What this lesson teaches
I can judge how well stakeholders, with their different priorities and power, influence sustainable tourism.
Syllabus K335, Topic 2.3, Key Question 2. How effective are stakeholders in influencing sustainable tourism development?
Make a guess
Residents are invited to a public meeting about a new hotel. Does this mean they have equal say with the developer?
- Yes, because everyone at the meeting can speak.
- Yes, because the government runs the meeting.
- No, because residents are not stakeholders.
- No. Power is still unequal.
Show the answer
No. Power is still unequal.
An invitation does not remove differences in power. Real participation means residents can change the decision and see how their views were used.
Stakeholders have different priorities and different amounts of power, and real participation means being able to change decisions.
Stakeholders are people or organisations affected by tourism or able to influence it. They have different roles and often disagree about what success looks like.
Governments set policies, plan land use and tourism, regulate development and enforce rules. International organisations provide advice, expertise, money and public awareness. These actions need funding, staff and coordination to work; writing a plan is only the start.
Businesses choose their suppliers, jobs and products, and how they use water, energy and materials. Businesses and local communities can seek advice and take part in decisions. Tourists shape demand through their spending and behaviour. Learning about a place and respecting its limits reduces harm, but visitors also need useful information and practical choices.
Priorities can clash. A hotel may want more guests, residents may want a reliable water supply, and conservation managers may need fewer visitors at a fragile site. They may judge success by profit, job quality, cultural control or habitat health.
Power is also unequal. Some stakeholders control more land, money, information or decision-making authority. Inviting residents to a meeting does not remove these differences. Real participation lets less-heard groups shape decisions and shows them how their views were used.
- Stakeholder
- Anyone affected by, or able to influence, tourism.
- Conflicting priorities
- Profit, water, culture or conservation.
- Real participation
- Being able to change decisions, not just attend.
Step by step
Find the role
What can each group change or fund?
Compare power
Who controls land, money and decisions?
Check results
Look for action and results, not just plans.
Real examples to use
Venice and cruise ships
Residents campaigned for years against large cruise ships sailing past the city centre. In 2021, Italy banned the largest ships from the central Giudecca Canal.
Worked example: Angkor's planning
UNESCO describes how Angkor's 2012-2020 tourism plan consulted businesses, communities, monks and charities. A lived-in heritage site needs many voices. The plan shows a process, not proof every problem was solved.
Watch out for this
Everyone on the invitation list has equal power.
Money, time, information and authority still differ. Ask whether participation changed the decision.
Check your understanding
What best shows real community participation?
- Residents attend a meeting once the decisions have been made.
- Residents shape choices and hear how their views were used.
- The biggest investor defines success, since it carries the risk.
Show the answer
Residents shape choices and hear how their views were used.
Yes. Their input changes the outcome.