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 īKeeping 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
BEST Education Network web
site
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
