A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Biodiversity, leadership, and resilience in a national sustainable tourism program
Authors: Sorakunnas Esko, Räikkönen Juulia, Konu Henna, Grénman Miia, Tyrväinen Liisa
Publisher: Routledge
Publication year: 2024
Journal: Scandinavian Journal of Hospitality and Tourism
Journal name in source: Scandinavian Journal of Hospitality and Tourism
eISSN: 1502-2269
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15022250.2024.2332308
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1080/15022250.2024.2332308
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/387657924
This study addresses the complex relationship between biodiversity, leadership, and resilience in the tourism industry. We apply case study methodology to examine the potential of Visit Finland’s Sustainable Travel Finland program to increase the resilience of the Finnish tourism sector concerning sustainability challenges. The qualitative research data consists of interviews and secondary data analysed with content analyses. According to the results, the program offers support and proactive leadership to the Finnish tourism industry in meeting the rising sustainability demands on biodiversity protection. However, the first biodiversity steps have been small-scale and instrumental, corresponding to a narrow perception of nature’s value. Therefore, the program does not yet fully meet the scale and scope of current biodiversity challenges. Although it is a good start, biodiversity-respectful leadership and resilience building require a strategic approach that also recognizes intrinsic, relational, and ecosystemic biodiversity values accruing broadly to tourists, nature, and humankind.
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