An educational simulation tool for integrated coastal tourism development in developing countries. Issue 5 (3rd May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Anctil, Annick; Blanc, David Le
• Is Part Of: Journal of sustainable tourism. Volume 24:Issue 5(2016)
• Page Start: 783
• Page End: 798
• Publication Date: 2016-05-03
• Subjects: tourism -- infrastructure development -- sustainability -- industrial ecology -- simulation tool; 旅游 -- 基础设施发展 -- 可持续性 -- 工业生态学 -- 仿真工具; Tourism -- Periodicals; Sustainable development -- Periodicals; 338.479105
• DOI: 10.1080/09669582.2015.1091463
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0966-9582

Abstract

Abstract : In spite of the importance of coastal tourism for the economies of many developing countries, tourism infrastructure has often been developed without full consideration of long-term impacts on the environment. The simulation model presented in this paper aims to address critical gaps in awareness and capacity for integrated decision-making and planning in tourism infrastructure development in a developing country context. We build a simple closed-loop model of tourism infrastructure investment, which integrates typical economic, social and ecological dimensions of the problem. The model is calibrated so that within 20 years, investment projects in tourist capacity done without concomitant investment in solid waste and wastewater treatment result in a collapse of fish stocks and a sharp drop in tourist attendance. The model includes several policy options that allow users to intervene at various points in the loop, allowing stakeholders to explore how various combinations of policies perform in financial, environmental and social terms over the long period. The model can, therefore, be used as an educational tool for training and capacity-building.