Thiem Anja

Environmental sustainability in tourist accommodation businesses in regional nature parks in German-speaking Switzerland
Ökologische Nachhaltigkeit in Beherbergungsbetrieben in regionalen Naturparks in der Deutschschweiz


Project Number: Parcs Data Center 29827 / 4D CH-5045
Project Type: Master
Project Duration: 05/13/2014 - 10/13/2014 project completed
Funding Source: other ,
Leading Institution: Leuphana Universität Lüneburg
Project Leader: Dr. Anja Thiem
Leuphana Universität Lüneburg
Scharnhorststr. 1, C1.313
DE-21335 Lüneburg
Germany
Phone: +49.4131.677-2967
e-Mail: anja.thiem(at)leuphana.de

related to this project.
for which the project has a relevance.


Research Areas:
Economy

Disciplines:
Legal and Social sciences, Economics

Keywords:
Regionale Naturparks – Beherbergungsbranche – ökologische Nachhaltigkeit – betrieblicher Umweltschutz – nachhaltige Regionalentwicklung - regional nature parks – tourist accommodation businesses – environmental sustainability – environmental protection – sustainable regional development

Abstract:
In 2007, Switzerland introduced the concept of regional nature parks as an instrument to promote sustainable regional development in rural areas. One of the main goals of regional nature parks is the promotion of a sustainable economy, alongside measures to preserve and enhance nature and the cultural landscape. With particular focus on tourist accommodation, this paper seeks to investigate the extent to which regional nature parks live up to these claims. This was achieved through a web-based survey in which lodging (hotels, guest houses, bed and breakfasts etc.) in ten existing regional nature parks in the German-speaking part of Switzerland was analysed. The survey focused on environmental awareness, environmental protection measures taken by the companies, as well as incentives and barriers that further or hinder the commitment of a company. The results indicate that tourist accommodation businesses contribute considerably to sustainable regional development. The 91 businesses that took part in the survey (response rate: 25 %) show a distinctive level of environmental awareness with a variety of environmental measures undertaken so far. It was seen, amongst personal reasons, economic incentives or barriers were the largest influencer in a company’s commitment to sustainable practice. Potential for improvement has been identified in some areas, such as environmental management or awareness relating to the negative influence on the environment. On this basis, starting points to develop operational sustainability have been deducted. In this respect, tourist accommodation businesses themselves as well as branch offices of regional nature parks play an important role.

Publications:
Hutter, Nathalie. 2014. Ökologische Nachhaltigkeitn in Beherbergungsbetrieben in regionalen Naturparks in der Deutschschweiz. Masterarbeit, Studiengang Nachhaltigkeitswissenschaft, Leuphana Universität Lüneburg.
pdf Masterarbeit


Last update: 8/15/23
Source of data: ProClim- Research InfoSystem (1993-2024)
Update the data of project: CH-5045

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