Many issues confront Cornwall's tourism industry: seasonality, wages, staffing and loss of tourism accommodation to name a few. But the biggest issue has to be how to improve performance while protecting environmental quality and local communities. A prosperous local economy should not be incompatible with high environmental standards and happy, healthy residents, particularly when Cornwall is viewed as culturally distinct and naturally beautiful.

Tourism generates an income for Cornwall. Naturally, individual businesses want to make a profit. But the sector is supported by statutory partnerships with an eye on the bigger picture. That bigger picture goes beyond simple profitability; it encompasses increased prosperity for the whole region, tourism's benefits to its communities and the need to maintain and enhance, rather than degrade, its natural environment.

It's clear then, that policymakers, those working in the tourism industry and local communities, need knowledge as well as policy tools: they need them so they can make informed choices and take collective responsibility to promote sustainability. In practice, this means the conservation and enhancement of Cornwall's resources (its social, environmental and cultural capital).

'Sustainability' is no longer an optional extra or luxury add-on. Unsustainable decisions are unaffordable decisions. As an information and management tool, a tourism footprint model will help us not just to understand tourism's current and projected impacts of tourism, but also to ensure appropriate development through the effective use of scenarios and modelling.

For more information about the Footprint work CoaST is undertaking, please contact Jemma Roberts on info

Quote of the Day
The economy is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the environment.
Environmental economist Herman Daly