ISO: Sustainable Tourism

In March of 2020, many communities throughout the world suddenly realized the full impact of the travel and tourism sector on their economy. From the international traveler visiting a coastal destination in the U.S. to a family taking an outing to a neighboring community, it was all halted. The impacts were staggering, with unemployment in the sector hitting 80% and more, and the ripple effects are still being dealt with. 

I had the chance last week to take some time away and visit Martha's Vineyard (MA), an island community that can grow to over 200,000 during the 'season', but is a year-round community of approximately 20,000 residents. On this trip, I took more time observing the interactions between the tourists and the residents. Hearing how the last two years have changed things and what the communities are dealing with both pre and post-pandemic. The themes are not unlike those that we are working on with other clients that have a reliance on travel and tourism:

• Workforce housing and affordable housing are desperately needed to allow businesses to be successful and to 'host' increasing numbers of visitors.
• The pay levels and seasonality of work issues require a new approach or else too many workers will live below the poverty line.
• The environmental impacts of such a flux in people are not well documented in their totality but are seen in the degradation of natural habitats, taxing of municipal systems, and more. 
• Climate impacts are being witnessed with increasing intensity and lack any organized plans for adaptation and limiting the impacts on the most vulnerable. 
• An equitable approach to providing access must be developed or many of these locations will become inaccessible for many. 
• What the growth of electric vehicles and other new forms of mobility will mean? 

The Global Sustainable Tourism Council has been working on some of these issues. Their guidelines for Destination Criteria are a starting point to creating a community-wide baseline. 

I think there are opportunities for the travel and tourism sector entities to engage with their local economic and community development organizations to advance more of this planning. I am looking forward to discussing this with our clients and advancing more of this impactful work.