Sustainable Development or Eco-Collapse: Lessons for Tourism and Development from Easter Island

Abstract

While tourism brings many benefits to islands, it can also cause negative effects, especially when tourism development is a disorganised process, with significant environmental impacts. This has been the case of Easter Island: the recent, uncontrolled growth in tourist numbers together with social and political tensions, are signs of a socioeconomic process pursuing development that has neglected the institutional, environmental, social, and economic imperatives of sustainability for tourism management. The study initially presents the environmental impacts of tourism growth, including waste disposal and management issues, problems with sewage system, threats to water quality, and biodiversity loss. Next, using data from in situ fieldwork, interviews and surveys, it focuses on residents' perceptions regarding environmental consequences of the vast tourism growth, as well as on the serious governance issues that Easter Island is currently facing and that complicate even further its sustainable development. Overall, our results indicate that-while acknowledging the negative impacts that uncontrolled tourism development has brought to the island and the need for it to become more sustainable-residents are in favour of tourism since it is the island's main source of income and employment. The paper draws lessons for islands involved in the "development-through-tourism" model regarding the difficulties these islands will face in attaining their goals if they are not able to build and implement cooperative agreements among stakeholders to properly manage the common-pool resources involved. This is a warning sign for islands that enthusiastically promote tourism without implementing sound sustainability criteria to guide the management of their tourism sector.

Stakeholder Perceptions of Campus Sustainability Efforts: Lessons from Vermont

“…Our literature review suggests that many universities like UVM are putting sustainability at the forefront of their operations and outreach and using a variety of tools to measure progress along three dimensions (environmental, social, economic) of sustainability. However, as the literature [10][11][12][13][14][15] on the topic of cultural sustainability and its role in sustainable development suggests, successful initiatives must respect the values and norms of the university community. For sustainability efforts to gain success, the community must be informed and empowered; its support and buy-in is essential.…”

“…Scholars argue for a fourth dimension of sustainability-culture [10]. Much of the extant literature arises from sustainable development, particularly sustainable tourism [11][12][13]. Given potential similarities between tourism and higher education (e.g., marketed as a preferred destination, aiming for broader community benefits, location within a larger community), this literature may provide insights on creating cultural conditions for successful sustainability efforts and broader sustainable community development.…”

“…Sustainability efforts must respect both cultural norms and landmarks, like natural and built landscape features [11]. They must also integrate environmental, social, and economic concerns [13]. Numerous studies cite the need for community engagement and empowerment if sustainability efforts are to be successful [12,13].…”

“…They must also integrate environmental, social, and economic concerns [13]. Numerous studies cite the need for community engagement and empowerment if sustainability efforts are to be successful [12,13]. Stakeholders are likely to hold a mix of shared and diverse values, so gaining perspectives of many stakeholders is vital to empowerment and success [12,15].…”

“…Stakeholders are likely to hold a mix of shared and diverse values, so gaining perspectives of many stakeholders is vital to empowerment and success [12,15]. Stakeholders are constrained by a lack of information and understanding of initiatives; conversely, engagement and empowerment are achieved by forging networks and partnerships, and providing education, training and practical workforce skill transfer [11][12][13].…”