Policy recommendations for increasing competitiveness of tourism destinations through certification
The delicate natural and cultural balance and the richness of the Mediterranean region require responsible and sustainable management of tourism development, especially in the most vulnerable areas. In this context, sustainable tourism certification can be a useful tool to support and lead development grounded on principles of economic, environmental and social equilibrium. Policy recommendations for increasing competitiveness of tourism destinations through sustainability certification are directed to the public authorities that are responsible for creating efficient tourism support systems at any territorial level (European, national, regional, and local) depending on the scope of action of each entity.
click to view full size Implementation
Pilot areas correspond to national, regional or local level tourism destinations: Alentejo Litoral (Portugal), Aragon (Spain), Aspres (France), Basilicata (Italy), Palude di Torre Flavia (Italy), South Aegean Region (Greece), Slovenia (Slovenia) and Vis Archipelago (Croatia). All of them envisaged certification of tourism destination as a means to foster sustainable tourism. Working with the different types of public and private stakeholders LABELSCAPE project identified relevant actors and strategies at different stages, all focused on adopting sustainable tourism certification. The variety of situations addressed by LABELSCAPE project allowed the identification of key issues along the certification process and pointed out some policy alternatives but also highlighted common challenges and critical factors.
Replicability conditions
Despite their variety, all tourism destinations face similar issues concerning the sustainability of the industry and the competitiveness of the territory. These issues are also common to most tourism areas of the Mediterranean, given the vulnerability of the environment and the worldwide competition among tourism destinations. Based on the experiences of the pilot areas, a set of directions can be outlined to guide policy makers in adjusting tourism development strategies to promote sustainable tourism certification in the Mediterranean area. These policy recommendations are related to common issues that should be addressed in all Mediterranean countries in general, regardless of the tourism frameworks that are specific to each country or territory. They are based on common concerns and point to solutions that can be applicable in any territory with the adequate context adaptation.