Sustainable Tourism and Leisure

Sustainable Tourism, Responsible Tourism
Tourism has a direct relationship with the environment and socio-economic development of a location which can present both positive and negative impacts. By 2020, the World Tourism Organisation predicts that the number of international arrivals will exceed 1.5 billion people making tourism one of the fastest growing economic sectors that continually diversifies and evolves.

The implementation of sustainable tourism principles incorporates a combination of environmental, economic, cultural and social issues and impacts. A suitable balance must be established between these sustainable aspects if the long-term sustainability of a tourism destination is to be realised.

Leisure Sectors
The growth in choice of leisure activities, for day visitor or tourist consumers, has risen in parallel with the increased demand for variety. The vast array of experiences is reflected in the increasing diversification of recreation and leisure activities, as well as spectator and participation events, including exhibitions, festivals, galleries, health, sport and entertainment attractions and facilities, shopping malls, theme parks and mixed-use developments. These destinations are major drivers and contributors to local economic development and regeneration programmes through attracting local, national and international visitors.

Maisna delivers its consultancy services to the tourism and leisure sector on a local, national and international level. Working with public and private sector clients we develop sustainable solutions for the tourism and leisure industries assisting with the design, planning, development, marketing and management requirements.

Our key areas of expertise and services in tourism and leisure include:

• Accessibility and spatial planning
• Carrying capacity studies
• Capital of culture studies and strategies
• Crisis management
• Destination marketing and branding
• Disability considerations
• Ecolabelling and certification schemes
• Economic development impact studies
• Ecotourism
• Film tourism
• Forestry recreation
• Historic town strategies
• Interpretation advice
• National park management plans
• National tourism policy plans
• Responsible tourism
• Tourism management plans
• Tourism strategies/studies
• Visitor management solutions
• Social inclusion issues
• Sustainable design considerations
• Wildlife tourism