The complexity of establishing universal social sustainability criteria in travel and tourism is profound.
- Christopher Imbsen of WTTC highlights the challenges faced in creating global social criteria for the industry.
- A new report emphasises the difficulty in aligning on social requirements across diverse cultures.
- The WTTC’s programme identifies two key social criteria for hotels amidst considerable debate.
- Poor labour conditions are identified as major obstacles to sustainability in the tourism industry.
The task of setting global social sustainability standards in travel and tourism is inherently complex. Christopher Imbsen, Vice-President for Research & Sustainability at the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), underscores this challenge. He worked on the WTTC’s Hotel Sustainability Basics programme which was launched last year, aiming to define essential sustainability criteria for hotels globally.
According to a recent report based on research by Dr Anke Winchenbach of the University of Surrey, and commissioned by the International Transport Workers’ Federation and the IUF union, assessing the social impacts of tourism is arguably more challenging than evaluating environmental impacts or governance. This is especially true due to the wide variance and sensitivity of the social context worldwide.
During a consultation, over 60 global brands and industry associations were involved in developing the sustainability criteria. Imbsen noted that while environmental and governance indicators are easier to agree upon, social criteria presented the most significant challenges. The attempt was to create universal social indicators, but the diversity in what is considered socially acceptable across different regions made this a daunting task.
Ultimately, the programme managed to identify two key social criteria that all hotels should meet. The first is to establish some level of community engagement which could range from providing information on community initiatives to addressing issues such as child and wildlife trafficking. The second criterion focuses on reducing workforce inequalities and ensuring there is evidence of addressing such disparities within the supply chain.
The report titled ‘Why the S in ESG Matters’ stresses that poor labour conditions are hindering sustainability efforts in the tourism sector, affecting recruitment processes and increasing risks for businesses. A global consensus on social criteria remains elusive, yet the WTTC continues to work on advancing its Hotel Sustainability Basics programme.
This comprehensive study, supported by interviews with various industry representatives, trade unions, investors, and consultants, also includes assessments of existing social sustainability frameworks and proposes actions to address these challenges. The urgency to overcome labour and human rights issues in tourism is vital to support ongoing sustainability initiatives.
The pursuit of global social sustainability standards in travel remains an essential yet highly challenging endeavour.
