Plucked literally from the Travels to Tomorrow website of Tourism Flanders:
The goal of the “Travel to Tomorrow” vision is to make Flanders a thriving destination with resilient, sustainable and future-oriented places that offer added value to all involved. Tourism is a means to this end, not an end in itself.
This strong vision of Tourism Flanders entitled: “Traveling to Tomorrow” is quite comprehensive about sustainability in the tourism world. It recognizes the importance of the different players in the field, as well as the relationships between them. The vacation maker, here also called entrepreneur, host or operator, obviously plays a very important role. But the resident, the traveler, the placeholder and the place are not forgotten either. The relationships between the different players are also important.
The Entrepreneur
The community thrives when the entrepreneur :
- is vital and profitable
- Can handle change resiliently
- Enjoy/get good working conditions and appreciation
- Is passionate and innovative/creative about his product or service while guarding his individuality
- Is an ambassador for the place where he/she works
- Strives for high satisfaction through genuine hospitality and professionalism
- takes into account the impact of its activities on other placeholders and the place
- Wants to contribute positively to the society/community/place
The Place
The place, the site of the tourist event, is the only passive actor. It mainly undergoes the impacts, which can be both positive and negative. To make the place flourish, we strive for positive impact. The place flourishes:
- If she is attractive, pleasant and safe
- if it invites meetings between residents, business owners and visitors while not excluding anyone
- If she lets her unique character speak
- if it preserves its identity and its natural and cultural heritage
- if it provides room for creativity and experimentation
- if it contributes positively to a thriving planet
The Resident
The resident is directly connected to the place. The community flourishes when the resident enjoys living in his/her place and knows the place well and is proud of it. Involvement in the (tourism) policy of the place, so that he/she joins in its desired development, is essential in this regard. Residents can enjoy the positive effects of tourism: preservation and enhancement of facilities, heritage, culture, income, jobs and intercultural encounters. They are not inconvenienced by tourism.
The Traveler
For the visitor, here also referred to as traveler, tourist and customer, the place will flourish if they feel warmly welcomed, can fully experience the DNA of the place and experience a positive impact from their stay:
- new energy and inspiration
- personal growth
- connection with the place and the people he/she meets
- shows respect for nature, culture and for the uniqueness of the place
The visitor carries the place and its people in his/her heart and feels involved. He/she will gladly return or recommend the place to others
The Plekholders
Placeholders are the people who govern, maintain and co-determine the place. They can be governments, but also local groups such as youth clubs, environmental movements, etc.
Neither the resident nor the visitor nor the placeholders are passive players. They themselves can generate positive or negative impact on the place and the other players. We do not yet offer a
Supplement
The linden tree is the metaphor used for journeys to tomorrow. But of course there are different “trees,” in different places. Some near, some very far. Cutting down trees far away can have a big impact on our own tree. That’s why we like to expand the vision a little further by considering not only the local, but also the global.
