Online evaulation pool of sustainable tourism offer

Understanding – and estimating – who you are addressing is always the first step to take. Once the potential market and set of potential customers have been identified (or at least defined), you can try to divide them by common characteristics such as interests, age range, type of job, spending power, meeting places (also virtual) and many others.

Digital transformation and technology is vital for nature, wildlife and environmental conservation work as it is for the development of the tourism sector. Many people see the digitization process as an unnecessary expense and not as a high-yield investment. The goal is to exploit the opportunities offered by technology in order to increase performance.

The first step for the realization of a sustainable idea is the use of sustainable tools. For example, it is important that the structure takes on the most ecological form possible: starting from the use of sustainable materials that imply reuse (such as plates, glasses, tablecloths and sheets), use of environmentally friendly products for cleaning and in the kitchens, economical use of water, heating and electricity, separate waste collection and water purification, reduction of waste and polluting substances, recycle, reuse and save resources, active measures for the defense and support of nature, landscape and local animals.

Preventing waste from being created in the first place is key. Once waste has been created, it needs to be transformed into high-quality resources. To make your idea as sustainable as possible, it is crucial to plan a waste recycling and waste production reduction system to ensure respect for the surrounding environment.

The use of renewable sources reduces CO2 emissions into the atmosphere, contributing to the achievement of the decarbonisation and climate neutrality objectives; it is estimated that every 1,000 kWh of energy produced from renewable sources saves 455 tons of CO2, equal to that absorbed by about 25,000 trees.

Moving in a sustainable way also means using technologies for connected roads and highways (smart roads) that guarantee fluidity, efficiency and safety in movements. And it includes the concept of integrated mobility: the user must be able to use various means of transport (public, shared, private services) without interruption, to complete the daily journey easily and conveniently.

Sustainable tourism is defined as “tourism that respects both local people and the traveler, cultural heritage and the environment”. It seeks to provide people with an exciting and educational holiday that is also of benefit to the people of the host country. Involving local communities and other stakeholders in the decision-making processes is key to ensuring results benefit both cultural heritage and the local population. This includes employing local people who live in the surrounding areas, developing the local workforce through skills training, using products and services from local suppliers, as well as educating our guests on local culture and traditions. The objective of sustainable cultural tourism is to ensure good conservation practices along with authentic interpretation that supports the local economy.

It has been covered in media and publications increasingly as a problem that stems from the very concept of travel, even if it encompasses just a small part of it. Overtourism can negatively affect travelers’ sentiment as well as the small-scale sustainable tourism industry. Overtourism is the inevitable result of tourism that only considers the privilege of a tourist rather than a partnership between the traveler and the people of a destination. Tourism is an excellent way to encourage and provide access to cultural heritage, but it also brings with it challenges related to overcrowding, cultural appropriation and the loss of authenticity.

In Finland, the Urban-Rural Migrants 2030 project aims to increase understanding and experience-based knowledge about the possibilities of sharing economies and service economies in rural regions. The objective is to find solutions to local issues like disappearing local services, rural exodus and high unemployment, while creating positive environmental and social impacts at the same time. To make sure that future solutions will meet the needs of local residents, the LAB University of Applied Sciences has asked the residents of Hollola and Asikkala (two municipalities participating in the project) for ideas on how to share or rent goods, premises, and know-how instead of owning them. Together with the project, the municipalities of Asikkala and Hollola have started trials for sharing economy services to evaluate their business potential as well as environmental and social welfare impacts. Opportunities for rural sharing and service economies include i.a co-farming, shared tools and equipment, vehicle rentals, repair services and service activities provided by farms, such as yard maintenance.

Since your plan has to fall within the canons of sustainability, it is important that the proceeds are also sustainable. To make this happen, it is crucial that part of the proceeds be invested or reserved for activities and/or services intended for the environment and the local community. In this way ecotourism can contribute to conservation or preservation of the natural resources and promotes stewardship of natural and cultural resources, local residents accrue economic and social benefits thereby contributing to project's long-term success and thanks to ecotourism and its circular economy activities of education and awareness of the environment and culture can be promoted.