Title: Barriers to the implementation of sustainability in tourism destinations: evidence from Tyrol, Austria, and the South Island of New Zealand

Authors: Marco Haid; Julia N. Albrecht; Wiebke Finkler

Addresses: Division for Management in Health and Sport Tourism, UMIT – University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology, Eduard-Wallnöfer-Zentrum 1, Hall i. Tirol 6060, Austria ' Department of Tourism, University of Otago, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand ' Department of Marketing, University of Otago, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand

Abstract: Sustainable development and the implementation of corresponding measures are crucial issues for destination management organisations. Barriers to implementation processes determine the success of sustainable development. This study examines these barriers in nature-based tourism destinations. Twenty-two destination managers in Austria and New Zealand were interviewed. The results show a wide range of barriers at global, national, regional/destination, institutional and individual levels, revealing that not only destination managers but also various other stakeholders are responsible for sustainable development. Policies and strategies relevant to tourism, therefore, need to be addressed in a multi-level approach to uncover and better address challenges arising from destination governance structures and functions.

Keywords: destination development; nature-based tourism; DMO; destination management organisation; implementation theory; implementation barriers.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTP.2023.134513

International Journal of Tourism Policy, 2023 Vol.13 No.6, pp.525 - 542

Received: 09 Sep 2022
Received in revised form: 30 Jan 2023
Accepted: 07 Feb 2023
Published online: 26 Oct 2023 *

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