National tourism strategy criticised

On 27 April 2022, the Committee on Tourism of the German Bundestag hosted a public hearing on the topic of the "National Tourism Strategy". Among the five experts invited was Prof Dr Wolfang Strasdas, Professor of Sustainable Tourism Management at the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNEE). He represented a critical voice on aspects of ecological and social sustainability in tourism.

Chaired by Jana Schimke (CDU/CSU), the committee met in public for around one and a half hours on 27 April 2022. The aim was to further develop the National Tourism Strategy launched in the previous legislative period. Five experts had been asked in advance to submit written statements and answered the MPs' questions.

In his statement, Prof Strasdas primarily referred to aspects of the ecological and social sustainability of tourism, which in his opinion are only addressed very vaguely or not at all in the National Tourism Strategy. For example, there is no mention of the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act. This would counteract the negative effects of uncontrolled tourism, particularly in countries of the Global South, as it would make German companies responsible when it comes to upholding human and children's rights, for example.

Prof Strasdas also noted that there are no references to biodiversity in the National Tourism Strategy, although experts in Germany consider leisure and tourism to be significant risk factors for biodiversity: "Environmental impact assessments for tourism construction projects in sensitive areas, biodiversity-friendly design of buildings and outdoor facilities and consistent visitor management in protected areas are key instruments that should be included in the National Tourism Strategy."

Finally, he argued in favour of making sustainability in tourism measurable and therefore verifiable. This could take the form of a nationwide indicator system and a state umbrella brand for eco and sustainability labels in tourism.

Overall, the scientist recommends aligning the National Tourism Strategy with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of the United Nations, which are also relevant for many other policy areas of the German government.