How to prepare Responsible Tourism Policies?

Responsible Tourism Policies based on the Cape Town Declaration of 2002 (World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2002) are globally used, as a standard when formulating Responsible Tourism Policies by Governments and many leading practitioners in the industry, like Intrepid and Exodus. The Cape Town Declaration isn’t a must do list of Responsible policies. It is simply a holistic benchmark to work on responsible tourism policies. For example, the social background of people in Florida or South Africa need not be the same as those living in Wayanad or Alleppey.

Your policies should highlight the initiatives your organisation has taken to minimize the negative impacts of tourism:  For example:

• What have you done to minimize the negative economic, environmental and social impacts on conventional tourism?
• Have you made any positive contributions to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage and its maintenance?
• Does your property provide any enjoyable experiences for tourists through more meaningful connections with local people and do you provide greater understanding of local cultural, social and environmental issues? 
• Do your provide access and facilities for people with physical disabilities?

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Economic Policies:

• Have you developed your property in a way so that it reflects, complements and enhances the destination?
• Is your business generating greater economic benefit to local people and has it enhanced the well being of local community members?
• Does your property provide appropriate and sufficient support to small, medium and micro enterprises to ensure tourism-related enterprises thrive and are sustainable? Are you importing your products from another country or are you sourcing these from local markets?

Social Policies:

• Did your property involve the local community in planning and decision-making? Were their skills and knowledge used in developing and maintaining properties? 
• Have you undertaken any social impact analysis through the planning, design and operational phases of your projects? E.g., were you aware of any issues that might affect the local people based in your property? If so, what did you do to reduce or remove the impact?
• Have you made any positive contributions to the conservation of cultural heritage and its maintenance?
• Has your property made any impact on the health and education of the local people?

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Environment Policies:

• Do you use resources sustainably and reduce waste and over – consumption? What do you do to ensure this?
• Have you taken any initiatives to support the vulnerable eco system surrounding your properties or closer to your location?
• Have you supported any initiatives to create, increase awareness of sustainable development for all stakeholders?
• Have you undertaken any impressive conservation efforts in your local area?
• Do you use renewable sources of energy in your property? Do you give instructions to your guests on reducing the waste and over consumption? (Electricity, Stand by Power, Air conditioning - when these are not needed, wastage of water, use of towels etc)
• Do you have any rainwater harvesting in your property?