Sustainable Tourism: Capacity Building & Educational Needs Dr. Acolla Lewis-Cameron University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad.

Sustainable Tourism: Sustainable Tourism: Capacity Building & Capacity Building & EducationalEducational NeedsNeeds

Dr. Acolla Lewis-CameronDr. Acolla Lewis-Cameron

University of the West Indies, St. University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, TrinidadAugustine, Trinidad

OutlineOutlineAnalyse the unique context of SIS Examine the role of education in

achieving sustainable tourism development

Explore specific tourism educational needs

Recommend ways in which tourism education can contribute to sustainable tourism development in SIS

SIS- A Unique ContetSIS- A Unique Contet

The tourism industry in many SIS is the mainstay of the local economies with a significant degree of foreign ownership

The small scale of an island’s physical resources cause it to be far more susceptible to the negative effects of mass development and greatly increased usage which tourism brings

Economic DependenceEconomic Dependence

Tourism is often times the only or one of (2) activities that sustains these economies

The share of tourism in GDP ranges from a 1/3 to ½ for most islands

It is the main generator of employment for the region – (1) in every (4) jobs

Foreign DominanceForeign Dominance

Capitalisation of government incentives by transnationals – tax-free concessions◦Loss of control over local resources◦Lack of planning

Excessive foreign exchange leakages◦Poor linkages in the local economies

Fragile Natural Fragile Natural EnvironmentEnvironment

Waste water discharge from hotels & cruise ships

Destruction of coral reefs e.g. Cayman Islands

Construction of tourist facilities in environmentally sensitive areas e.g. Maracas Beach, Montego Bay Airport

Beach erosion; dumping of wasteImpact of climate change & natural

disasters e.g. hurricanes

The Sustainability The Sustainability ChallengeChallengeCreating & maintaining a

sustainable tourism society is a major challenge for SIS in the face of◦Overdependence on tourism◦Negative effects of climate change◦Depletion of natural resources

Sustainable TourismSustainable Tourism“Tourism which is developed &

maintained in an area (community, environment) in such a manner & at such a scale that it remains viable over an indefinite period & does not degrade or alter the environment (human & physical) in which it exists to such a degree that it prohibits the successful development & well being of other activities & processes” (Butler, 1993:29)

Tradeoffs among the Three Main objectives of Sustainable Development

Preservation of the Environment

Economic Efficiency

Social Equity

Education for Sustainable Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)Development (ESD)

ESD involves approaches to teaching and learning that integrate goals for conservation, social justice, appropriate development and democracy into a vision and mission of personal and social change for sustainability

It challenges the way people think about the world, the way they live in it and relate with each other. (UNESCO, 2010)

ESD- Key PrinciplesESD- Key PrinciplesEnable students to link issues of tourism

and sustainability to their own lives/actions

Create learning spaces/opportunities within tourism activities to explore or deepen understanding of sustainability

Facilitate students to uncover and reflect on their assumptions, values and beliefs or worldviews through tourism activities and discuss how sustainable these are.

Tourism Educational Needs- Tourism Educational Needs- The SIS ContextThe SIS Context

Shift from problem identification to problem resolution

More holistic view of the tourism industry

Broader influence on curriculum space- greater stakeholder input

Need for a participatory, interactive, integrative, reflective, analytical, as well as value-driven approach to tourism education

Tourism Curriculum: Tourism Curriculum: A Contested SpaceA Contested Space

Vocational Tourism Education◦ tourism is viewed as a phenomenon that

should be organised and managed in such a way that it brings profit to tourism businesses and satisfaction to the paying tourist.

◦ narrow concentration on consumers and producers

◦ is to produce graduates who can be readily recruited to the labour market, and who can make a positive contribution to profitability or other aims of tourism organisations

Tourism Curriculum: Tourism Curriculum: A Contested SpaceA Contested SpaceLiberal Tourism Education

◦ provides students with a holistic understanding of tourism as a phenomenon and not simply as an industry

◦ it encourages students to adopt a critical perspective on the tourism knowledge gained

◦ students are encouraged to consider alternative tourism scenarios such as tourism and the environment, tourism and politics that focus on the wider issues in the society

Curriculum Space & its Curriculum Space & its Influences- need for broader Influences- need for broader stakeholder inputstakeholder input

Accommodation Sector

Students

Interest Group L

Local Community

Attractions Sector

Curriculum Space

(All Tourism Knowledge)

Environmentalist

Academics (Business Subjects)

Academics (Critical Subjects)

Professional Bodies

Transport Sector

Government

Interest Group K

Education and Sustainable Education and Sustainable TourismTourism

Integrated Tourism EducationIncorporating Education for

Sustainable Development (ESD) principles into tourism education curriculum ◦Experiential learning- hands on

participatory activities◦Live projects◦Community programmes

Education and Sustainable Education and Sustainable TourismTourism

InternshipsEstablishing internships within the industry

that serve as a knowledge transfer partnership where students are able to use their knowledge/expertise at the organization to help achieve their goals or moreover the goals of the industry.

In the UK there is an established programme called Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) “The partnership involves one or more recently qualified persons (Associates) to facilitate this transfer of skills and expertise. The Associate works full-time within the company on a project central to their needs and is jointly supervised by company personnel and a senior academic.”

Education and Sustainable Education and Sustainable TourismTourism

Developing research councilsResearch councils are statutory bodies that

advise the government on current research being undertaken in different academic fields and how it contributes to policy development.

The Australian Research Council works with the mission “to deliver policy and programs that advance Australian research and innovation globally and benefit the community”. It has been successful in developing partnership projects between industry and higher education to foster international competitiveness in the industry.

Education and Sustainable Education and Sustainable TourismTourismResearch centres as part of universitiesWithin many universities there are research

centres that unite academics in related fields to conduct continuous research in their particular area of study.

According to the University of Surrey one of the many schools with a formidable research centre “Research Centres strengthen and reinforce areas of existing research excellence within the School; whilst bringing together researchers from across the School who are currently working in different disciplines, subject groups or who are external to the School.”

Education and Sustainable Education and Sustainable TourismTourism

Research units in ministries

Having direct access to research allows ministries to obtain the needed information to guide policy development by meeting the needs of the ministries with respect to specific areas of research.

In turn they can partner with universities to use graduate students to carry out research topics/themes generated from these units.

Education and Sustainable Education and Sustainable TourismTourism

Establishment of an e-Lounge

An environment for the meeting of the minds; exchange of ideas; dissemination of research; updates on cutting innovations; facilitation of surveys for new products; expert advice.

Conclusion Conclusion