esto sustainable tourism: economically feasible, environmentally viable dr. robert billington...

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Sustainable Tourism:

Economically Feasible, Environmentally Viable

Dr. Robert Billington

Blackstone Valley Tourism Council

Sustainable Tourism Planning Laboratory

Rhode Island

August 31, 2009

Sustainable Tourism Goals• Meet the needs of the present without

compromising the needs of the future• Achieve a balance that causes no

net-environmental burden or deficit • Do not consume resources faster than they

can be renewed • Reduce, recycle and reuse • Support local sources for products

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Sustainable Tourism Goals• Create healthy, responsible and livable places

that become great destinations• Maintain and build a sense-of-place• Create whole, diverse, vibrant, distinctive places

in their built and natural environment, that are transit connected, water and energy efficient, and disaster resilient

• Advance positive social change• Protect the soul of a place

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Sustainable Tourism Strategy• Think whole community, sustainable community• Approach all problems with an inclusive

community strategy• Build a stewardship, solution-oriented approach to

economic development, which includes the preservation of nature, culture and heritage

• Tourism’s growth will continue; work to enhance the developed places

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Sustainable Tourism Strategy• Make your destination a place that people can

not wait to get to, rather than one that people can not wait to get through

• Be involved in all aspects of the community: transportation, heritage, culture, education, health care, government, commerce, and community groups

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Sustainable Strategy• Combine culture, history and the story of the

place in your sustainable efforts• A sustainable place is a great place to visit• Create low environmental impacts • Provide leadership

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Projects and Programs Leadership• Blackstone Valley Green Guide

– Educate the visitor on what your goals are for the place they are visiting

• Sustainable Tourism Planning and Development Laboratory

• Keep America Beautiful

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Projects and ProgramsEducation & Environmental Stewardship• E/V Blackstone Valley Explorer• Educational tour programs for the young• Development of river access• Creation of fish ladders • Cycle Blackstone.com• Bicycle transportation routes• Urban farming

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Projects and ProgramsCommunity Beautification & Recycling• Annual Great American Clean-up• Monthly environmental volunteer clean-ups• Event trash recycling program• Monthly electronics recycling collection• Annual tire recycling• Carbon offset hotel collection boxes for

tree planting – Cherry Trees

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Projects and ProgramsEnhancing Local Culture• Create events that celebrate the culture• Culinaria – mixing food and culture• Maintaining local food-ways through

competitions and weekly tours

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Projects and ProgramsEngaging Youth• Youth bike-repair program• Teaching youth how and why to tell the

community’s story

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Resources• NGS Center for Sustainable Destinations

www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/sustainable• WTTC – Agenda 21 report

www.wttc.org• UNWTO – Climate Change and Tourism

report www.unwto.org

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Questions?

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Maintaining Local Culture, Meat Pie, Dynamite Cookoffs. Cherry Tree Revitalization program and resulting Cherry Blossom Festival RIRRC.org Equipment available for events includes: (1) Roll-off Container, (1) Recycling Trailer, (8) 64 Gallon Wheeled Carts, and (30)Collection Bins.  Electronics recycling Cigarette Litter Prevention Program GAC 34 events in 8 of 9 communities Green Guide Carbon Offset Collection boxes Tour RI Blackstone Culinaria  Educational River Tours Enviro/Historic Tours  River Access project