Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Responsible Tourism and CSR pp 15–26Cite as

Corporate Social Responsibility in the Tourism Industry

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Part of the book series: CSR, Sustainability, Ethics & Governance ((CSEG))

Abstract

Since the mid-1990s, the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) started to emerge and be applied in different industry sectors. CSR arises from several issues: for example the businesses’ need to gain and retain consumer trust and the awareness that companies should take their responsibility for the impacts their activities cause on environment and society. CSR is therefore based on the concept of “triple bottom line”, which replaces the financial bottom line and implies that businesses are responsible for the environmental, social and economic effects they produce. This chapter clarifies the meaning and implication of CSR; explains the role of CSR in building and retaining consumer trust and, finally, explores the state of the art of CSR diffusion in tourism, highlighting the main benefits it brings to the tourism industry and the issues met by tourism companies, in particular by small- and medium-sized enterprises. The analysis points out that although CSR has a positive influence on consumer trust, efficiency, tourism product quality and business competitiveness, its implementation in the tourism industry, and especially in tourism SMEs, is limited by lack of awareness and knowledge and by high investments needed to implement an appropriate action plan.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  • Bobbin J (2012a) Researching responsible tourism reporting. International Centre for Responsible Tourism, Occasional Paper OP. 24

    Google Scholar 

  • Bobbin J (2012b) Introduction to responsible tourism reporting. The development of a transparent verifiable reporting system suitable for small to medium sized enterprises to monitor their responsible tourism good practices. Responsible Tourism Reporting. http://www.rtreporting.org/about/news-and-publications.php. Accessed 8 Aug 2013

  • Bohdanowicz-Godfrey P (2007) A case study of Hilton Environmental Reporting as a tool of Corporate Social Responsibility. Tourism Rev Int 11(2):115–131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buckley R (2013) Social-benefit certification as a game. Tour Manage 37:203–209

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Castaldo S, Perrini F, Misani N et al (2008) The missing link between corporate social responsibility and consumer trust: the case of fair trade products. J Bus Ethics 84:1–15

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coles T, Fenclova E, Dinan C (2013) Tourism and corporate social responsibility: a critical review and research agenda. Tourism Manage Perspect 6:122–141

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Commission of the European Communities (2001) Promoting a European Framework for Corporate Social Responsibility. COM (2001) 366 final

    Google Scholar 

  • Commission of the European Communities (2006) Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council and the European Economic and Social Committee. Implementing the Partnership for Growth and Jobs: making Europe a Pole of Excellence on Corporate Social Responsibility. COM (2006) 136 final

    Google Scholar 

  • Commission of the European Communities (2011) A renewed EU strategy 2011–2014 for Corporate Social Responsibility. COM (2011) 681 final

    Google Scholar 

  • Crouch GI, Ritchie JRB (2003) The competitive destination: a sustainable tourism perspective. CAB International, Oxfordshire, UK

    Google Scholar 

  • Dodds R, Joppe M (2005) CSR in the tourism industry? The status of and potential for certification, codes of conduct and guidelines. Foreign Investment Advisory Service Investment Climate Department, IFC/World Bank, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  • Dodds R, Kuehnel J (2010) CSR among Canadian mass tour operators: good awareness but little action. Int J Contemp Hospit Manag 22(2):221–244

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ermlich G (2009) Corporate social responsibility (CSR). ITB Berlin – Special Press Release 04/2009

    Google Scholar 

  • Font X, Epler-Wood M (2007) Sustainable tourism certification marketing and its contribution to SME market access. In: Black R, Crabtree A (eds) Quality assurance and certification in ecotourism. CABI, Wallingford, pp 147–163

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Frey N, George R (2010) Responsible tourism management: the missing link between business owners’ attitudes and behaviour in the Cape Town tourism industry. Tourism Manage 31:621–628

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gebben C, Gitsham M (2007) Food labeling: understanding consumer attitudes and behaviour. Ashridge Business School, Berkhamsted

    Google Scholar 

  • Goodwin H (2005) Responsible tourism and the market. International Centre for Responsible Tourism, Occasional Paper 4 November

    Google Scholar 

  • Gordon K (2001) The OECD guidelines for multinational enterprises and global instruments for corporate responsibility. Working Paper on International Investments 2001/5, OECD – Directorate for Financial, Fiscal and Enterprise Affairs

    Google Scholar 

  • Harford T (2005) The undercover economist. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Holloway C (2002) The business of tourism. Heinemann Butterworth, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Jarvis N, Weeden C, Simcock N (2010) The benefits and challenges of sustainable tourism certification: a case study of the Green Tourism Business Scheme in the West of England. J Hospit Tourism Manage 17(1):83–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kalish A (2002) Corporate futures. Social responsibility on the tourism industry. Tourism Concern, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Levy SE, Duverger P (2010) Consumer perceptions of sustainability in the lodging industry: examination of sustainable tourism criteria. In: Paper presented at the International CHRIE Conference-Refereed Track, University of Massachusetts, Amherst 30 July 2010

    Google Scholar 

  • Martínez P, Rodríguez del Bosque I (2013) CSR and customer loyalty: the roles of trust, customer identification with the company and satisfaction. Int J Hospit Manage 35:89–99

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller G (2001) Corporate responsibility in the UK tourism Industry. Tour Manage 22:589–598

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell VW, Vassos V (1997) Perceived risk and risk reduction in holiday purchases: a cross-cultural and gender analysis. J Euromarket 6(3):47–97

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nicolau JL (2008) Corporate social responsibility. Worth-creating activities. Ann Tourism Res 35(4):990–1006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nurn CW, Tan G (2010) Obtaining intangible and tangible benefits from corporate social responsibility. Int Rev Bus Res Pap 6(4):360–371

    Google Scholar 

  • Pivato S, Misani N, Tencati A (2008) The impact of corporate social responsibility on consumer trust: the case of organic food. Bus Ethics: A Eur Rev 17(1):3–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prud’homme B, Raymond L (2013) Sustainable development practices in the hospitality industry: an empirical study of their impact on customer satisfaction and intentions. Int J Hospit Manage 34:116–126

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rome A (2007) Financing tourism certification programs. CESD - Center on Ecotourism and Sustainable Development, Handbook 4

    Google Scholar 

  • Russillo A, Honey M, Rome A (2007) Practical steps for funding certification of tourism business. CESD - Center on Ecotourism and Sustainable Development, Handbook 2

    Google Scholar 

  • Schoorman FD, Mayer RC, Davis JH (2007) An integrative model of organizational trust: past, present, and future. Acad Manage Rev 32(2):344–354

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swaen V, Chumpitaz RC (2008) Impact of corporate social responsibility on consumer trust. Recherche et Applications en Marketing (English Edition) 23(4):7–34

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tamajón LG, Font i Aulet X (2013) Corporate social responsibility in tourism small and medium enterprises evidence from Europe and Latin America. Tourism Manage Perspect 7:38–46

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vitell S, Paolillo J, Thomas JL (2003) The perceived role of ethics and social responsibility: a study of marketing professionals. Bus Ethics Q 13:63–86

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weber J (2007) Fair trade coffee enthusiasts should confront reality. Cato J 27(1):109–117

    Google Scholar 

  • White AL (2006) Business brief: intangibles and CSR. BSR - Business for Social Responsibility

    Google Scholar 

  • World Bank (2003) Strengthening implementation of Corporate Social Responsibility on global supply chains. http://siteresources.worldbank.org/…/CSR/Strengthening_Implementatio.pdf. Accessed 12 Jan 2010

  • World Business Council for Sustainable Development (1999) Meeting changing expectations: Corporate social responsibility. http://www.wbcsd.org/templates/TemplateWBCSD5/layout.asp?type¼p&MenuId¼MTE0OQ. Accessed 12 Jan 2010

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. CISET, Venice, Italy

    Mara Manente, Valeria Minghetti & Erica Mingotto

Authors
  1. Mara Manente
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Valeria Minghetti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Erica Mingotto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Manente, M., Minghetti, V., Mingotto, E. (2014). Corporate Social Responsibility in the Tourism Industry. In: Responsible Tourism and CSR. CSR, Sustainability, Ethics & Governance. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-06308-9_3

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation