BEST Education
Network Think Tank VI: Corporate Social Responsibility for Sustainable
Tourism - University of Girona, Spain, 2006
17/06/2006 *****FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE**************
CSR and Sustainable
Tourism: now is the time
The BEST EN Think Tank on
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) concluded today with one key
message, that Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) for Sustainable
Tourism should be embraced by the tourism and travel industry now. The
consequences of not doing so are serious.
CSR has implications for all
aspects of sustainable tourism including profitability, company culture,
customers, suppliers and ultimately…survival. Corporations not acting in
a socially and environmentally appropriate manner will feel the backlash
that other companies such as manufacturing have encountered in recent
years.
Keynote speaker on day three,
J.P. Bergkvist, Director of Environmental Sustainability for Hilton
International and Scandic on Environmental Sustainability in Practice
spoke on their initiatives in CSR, which could well serve as a guide for
the rest of the tourism industry.
Fortunately companies such as
Hilton International have taken the challenge of adopting CSR in their
European and African properties, with the belief that people inherently
want to do the ‘right thing’, but need information and knowledge to do
so. J.P. Bergkvist described The Natural Step and the Hilton
Environmental Program as the key documents for pursuing environmental
sustainability and CSR. Bergkvist concluded by highlighting successful
implementation of programs and environmental awards which demonstrates
the progress towards environmental sustainability emphasising the belief
that “the world is ready for this”.
Closer to the location for the
Think Tank, in Girona, Catalonia, Spain is another example of CSR in
action in the form of the La Fageda Yoghurt Factory. More than 35,000
visitors per year support the activities of La Fageda, creating a
win-win-win outcome for the society, the environment and sustainable
tourism. Training mentally ill and disabled people for gainful
employment in all aspects of yoghurt production moreover, an innovative
system for propagating plants is used to revegetate the surrounding
national park.
The 2006 BEST EN Outstanding
Paper award was presented to the Mr. Robert D. Billington and Ms.
Veronica Cadoppi of the Sustainable Tourism Planning and Development
Laboratory – Blackstone Valley Tourism Council, Inc., USA. The Chair of
BEST EN Dr. Janne J. Liburd (University of Southern Denmark) commended
their contribution to the implementation of sustainable tourism,
community empowerment and CSR in the USA.
More evidence of the uptake of
CSR in the tourism industry is urgently required. Keynote speaker Dr.
Graham Miller (University of Surrey)’s main message was that the
industry can only maintain a low profile for so long, before the changes
heralded by the adoption of CSR in the corporate world will also be
required in the Tourism Industry. The tangible outcomes of the three-day
BEST EN Think Tank deliberations to underpin the adoption of CSR for
Sustainable Tourism are a research agenda on the topic, a competence
development module, as well as a special issue of the journal Tourism
Review International.
The overwhelming and abiding
conclusion is that all tourism businesses, from all-inclusive hotel
chains to SMEs and family businesses in tourism and hospitality should
learn the lessons of other industries and document their social and
environmental responsibilities now, before profits are threatened,
customers and suppliers are lost and the long term survival of their
businesses is compromised.
For further information
contact Dr Janne J. Liburd, Chair BEST EN
liburd@sitkom.sdu.dk
BEST Education Network web
site
14/06/2006
*****FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***************
BEST EDUCATION NETWORK
TAKES A LEAD IN RESEARCH FOR CSR IN TOURISM
BEST Education Networks Think
Tank VI in Girona, Catalonia, Spain today began their discussions on
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Sustainable Tourism. The goal
as expressed by the Chair of BEST EN Dr Janne J Liburd (University of
Southern Denmark) is to gain a better understanding of CSR in Tourism
with a view to developing a research agenda which will underpin the
sustainable development of tourism. Through a three day process of
engagement, dialogue and collaboration, the more than 40 experts from 11
countries will take up the challenge of researching this important, yet
often overlooked aspect of the tourism industry.
Keynote speaker on day one,
Dr. Graham Miller (University of Surrey) appropriately delivered his
presentation titled ´Keeping a Low Profile: the Tourism Industry and
CSR: in the Cloister of the University of Girona. Appropriate because
CSR is embedded in a plethora of philosophical, ethical and moral issues
that require a deep understanding of humanity and society. Thus, the
expert group was presented with examples rangeing from the industrial
and social reforms of Robert Owen to the modern day efforts of British
Airways in developing programs for adopting a more socially and
environmentally appropriate stance with respect to their corporate
activities. Dr. Miller identified several lessons for the Tourism
Industry with respect to policies and planning, human resource mangement
and environmental practices which all demonstrate the successful
implementation of CSR.
However, examples of CSR in
Tourism were few and far between and Miller’s main message was that the
industry can only maintain a low profile for so long, before the changes
heralded by the adoption of CSR in the corporate world will also be
required in the Tourism Industry. Thinking over the next three days will
be focussed on these changes and identifying the specific implications
of CSR for the Tourism Industry.
A diverse range of issues have
already been identified on day one of the Think Tank, across a range of
geographical and sectoral dimensions. Theoretical and practical issues
have emerged through the research sessions on topics including CSR and
sustainable business practices, economics, conceptual issues and case
studies. Reflecting the expertise of Think Tank participants, CSR issues
emerged in aviation, accommodation and entertainment as well as higher
education, destination management and sustainable tourism development.
Parallel sessions on
competence development and research in CSR and Tourism have identified
further issues to be explored over the next two days. The outcomes will
inform the development of a research agenda on the topic, as well as a
special issue of the journal Tourism Review International dedicated to
enhancing our understanding of CSR and Sustainable Tourism.
For further information
contact Dr Janne J. Liburd, Chair BEST EN
liburd@sitkom.sdu.dk
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PRESS
RELEASE
THINK
TANK ADDRESSES CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN TOURISM
Encouraging a balance between
economics, people, culture and the environment, the concept of
socio-cultural and environmental responsibility of enterprises has been
acknowledged by private enterprises and public authorities, such as the
European Commission, the World Travel and Tourism Council and the World
Business Council for Sustainability. Private and public sector leaders
increasingly see the need to incorporate the principles of corporate
social responsibility into their planning of marketing strategies and
leadership. Also recognizing the need to rebuild an image of
responsibility and trust to assure potential visitors of ethical
behavior, the pursuit of sustainable tourism is good for business and
business is good for sustainable tourism development.
The BEST Education Network
(BEST EN) announces Think Tank VI to meet in Girona, Catalonia, Spain
from June 13-16, 2006 at the University of Girona. This year’s
conference theme addresses Corporate Social Responsibility for
Sustainable Tourism and includes research paper presentations, keynote
addresses by international experts, a research agenda forum to drive
future knowledge development in the field, and a curriculum design for
sustainable tourism and hospitality.
The theme reflects the fact
that the sustainable development of tourism destinations depends
critically upon the sustainable operations of its constituent businesses
and firms and is intended to overcome a relative lack of research on
tourism sustainability at the enterprise level. Issues to be addressed
will include: Ethical Business Practices in Tourism, Triple Bottom Line
in Corporate Social Responsibility, Human Resource Management for
sustainable tourism operations, Volunteer Tourism and Pro-Poor Tourism,
Stakeholder involvement, culture and accountability, Consumer
perceptions and preferences in purchasing decisions, Knowledge
Management for Corporate Social Responsibility, Service learning in
tourism educational programs and Best practice indicators (cultural,
environmental and social) alongside a number of case studies.
BEST EN Chair, Dr. Janne J.
Liburd, commented “Travel and tourism companies' performance on
environmental, socio-cultural and governance issues is rewarding in more
ways than one, and it is rapidly becoming more critical to their
sustainability and competitiveness in a global market place.”
The Think Tank is expected to
attract interested participants from around the world to explore
together the issues involved in corporate social responsibility for
sustainable tourism. Scholars, practitioners, civil society and agency
representatives are invited to participate in the exchange of
experiences and to submit either full papers or abstracts for
presentation at the conference before March 31, 2006. The Call for
Papers and Registration Information can be found on the
BEST Education Network web
site
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