bhutan's unique heritage and spectacular mountain scenery
• Some people argue that all it does is attract wealthier visitors and promote Bhutan as a niche destination
• Ultimately, Bhutan's strategy does control the volume and impact of tourism