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Measuring and comparing the sustainability of coastal tourism destinations in Germany, Lithuania, and Indonesia

Author

Listed:
  • Johanna Schumacher

    (Leibniz-Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde
    Klaipeda University)

  • Gerald Schernewski

    (Leibniz-Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde
    Klaipeda University)

  • Donalda Karnauskaitė

    (Leibniz-Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde
    Klaipeda University)

  • Marija Kataržytė

    (Klaipeda University)

  • Stefanie Pakleppa

    (University of Rostock, Wissenschaftliche Weiterbildung)

  • Kathrin Pape

    (Hochschule Konstanz University of Applied Sciences (HTWG) HTWG Konstanz)

  • Silke Schönwald

    (Leibniz-Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde)

  • Matthias Völzke

    (University of Rostock, Wissenschaftliche Weiterbildung)

Abstract

An important aim of the European Sustainable Development Strategy is to measure the state of sustainability in coastal communities. While numerous indicators have been developed to estimate a regions sustainability, they go largely unused, due to the difficulty in applying them over a broad region. In an effort to improve upon this situation, we have improved the indicator set developed within the SUSTAIN project and merged these indicators with the QualityCoast label for sustainable tourism destinations, creating a joint methodology and developing an applicable self-assessment spreadsheet tool. The tool includes six categories, subdivided into 117 single indicators. We then tested the tool by applying it to ten contrasting tourism destinations in Germany, Lithuania, and Indonesia. In total, 17 unique applications were run, with the objective being to test the tools applicability, reproducibility, and utility for coastal communities. The applications showed that results can be biased, stemming from an evaluators’ perception of a given site or ecosystem. Thus, results are not easily reproducible, which negatively affects comparability with other destinations. However, results indicate that the tool can be used to categorize the sustainability of a region, helping to raise community awareness and guide future planning. Furthermore, communities benefit from the fact that a positive assessment will easily enable them to apply for the QualityCoast label. With clear guidelines and reference values, repeated applications can help communities evaluate whether their efforts are contributing to a sustainable coastal development.

Suggested Citation

  • Johanna Schumacher & Gerald Schernewski & Donalda Karnauskaitė & Marija Kataržytė & Stefanie Pakleppa & Kathrin Pape & Silke Schönwald & Matthias Völzke, 2020. "Measuring and comparing the sustainability of coastal tourism destinations in Germany, Lithuania, and Indonesia," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 22(3), pages 2451-2475, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:endesu:v:22:y:2020:i:3:d:10.1007_s10668-018-00301-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s10668-018-00301-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Xiaoyu Wang & Minyi Zhang & Siying Jie & Mu Zhang & Zhan Zhang, 2023. "Exploring the Coordinated Evolution Mechanism of Regional Sustainable Development and Tourism in China’s “Beautiful China” Initiative," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-24, May.

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