Sustainable Urban Tourism: Reflections on the Need for Building-Related Indicators

Abstract

A solid and consistent research production has, up to now, considerably contributed to the identification and exploration of the meanings, theoretical foundations, and possible implications of tourism in the cities. The focus on pursuing sustainable tourism activities has also inspired different approaches (eco-tourism, responsible tourism, pro-poor tourism, among others). Nevertheless, difficulties still exist in the definition of concrete solutions to the complex problem of how to activate and facilitate the diffusion of sustainable urban tourism practices. Given the central role of indicators in the monitoring of transformation and defining impact mitigation measures, this article proposes an unexplored interpretation of such tools, which are specific for the built environment as a main component of the urban context. Starting from a broad examination of the literature on urban tourism and its related impacts, and focusing on heritage destinations, the authors highlight the potential of the built environment to play an active role in reducing the extent of potential flow impacts upstream of their actual occurrence. As a result, possible building-scale indicators that could integrate current downstream evaluation and mitigation practices are identified and suggested, and their possible implications are discussed alongside those of existing indicators. Finally, further developments for future research are suggested.

The Discourse on Sustainable Urban Tourism: The Need for Discussing More Than Overtourism

“…Starting with the contribution by Koens, Postma and Papp [36], which provides a critical discussion on the concept of overtourism and placing the topic in the wider context of urban and social developments. In their conceptual contribution, Lerario and Di Turi [60] reiterate this as they emphasize the importance of active urban planning and the design of the built environment to reduce the potentially negative effects of tourism and suggest several mitigation practices for doing so. Blanco-Romero, Blázquez-Salom, and Cànoves [61] also touch upon this in their contribution which highlight the ways in which the commodification and gentrification of the city of Barcelona and insufficient regulatory controls with regard to tourism have led to a rise in social housing prices, pitting citizens against tourism.…”

A Holistic Conceptual Framework into Practice-Based on Urban Tourism Toward Sustainable Development in Thailand

“…"Sustainable development" is not a new issue for the development goals of the world community, but it is a goal that has challenges, aiming to create a balance of social, economic and environmental dimensions, as well as balance among government sectors, private sectors, and community sectors [26]. Sustainable development was mentioned for the first time in the 1980s, because there was a growing awareness of environmental crises and problems regarding the extravagant usage of resources for continuous development of economic growth policy, and inequality of benefit and capital distribution [17].…”

“…The main target is the economy [18], although environmental impact and climate change were paid some attention [44]. Urban tourism development has a multidimensional link, and urban residents, policymakers, and stakeholders must be aware of the complexities of urban tourism and its multifunctional character [26].…”

“…Thus, urban tourism planning and management requires a balance of tourism development, and the preservation of culture, environment, and society, as well as transportation, to support urban sustainability in achieving the challenges of all of the dynamic change processes of the city: the protection of natural resources, culture, architecture, environmental management and the city's physical management, to waste collection and wastewater treatment [26,46]. For the tourists, the urban tourism experience appears to be a zero-priced, freely accessible public good.…”

“…Although there have been attempts in academia and in the literature to explain the link between urban tourism, urban renewal/conservation [23][24][25], and sustainable urban tourism development, and develop an indicator for a sustainability assessment of urban tourism [26], a different sustainability study and analysis of urban tourism will result in a solution gap. The main issue, which indicates the necessity of formulating a holistic conceptual framework of the local governments, communities and residents who can promote sustainability is the participation of the urban residents and stakeholders, which has always been neglected and restricted to protect and design urban development and tourism [6,19].…”