A tourist entrepreneur should take responsibility and sustainability into account, as today’s travellers increasingly base their buying decisions on ethical aspects, also in leisure travel. Moreover, tour operators seek to find sustainable alternatives to their customers. Responsibility is a competitive advantage for a tourism business, and also worth communicating to customers!<\/p>\n
Responsibility and sustainability are terms that are sometimes used interchangeably. However, a subtle difference can be found between these terms: sustainability is an objective pursued with responsible action. Both are divided into three sections according to the figure below. The sections are partly overlapping: many ecologically responsible practices are also economically viable, and economic accountability is also reflected in social responsibility.<\/p>\n
Consideration for the region and its inhabitants is in the core. Responsible tourism will result in “better places for people to live in, and better places to visit”. This is a leading idea outlined in the Cape Town Sustainable Tourism Guideline in 2002, and it is often referred to when discussing sustainable tourism. Being responsible may not require certificates and diplomas, although they are worth familiarising oneself with. Examine the figure below for more details.<\/p>\n
Both tourists and tour operators make choices on the basis of ethical criteria. If your business is running sustainably, it is a good idea to let people know. Visit Finland has published excellent Communication guides and tools <\/a><\/strong>(only in Finnish)<\/strong>. Choose responsible businesses and actors as your partners, and tell your customers about it.<\/p>\n At the end of this page you will find a task on the responsibility of your own business. By clicking on the +<\/strong> characters you can see more information.<\/p>\n