Page 178 - sustainable tourism-- Dr.Aya

tourism business partners in better

communicating their ―green credentials.‖

Partnerships, as discussed in STMM, have an

important role to play in offering sustainable

tourism solutions. When tourism partners

collaborate with an aim of educating ‗first time

travelers‘ to a place, it has a long-lasting effect

on the sustainable tourism behavior of the

consumer, during repeat visits to the same

destination or even other places. UNEP (2005)

notes that ―first time tourists on a package

such as trekking, diving or homestays have

specific awareness raising and education needs

before and during their experience, that will

mark their behavior for future trips.‖

Therefore, all partners in the tourism value

chain must communicate to the consumers the

need to develop cultural and environmental

sensitivity as well as respect for the local

communities and their needs. This can be done

by designing credible sources like travel

guides and sustainable tourism manuals which

could be made available at multiple touch-

points to the travelers. Partnership would

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