‘Towards the future of tourism’ – Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Beppu, Japan
After extensive deliberations at this summit, we, the representatives of seventy-eight international and local universities meeting in Beppu city, Oita Prefecture, issue the following declaration:
We, as students of the world, believe, in recognition of our concern for the future of the tourism industry, that our voices should be heard by governments, educational institutions, and all other industry stakeholders.
That stakeholders––be they host governments, non-governmental organizations, host communities, tourists, the media, or others–will work together to ensure that tourism, as an industry, will flourish in the future;
That stakeholders, through the promotion of tourism, will work to eliminate barriers among peoples of the world and foster effective international cooperation in terms of information exchange and intercultural understanding;
That governments’ tourism policies will stress concern for the social, economic, and natural environments, in order to offset the impact of past negative practices and to minimize future impact;
That stakeholders of the tourism industry will work closely with local governments by assisting in and providing feedback;
and That conflicts among stakeholders will be overcome.
We recognize:
That the industry is now moving forward with more long term planning, with more proactive local government policies, and with more integrated communication among neighbouring communities and countries;
That governments in all parts of the world share information, especially in security issues concerning terrorism;
That while the media may have positive and negative impacts, information technology and the media have the potential to responsibly support the development of tourism;
That there is growing concern over the level of participation by local communities in the development of tourism and, further, that, while the literature on environmental degradation, pollution, and misuse of natural resources is abundant, industry and government measures to monitor and protect the environment need to be improved;
and That there seems to be insufficient guidance in sustainable tourism development, leading to problems in guiding tourists and educating the local people concerning the importance of responsible tourism, further, that governments need to be educated concerning the concept of sustainability, and that the term “sustainability” not be used for inappropriate promotions.
We, the students of the Summit, are convinced that:
When the above concerns are addressed, and if appropriate considerations are given in the future, tourism will:
Develop from an alternative industry to a flourishing prime industry, providing jobs in local communities and enhancing cooperation among stakeholders;
Diversify and improve the use of technology and media, leading to a greater understanding of their function and potential;
Encourage recognition of the importance of integrity and trust among stakeholders, in return aiding international communication and encouraging peace among nations;
Encourage the creation of policies based on sound knowledge of multiple considerations, thus reducing risk factors;
Persuade mass tourism to be practiced in a sustainable manner, with greater support, provided that there is sufficient education, policy development, and understanding of financial capacity;
and Assist in environmental conservation and preservation.
We call upon our home universities, other educational institutions, host governments, host communities, pressure groups, the media, and all interested organizations and individuals to:
Take up the challenge to educate the citizens of each country about the importance of sustainable development;
Work closely with the host governments and tourism developers to maintain sustainability in their projects;
Create policies that will minimize the negative socio-cultural and environmental impacts of tourism;
Be more active in the planning of their own neighbourhood developments;
Promote international relationships and intercultural understanding to achieve sustainable tourism;
Promote the sustainable development of tourism and work closely with other stakeholders in seeking an approach that will protect the environment;
Be responsible in disseminating information to the general public regarding issues that affect tourism;
Be more proactive in voicing concerns regarding the future, not least of all on issues concerning tourism; and
Establish a World Tourism Student Organisation in the near future.
In conclusion:
We, the students, propose that in the future, not only Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University but also universities of participating members of the Summit take continuous action by holding similar summits to promote sustainable development.