Environmental Responsibility and Business Regulation: The Case of Sustainable Tourism

Abstract

Original citation: Forsyth, Tim (1997) This document is the author's final manuscript accepted version of the journal article, incorporating any revisions agreed during the peer review process. Some differences between this version and the published version may remain. You are advised to consult the publisher's version if you wish to cite from it. Geographical Journal AbstractThis paper adds to the growing literature within geography on environmental regulation of business activities. The adoption of voluntary practices of environmental responsibility is discussed as a form of environmental regulation, and then applied to tourism using a survey of 69 companies and institutions in the UK outgoing tourism industry. Results indicate that business has adopted a wide range of practices, but considers them to be weak regulatory instruments because ultimate responsibility for change lies with host governments via legislation. However, environmental protection may enhance business performance if voluntary practices could differentiate mass-market holiday packages and allow companies to compete on more than price alone. This paper therefore supports research from other industries which states that environmental practices may lead to commercial advantage if adopted proactively rather than in response to market demand for ethical or green products. However, change may accelerated by labeling 'green' or 'sustainable' tourism as 'quality' tourism, and by acknowledging that populist market demand may lead to stereotypical approaches to minorities or ecotourism not helpful to equitable development. Future debate should focus on common ground between regulators and business, and on shared responsibility for excluding 'free-rider' companies not willing to adopt practices.

The ‘greening’ of tourism micro‐businesses: outcomes of focus group investigations in South East Cornwall

“…The UK outgoing tourism industry has introduced sustainable practices, but feared losing competitive position through further adoption (Forsyth, 1997;Curtin and Busby, 1999).…”

Attitudes in the Danish tourism industry to the roles of business and government in sustainable tourism

“…However, such policies also change the competitive climate facing the industry and can generate new business opportunities. It is up to each ®rm to respond in the most cost-effective way to these policies, and it has been suggested that the development of proactive strategic policies by ®rms can reduce these costs and establish a competitive advantage (Forsyth, 1997).…”

What happened on ''The Beach''? Social movements and governance of tourism in Thailand

“…As discussed above, some critics have questioned how far 'ecotourism' as a current practice generally reflects a rarified and elitist view of nature, rather than the more pragmatic and catholic concern of socalled 'sustainable tourism', which focuses more on the public participation in tourism development, and the environmental impacts of mass, and not just nature-based, tourism (see Cater, 1995;Forsyth, 1997). Under this broader approach to environment and tourism, research is less focused on how consumers construct 'nature' but instead looks more to how tourism may be used long-term and inclusively for sustainable development.…”