Me Loves You

Consumer perceptions

Survey to identify tourism industry's own perceptions about sustainable tourism and self regulation about environment responsibility identified practices like cost cutting, value adding, long term investment and governmental legislation. These practices were selectively followed with tour operators restricting themselves to offering environment friendly or "green" holidays, hotel industry opting for cost cutting measures and travel agents avoiding most of the practices. It was generally believed that legislation would be necessary to produce long lasting changes. A 1993 survey indicated willingness of almost half of local consumers to pay extra premium for guaranteed clean beach and sand, hence what tourists perceive to be desirable is of paramount importance in any form of sustainable self or governmental legislation. Hence quality parameter may be added to qualify sustainable practices and make sustainable practice more attractive to commercial interests of the companies.

Tourism like other industries has significant impact on environment, however effective regulation in this industry may be difficult because of inherent complex nature of this industry and the very fact that its main end product, recreation is perceived and experienced differently by each customer. Thus sustainable tourism may require change in current practices of both marketers and the incumbents for better identification of common

Introduction

Tourism is a major industry and strong economic vehicle that makes a significant contribution to overall national economy. (Nicolette de Sausmarez, 2007) Tourism for many individuals is about enjoyment and having fun, for governments tourism is generator of important foreign exchange and job creator for allied industries. Tourist industry has a major impact on host country's civil society and social landscape. Tourism provides economic benefits and influences the local residents in many other ways as well (Oui, 2005). Tourists are exposed to local politics implicitly by being exposed to conditions that are present for local residents.

Only countries with safe and stable image draw tourists in abandon, so in other ways increasing levels of tourists imply an endorsements of concerned location's ambient environment. Political regimes are indirectly bolstered by tourists, therefore tourism not only aids in economic development but for international support of governmental policies (Oui, 2005). In case of a crisis or disaster, economy is disturbed and livelihood of many may be affected. Crisis indicators may be useful in highlighting areas of concern and minimize affects on tourism. The damage to tourist destination may be substantial, as in the case of SARS outbreak or Bali bombings and full recovery may take a significant time and effort. Crisis management requires intervention to manage the situation