Abstract
Establishment of the Rhode Island
Sustainable Tourism Project (RISTP)
According to the World Tourism Organization planning
tourism at all levels is essential for achieving successful tourism
development and management. The experience of many tourism areas in
the world has demonstrated that, on a long-term basis, the planned
approach to developing tourism can bring benefits without significant
problems, and maintain satisfied visitor markets.
Places that have allowed tourism to develop without
planning, are often suffering from environmental and social problems.
These uncontrolled tourism areas cannot effectively compete with
planned visitor destinations. Areas usually can be redeveloped, but
that requires much time and financial investment.
Sustainable development of tourism is acutely
important, because most tourism development, and Rhode Island is no
different, depends on attractions and activities related to the
natural environment, history, heritage and cultural patterns. If these
resources are degraded or destroyed, then tourism areas cannot attract
visitors and tourism will not be successful.
Visitors seek destinations that have a high level of
environmental quality. Visitors enjoy visiting places that are
attractive, clean and neither polluted nor congested. Further it is
essential that residents should not have to suffer from a deteriorated
environment, poor social conditions and a deteriorated quality of
life. Tourism Planning requires an understanding of sustainable
development and the guiding values for sustainable tourism.
Rhode Island communities should be made sufficiently
aware of how the tourism industry and tourism system works, its
impacts, as well as the various processes to integrate and engage in
participatory planning, consensus building, and conflict resolution
among stakeholders.
Achieving sustainable tourism is a continuous process
that requires constant monitoring of impacts, introducing the
necessary preventive and/or corrective measures when necessary, and
research about current and emerging trends in tourism and potential
domestic and international markets. Moreover, sustainable tourism must
maintain a high level of visitor satisfaction and ensure a meaningful
experience to visitors, raising their awareness about sustainability
issues and promoting sustainable tourism practices.
Rhode Island would be well served by a sustainable
tourism development plan to introduce, discuss and analyze the main
elements of planning to promote sustainable tourism. This plan would
emphasize the key role that local communities play in the achievement
of sustainable economic development through tourism, the importance of
leadership and skills training programs, and the role of different
stakeholders in strategy implementation.
A sustainable tourism plan for Rhode Island would
highlight the importance of evaluating performance in achieving these
practices in tourism planning and addressing future challenges and
issues associated with how planning can contribute to the achievement
of sustainable tourism.
Rhode Island’s land, sea and urban areas offer much,
but are easy to abuse if the right direction is not set for our
tourism industry. While as a state, Rhode Island, led by the Rhode
Island Division of Tourism, works marketing itself, the idea of
sustainable tourism is elusive. Rhode Island is rich in resources,
resources that if depleted or abused, will forever limit opportunities
to raise the quality of life for residents, create a premiere visitor
destination, and limit economic ability.
An important aspect of sustainable development is
emphasizing community-based tourism. This approach to tourism focuses
on community involvement in the planning and development process, and
developing the types of tourism that generates benefits to local
residents. Rhode Island’s regional tourism districts are well suited
for the development of tourism in this respect as they represent
specific communities.
Sustainable development is related to the concept of
quality tourism. This approach can achieve successful tourism from a
marketing standpoint and it brings benefits to residents and their
environment. Quality tourism refers to attractions and facilities and
services that offer value, protect resources and attract the kinds of
visitors who will respect the local environment.
According to the World Tourism Organization Tourism,
if not planned properly, tourism can destroy the very resources that
visitors come to enjoy. The largest losers of this destruction will be
Rhode Island’s residents who could see their precious landscape sold
to the highest bidder.
For this reason, Rhode Island's tourism industry must
work collaboratively with stakeholders, such as but not limited to:
the University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island’s regional tourism
districts, the Rhode Island Division of Tourism, the Rhode Island
Department of Environmental Management, Rhode Island Statewide
Planning, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation, the Rhode
Island Heritage and Historical Preservation Commission, and the Rhode
Island Legislature policy offices, to create a plan for Rhode Island
that will sustain tourism for future generations. This planning
process would be dynamic. It could be titled: Rhode Island Sustainable
Tourism Project (RISTP).
University of Rhode Island could
lead the project
This project, if accepted, could be housed and
managed at the University of Rhode Island. This project would enhance
the University’s role as a key contributor to all communities in Rhode
Island. The RISTP, through the University, would create the plan and
direction necessary to bring tourism to a new level. A level that will
make optimal use of environmental resources that constitute the key
elements in tourism development, while maintaining essential
ecological protection, conserve natural heritage and biodiversity;
respecting the socio-cultural authenticity; and ensure viable,
long-term economic developments, and providing socio-economic benefits
to all Rhode Islanders. Consequently, tourism will be an instrument to
create wealth and opportunity for Rhode Island.
The Rhode Island tourism districts and the Rhode
Island Department of Tourism, who are responsible for tourism
development in Rhode Island, have established the Rhode Island
Sustainable Tourism Development Fund. This group is now situated to
begin the process of creating sound tourism development policy for
Rhode Island.
Specifics of
tourism planning:
-
Establishing the overall tourism development
objectives and policies – what is tourism aiming to accomplish and
how can these aims be achieved.
-
Developing tourism so that its natural and cultural
resources are indefinitely maintained and conserved for future, as
well as present use.
-
Integrating tourism into the overall development
policies and patterns of the state, and establishing close linkages
between tourism and other economic sectors.
-
Providing a rational basis for decision-making by
both the public and private sectors on tourism development.
-
Making possible the coordinated development of all
the many elements of the tourism sector. This includes
inter-relating the tourist attractions, activities, facilities and
services and the various and increasingly fragmented visitor
markets.
-
Optimizing and balancing the economic,
environmental and social benefits, while minimizing possible
problems of tourism.
-
Providing a physical structure, which guides the
location, types and extent of tourism development of attractions,
facilities, services and infrastructure.
-
Establishing the guidelines and standards for
preparing detailed plans of specific tourism development areas that
are consistent with, and reinforce, one another, and for the
appropriate design of tourist facilities.
-
Laying the foundation for effective implementation
of the tourism development policy and plan and continuous management
of the tourism sector, by providing the necessary organizational and
other institutional framework.
-
Providing the framework for effective coordination
of the public and private sector efforts and investment in
developing tourism.
-
Offering a baseline for the continuous monitoring
of the progress of tourism development and keeping it on track.
Institutional elements for effective
tourism development in Rhode Island:
-
Organizational structures, especially government
tourism offices and private sector tourism associations.
-
Tourism-related legislation and regulations, such
as standards and licensing requirements for hotels and tour and
travel agencies.
-
Education and training programs, and training
institutions to prepare persons to work effectively in tourism.
-
Availability of financial capital to develop
tourist attractions, services and infrastructures, and mechanisms to
attract capital investment.
-
Marketing strategies and promotion programs to
inform visitors about Rhode Island and induce them to visit, and
visitor information facilities and services in Rhode Island.
-
Travel facilitation of immigration, customs and
other facilities and services at the entry and exit points.
-
Enhance and distribute the economic benefits of
tourism, environmental protection measures, reducing adverse social
impacts, and conservation of the cultural heritage.
-
Effective tourism development must be planned in an
integrated manner with all components of the tourism system.
-
Planning must be integrated with overall
development policies. If it is performed correctly benefits will
accrue to the entire community as well as its visitors. (WTO, 2004,
P. 6).
Process Steps to be taken in the
RISTP:
• Study Preparation – Outputs and establish team
necessary
• Determination of the objectives – Relate socio-economic benefits
• Survey of all elements – Collecting data qualitative and
quantitative
• Analysis and synthesis – Multi-market analysis
• Policy and plan formulation – Set policy by evaluating various
scenarios
• Formulation of institutional recommendations – Conclusions
• Implementation and monitoring – Insure the plan is realistic
Elements of a three to five year
RISTP:
• Tourism Development Objectives
• General Background and Analysis
• Infrastructure Analysis and Recommendations
• Visitor Attractions and Activities, and their improvements
• Visitor Facilities and Services and their improvements
• Recommended Forms of tourism
• Market Analysis and Projections
• Recommended Tourism Development Policy and structure plan
• Economic Analysis and Recommendations
• Environmental Considerations and Recommendations
• Socio-cultural Considerations and Recommendations
• Institutional (state and regional regulations and laws)
consideration and recommendations
• Markets and Promotional Recommendations
• Plan Implementation and Monitoring through the RISTP
Rhode Island’s Public Tourism
Organizations:
Rhode Island Division of Tourism
Blackstone Valley Tourism Council
Block Island Tourism Council
Providence Warwick Convention and Visitors Bureau
East Bay Tourism Council
South County Tourism Council
Newport Convention and Visitors Bureau
Warwick Office of Tourism and Culture
Adopted from the World Tourism Organization
publications
Robert Billington, Ed D.
Blackstone Valley Tourism Council Inc
175 Main St, Pawtucket RI 02860
1 800 454 2882 BVRI@aol.com
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