Indicator System for Sustainable Tourism

Sustainable development of tourist destinations can be monitored via various topic areas, which can be handled by defining, operationalizing and assessing hundreds of possible indicators. The work initially carried out in this area by ASTO is based on the World Tourism Organization methodology, presented in the document ‘Indicators of Sustainable Development for Tourism Destinations’. As an integrated approach to the diverse topics on the sustainability of the Alentejo tourist destination is a complex activity in constant development, in the first phase of analysis, ASTO decided to prioritize the following 11 topics:

Economic Benefits


This is the revenue generated by tourism that provides benefits for the local economy, including boosting investment, tax contributions and creating jobs.


The indicators show the results of tourism actions in terms of direct and indirect jobs, and tourist revenue and expenses generated. 

Seasonality


This shows the time of the year in which the numbers of overnight stays or tourists are concentrated. It may be based on the number of overnight stays, tourists, expenses and other indicators. 


It measures the economic impacts of various tourist activities and allows results to be cross-referenced with indicators integrated into the dimensions of employment, resident satisfaction, economics and the environment. It is represented using indicators such as the seasonality rate, the seasonal amplitude index, tourist density and tourist intensity. Indicators are grouped by source markets and/or type of tourist accommodation. 

Employment


These are the jobs generated through economic tourism activities, in sectors such as accommodation, restaurants, transport, tourist entertainment and other related areas. 


The number of jobs, average wages, full-time jobs (year round), seasonal jobs, unemployment rate, employment by age group, gender and education. 

Resident Satisfaction


Resident satisfaction is an indicator which can warn of potential problems or of residents' positive perceptions of tourism in their usual place of residence. 


The degree of satisfaction of residents in relation to tourism, measuring residents' perception of the social/cultural, environmental and economic impacts on their usual place of residence. 

Energy Management


Policies and actions for managing energy consumption that allow the effects of waste to be mitigated and a greater contribution to corporate sustainability to be generated, as well as providing a greater degree of efficiency in managing operating costs.


Consumption per tourist, type of accommodation, tourist attraction and other indicators that can contribute to more streamlined consumption.

Water Management


Policies and actions for managing water consumption that allow the effects of waste to be mitigated and a greater contribution to the sustainability of this resource to be generated, as well as providing a greater degree of efficiency in the management of operating costs.


Consumption per tourist, type of accommodation, tourist attraction and other indicators that can contribute to more streamlined consumption.

Waste Management


Management processes in the treatment of waste generated by tourist activities at the destination.


It measures waste production and identifies the main polluting sources, destinations for waste, recycling and treatment.

Waste Water Management

Available soon


Management processes for the treatment of water before it is directed to beaches, rivers and lakes.


Percentage of tourism establishments with wastewater treatment systems and number of reported instances of pollution or contamination. Percentage of recycled treated sewage (e.g. for irrigation). 

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Climate Action


Climate action is related to the actions carried out to mitigate climate change, and thus meet the 2030 goals for sustainable development. 


Frequency of weather events, damage to the tourism sector, risk percentages and other aspects that provide data on changes caused by the climate phenomena. 

Accessibility

Available soon


Initiatives that promote access to destinations and tourist attractions adapted for people with reduced mobility and other disabilities. It leads to greater inclusion for visitors to places.


This measures the existence of public policies aimed at accessibility, transport, tourist activities and other actions in the public and private spheres of the tourist destination. 

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Governance

Available soon


The structure of policies and actions that promote the inclusion and participation of national, regional, local, public and private actors, as well as the third sector in liaison with tourism. 


It measures the progress achieved in tourist destinations in the domain of governance, its implementation and the degree of involvement of actors. 

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Profile of Visitors to Tourist Offices


This is an indicator that characterizes/describes the profile of visitors to tourist offices in the Alentejo Region seeking support in obtaining tourist information about one of its municipalities.


It includes the characterization of three sociodemographic variables of mandatory registration (usual residence; age and gender), as well as other additional information on the type of information required and description of other dimensions related to visitor behaviour. This indicator characterizes the visitor profile results.