Abstract
In the tourism industry, the use of digital tools has been becoming increasingly common due to the development of alternative movements, such as smart tourism. One of these digital tools is geographic information systems (GIS), which is an information system used for the processing, analysis, and storage of spatial data. Within this context, this chapter focuses on the role of GIS use in ensuring the sustainability of tourism activities. In the chapter, the use of GIS in the planning, doing, and watching processes of tourism is discussed with examples. This chapter will provide information on how to benefit from GIS in the context of sustainable tourism.
TopIntroduction
Problems and processes, such as rapid population growth, urbanization, inequality, and environmental degradation, raise concerns for the future. Increasing concern about the future has led to the emergence of alternative philosophies and policies. One of the most effective one is the sustainability approach. Sustainability and sustainable development can be expressed in interdisciplinary terms. Since the 1980s, especially before the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) held in Rio de Janeiro, in 1992, global academic and policy debates on these issues have gained momentum (Scoones, 2007). This world summit was designed to combine the wise management and protection of the natural environment with economic equality and access to basic needs for all people (MacDonald, 2002).
Many definitions have been proposed for sustainable development in this sense, but one of the most widely accepted can be found in the Brundtland Report. Accordingly, sustainable development is a development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987). Within this context, sustainability can be defined as an approach that prioritizes the rational use of resources and, accordingly, makes it possible to reach a qualified future in terms of social, environmental, and economic aspects. In addition to guaranteeing rationality, it is one of the most widely accepted philosophies on a global scale, due to its spatial, historical, and social inclusiveness. Because of these characteristics, sustainability is an integral part of international development plans today.
Undoubtedly, a sustainable plan brings along a transformation process from daily life to politics. In this context, sectoral transformation and restructuring are among the main targets for a sustainable future. In this process, practices that are compatible with the main objectives of sustainability, in both industry and agriculture as well as the service sectors, have been introduced and are being introduced. One of the sectors that this transformation can be seen most clearly is tourism.
Although tourism is an economic sector, it represents social and spatial mobility, as well as a process that enables the production and reproduction of the environment. In this sense, it is closely related to all dimensions of sustainability, including economic, environmental, and social. This mutual and multidimensional relationship is one of the main challenges in the development of sustainable tourism policies. However, it is possible to discuss many successful policies. The development of alternative tourism types, such as ecotourism, camping tourism, nature tourism, and cave tourism, which prioritize harmony with the environment, are practices that make tourism environmentally sustainable.
Practices and tools that enable and improve the communication of local people and tourists make tourism socially sustainable, while efforts to ensure that local people benefit from tourism revenues can be shown as an example of the economic sustainability of tourism. In addition, tourism provides employment opportunities for women in many countries, and is aligned with sustainable policies in terms of gender equality. Similarly, it provides opportunities for disadvantaged groups, such as the elderly or the disabled, to participate in public life. Accordingly, it can be stated that sustainable tourism is on the way to becoming a reality rather than merely being a dream.
Digital tools are being used more and more to make tourism sustainable. This has led to the emergence of the concept of smart tourism. Smart tourism can be conceptualized as a term that allows large amounts of data regarding tourism destinations, industries, and tourists to be converted into value propositions. In this context, smart tourism also enables the integration of physical, digital and human systems with the environment to ensure a sustainable future. For example, the smart tourism approach aims to provide long-term social benefit by using resources in a smarter way with online governance systems in city management by supporting data sharing and participation of local people. While ensuring the sustainability of nature with digital tools, it allows control of all resources. Smart tourism practices are also reflected in transportation systems.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Geographic Information System (GIS): this is the hardware, software, personnel, geographic data, and method that perform the functions of collecting, storing, processing, managing, spatial analysis, querying and presenting large volumes of geographic data to help solve complex social, economic and environmental problems.
Sustainable Tourism: this is a concept encompassing the complete tourism experience, including economic, environmental, and social issues, as well as an interest in improving the tourist experience and meeting the needs of host communities.
Remote Sensing: this is the technique of recording and examining the earth and ground resources without establishing a physical connection with them. it is the task of determining the various features of the ground without any actual contact with the ground.
Smart Destination: a smart tourism destination is defined as an innovative tourism center built on a state-of-the-art infrastructure that is accessible to all, facilitates the interaction of visitors and ensures the sustainable development of tourist areas.
Tourism Carrying Capacity: tourism carrying capacity is defined as the maximum number of tourists that any tourism destination can carry, without causing dissatisfaction for both the locals and the tourists, during the time it hosts the tourists.
Smart Tourism: smart tourism is defined as tourism supported by physical infrastructure, social connections, public resources, and efforts in a destination to collect data from the human mind.
Sustainable Development: this is the principle of organizing to achieve human development goals while maintaining the ability of natural systems to provide the ecosystem services and natural resources on which the society and economy depend.