Editor: David Fennell (Brock University)
Reviews Editor David Weaver (University of South California, USA)
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Volume: 3 Number: 1 Page: 46–68
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Improving Environmental Performance in the Tourism Accommodation Sector
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R.W. Carter, D. Whiley and C. Knight
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While environmental legislation in Australia regulates tourism development, it is less effective in operational areas because of the dependency of tourism on environmental resources that are not managed
by operators, and the small but incremental nature of operational impacts. The absence of functional environmental standards for tourism means that little guidance exists: a problem compounded by variability
in the diversity of operation types and receiving environments, as well as the accessibility of information by a non-technical audience.
While legislation and economic considerations may provide impetus
to adopt environmental practices, it is proposed that an environmental philosophy is necessary for tourism businesses to seek out and maintain alternative sustainable modes of operation. Review of the environmental
audit process used by a Queensland resort suggests commitment to continual improvement in environmental performance is attributable to individual and corporate ethics. While the case is an ecotourism operation,
the literature indicates that these factors have relevance to tourism generally. Although client satisfaction and return on investment objectives are constraints, environmental auditing can provide impetus
for practical expression of environmental objectives. Facilitation of ethically-motivated voluntary action may be more effective in achieving tourism's environmental objectives than codifying standards
in static legislation.
Keywords: ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE, ENVIRONMENTAL AUDIT, ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS, ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION, ECOTOURISM ACCOMMODATION
© Multilingual Matters 2004
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