South africa top – usa bottom in responsible destination ranking

Responsible Travel has published the first league table of tourist boards graded by commitment to responsible tourism as published on their websites.

Asks whether more should be done to ensure tax payers’ money is being used to promote local over global initiatives.

The national tourist board websites of Responsible Travel’s top 50 selling countries were examined and six questions were asked, relating to tourists boards’ vision, policies and activity in responsible and sustainable tourism:

• Is there any mention anywhere of responsible or sustainable tourism?
• Does responsible or sustainable tourism feature in their vision/mission?
• Do they have any specific policies for responsible or sustainable tourism?
• Do they have evidence based reports on any achievements in responsible or sustainable tourism?
• Do they identify holidays on their site that have been screened or audited for responsible tourism?
• Do they provide any educational information or tips for tourists about responsible tourism?

Tourist boards could score a maximum of 6 points (all covered) and a minimum of 0. Seven tourist boards scored 0 – China, Finland, Ethiopia, Vietnam, France, Japan and the USA, meaning they had no reference to responsible or sustainable tourism anywhere on their sites. They have no published policies; no evidence of any achievement and provide no information for tourists. Bhutan, South Africa and Sweden all scored 6 points.

Responsible Travel CEO Justin Francis said: “We are very surprised that so many tourist boards’ vision statements include no or little reference to sustainability; and by how many have no published responsible tourism policies or activities.”

“We think that serious questions should be asked of the tourist boards at the bottom of our league table. Their tax-payers’ money is potentially being spent developing and promoting tourism with no regard to whether it’s contributing to creating local jobs or expat jobs; whether they source locally to support local suppliers/producers or source from global markets; or whether they contribute to sustaining natural and cultural heritage or to destroying it.”

“In many cases around the world we think responsibility in tourism is being achieved despite the tourist board not because of it. South Africa is a real exception. They have national and local strategies for responsible tourism enshrined in law and policy and with real programs of work to deliver it, although delivery is still patchy. Without any clearly visible published policies for responsible tourism we cannot be sure tourist boards have any way to manage tourism for the benefit of local communities. In other destinations there are excellent examples of highly responsible local businesses, yet their hard work and commitment is not reflected in their tourist boards communications. Our research looks at the tourist board’s ability to communicate policies and action around responsible tourism – not local businesses.”

Valere Tjolle

Find out more about a practical way of creating a world beyond tourism in a wonderful Italian destination HERE