Abstract
Tour operators are an important component of the tourism system. They link tourists and destinations, and as a result have influence on sustainability within destinations. Tour operators are also part of a larger system that include direct involvement in all aspects of a tourist experience, such as accommodations, attractions, food services, and transportation. The scale of tourism operators span from very localized to international and deliver a diverse array of services. However, increasingly tour operators face challenges in controlling aspects of the tourism product. Because tour operators influence many aspects of a destination and how visitors might perceive the destination, the can maximize aspects of sustainability including: social and economic benefits; benefits to cultural heritage; benefits to the environment; and enable partnerships. A framework for sustainable tourism operators captures the variability and potential role and influence tour operations have within the industry overall.
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Bricker, K., Black, R. (2016). Framework for Understanding Sustainability in the Context of Tourism Operators. In: McCool, S., Bosak, K. (eds) Reframing Sustainable Tourism. Environmental Challenges and Solutions, vol 2. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-7209-9_6
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