Research pick: Closing the green gaps in tourism - "An exploratory study with western female tourists about perceived drivers and challenges towards environmental stewardship in a nature-based destination"

As tourism to nature-based destinations such as the Thai island of Phuket continues to grow, there are worsening consequences for the environment and local ecosystems. While such destinations rely heavily on their natural environments to draw visitors, more and more tourism is taking its toll. There is inevitably increased habitat destruction, pollution, and loss of biodiversity. The concept of environmental stewardship has emerged to address such issues.

Research in the International Journal of Tourism Policy has examined this notion of environmental stewardship. The idea is to integrate sustainable practices into tourism, such as conservation efforts, waste reduction, and to promote sustainable consumption in nature-focused tourist destinations. By striking a balance between maintaining the appeal of natural destinations and ensuring that those destinations remain ecologically healthy, it might be possible to reach a sustainable equilibrium in which tourism and environmentalism are in balance. The study by Kevin Fuchs of the Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism at Prince of Songkla University in Phuket, Thailand, has looked at how female Western travellers visiting Phuket perceive and engage with this concept.

According to Fuchs work, there is awareness of environmental issues among such tourists. Many recognize the importance of preserving nature for future generations, yet there remains a notable gap between awareness and action. Tourists frequently express a desire to adopt sustainable practices, but struggle to put those intentions into practice. Factors such as inconvenience, a lack of viable sustainable options, and insufficient knowledge about how to make responsible choices contribute to this problem, the research suggests.

This kind of disconnection between attitude and action, a green gap, we might call it, is not unique to Phuket. It represents a broader issue in sustainable tourism. The work thus highlights the need for more targeted interventions to encourage a change in tourist behaviour. For example, tourists could benefit from more accessible eco-friendly options, clearer communication about how their actions impact the environment, and better education on practical ways to minimize their footprint.

Fuchs, K. (2024) ‘An exploratory study with western female tourists about perceived drivers and challenges towards environmental stewardship in a nature-based destination’, Int. J. Tourism Policy, Vol. 14, No. 6, pp.595–608.