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emilybailey2003

Climb that mountain: How to Create a Sustainable Tourism Strategy


A sustainable tourism strategy is a long-term journey for genuine change within your business. A well-structured, documented sustainability plan can overcome greenwashing, enhance reputation, and build consumer trust. My logo represents a mountain and a sunrise. This is how I visualise a sustainability strategy. We have a mountain to climb, and it will take many sunrises to reach that summit. 



As a sustainable tourism consultant, I work with tour operators to create tailored strategies that help them increase tourism's positive impact while identifying and reducing its negative impact. My approach uses the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as a framework. My seven-step process is designed to be flexible and adaptable to the needs of each business.


  1. Discovery Workshop: I start by getting to know your business and understanding your current sustainability practices, where you are on the pathway, and what your mountain summit looks like. We'll then identify which UNSDGs are important to your business values and focus attention on five of these goals. 

  2. Vision creation: This is the top of your mountain with a tough, hard-to-reach winding path.  This is where we start developing a vision for your business's sustainability journey. This vision will be based on your values and goals and guide the development of your strategy.

  3. Impact statements: These are the compass points that your journey will be directed from.  Based on the information gathered in the discovery workshop, we'll develop a set of impact statements that outline the key areas where your business can make a positive difference. These statements will help you create new paths when you achieve your objectives.

  4. Set objectives: These are the tracks to the top of your mountain, the lower summits to go over before reaching the top. Once we have a clear vision, we'll start to set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) objectives for your business. They are your 3-5-year medium-term goals.

  5. Create actions and tasks: Actions and tasks are the many sunrises that will take place before you reach your summit. This is where we develop a detailed action plan that outlines the steps you need to take to achieve your objectives. This is your one-year plan, aligned with your objectives.

  6. Implement with stakeholders: Once we have created a strategy, we need to navigate our way to the top of mountain as a team.  We'll work with you to implement your action plan and engage with key stakeholders, such as your employees, customers, and suppliers.

  7. Annual impact reports: Every year we will document the journey. This is how you will stay accountable and transparent.  We'll track your progress and report on your impact annually. This will help you to stay on track and make adjustments as needed. 



This process is an effective way to create a sustainable tourism strategy that will make a real difference. I would happily discuss your business and develop a tailored plan for you. Contact me here:





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