Perceptions and Realities of Sustainable Tourism Development in a Cross-Border Context: A Case Study of the Upper Rhine Valley (France and Germany)

Quentin SAMIER

Diplomová práce

Transition of urban and rural areas towards sustainable touristic destinations

Abstract:

This paper explores the topic of sustainable development in the tourism industry by attempting to determine, through the lens of local tourism operators, how sustainable tourism is defined theoretically and locally implemented in the French and German cross-border area of the Upper Rhine Valley. Empirical data has been collected from a sample of 20 respondents, equally divided into two subsamples of respectively 10 French and 10 German respondents working as tourism service providers in various touristic branches. Several dimensions are examined in this paper, such as the tourism operators' perception of tourism in general, sustainable development and sustainability in tourism, as well as their experience with the COVID-19 health crisis on the one hand, and with tourists who consume their services, on the other hand. The in-depth analyses conducted on their responses reveal that specific social mechanisms are at work behind these dimensions. This analysis is followed by a certain number of measures existing to foster a more sustainable way of travelling in the Upper Rhine Valley and solutions to overcome some of the problems that the local tourism operators have disclosed.

Abstract:

Sustainable development has been explored and implemented in many places around the world and the term is now used extensively. The contemporary prevalence of this concept hides, in fact, a multi-faceted understanding among tourism professionals. This thesis shall research the latter's practices and strategies and attempt to conduct an in-depth analysis of this complex issue in its real-life context.

Keywords

Sustainable Tourism, Sustainable Development, Social norms, Upper Rhine Valley, France, Germany

Jazyk práce: angličtina

Datum vytvoření / odevzdání či podání práce: 30. 7. 2021

Obhajoba závěrečné práce

• Vedoucí: doc. Mgr. Jan Stejskal, M.A., Ph.D.

UNIVERZITA PALACKÉHO V OLOMOUCI

Filozofická fakulta

Magisterský studijní program / obor:
Humanities / Euroculture