Social Return on Investment (SROI) to Assess the Impacts of Tourism: A Case Study

Abstract

This article contributes to the debate on the social and economic impacts generated by tourism activities using a methodology that is still insufficiently explored in the field of tourism and the impacts that this causes: social return on investment (SROI). Using the analysis of a case as a guiding thread, this article shows how the application of this methodology allows one to know in depth the social value that an emblematic palace (one of the main tourist attractions of a city in the south of Spain that was designated as a United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization [UNESCO] World Heritage Site) brings, the changes experienced by the interest groups that interact with it, and the theory of change that promotes the very existence of the palace. Its results and conclusions can also inform policies and strategies of these other actors related to the intervention.

Analisa Dampak Keberadaan Safari Lagoi terhadap Pariwisata di Kawasan Wisata Terpadu

“…Keberadaan Safari Lagoi diatur melalui Peraturan Menteri Kehutanan Republik Indonesia No: P.31/Menhut-II/2012 tentang Lembaga Konservasi sebagai suatu Lembaga Konservasi. Sebagaiamana tercantum Undang-Undang, maka peran Safari Lagoi yang sangat penting adalah turut melestarikan flora (tumbuhan) maupun fauna (satwa) [6]. Dengan demikian, Safari Lagoi menjalankan dua peran sekaligus yaitu sebagai peran konservasi serta menjadi obyek wisata di kawasan terpadu Bintan Resort.…”

Economic Sustainability of Culture and Cultural Tourism

“…Buzet's case shows interrelation between cultural heritage and viable growth and the importance of the process of involving different stakeholders and balancing their diverse opinions and objectives, while working towards a common vision-which in Buzet's case was to improve the town residents' lives, and simultaneously to turn Buzet into an attractive location for entrepreneurs and tourists. The agreed vision was based on two pillars; (a) environmental, social and economic sustainability, and (b) tourist attractiveness (Ariza-Montes et al 2021). Eighteen interconnected programs were planned for its implementation.…”

The Impact and Value of a Tourism Product: A Hybrid Sustainability Model

“…Lozano-Oyola et al [61] adopted a practical approach, designed for use by local agents in order to boost destination sustainability, developing a system of compound indicators that would be simple to apply, measure and interpret. Ariza et al [22] concluded that analyzing tourism activity indicators could contribute to providing stakeholder solutions for addressing the positive and negative social impacts of tourism.…”

“…As for the method's practical application for public administrations, Ruiz-Lozano et al [65] analyzed its utility in the assessment of subsidy applications based on social criteria. However, despite its unquestioned utility for the sector, to date, very few studies have considered the application of SROI in tourism [22].…”

“…The methodology for measuring social impact known as the Social Return of Investment (SROI) was initially intended for not-for-profit organizations; however, its use has now extended to all types of organizations and businesses [19][20][21]. This method provides a suitable tool for the construction of a model that measures the social value and impacts on sustainability generated by the creation and development of a tourism product from the perspective of all the various stakeholders involved [22].…”