The Atlantic Sustainable Tourism Observatory Ireland [The Observatory].
About this good practice
The Observatory collects data that informs sustainable change built on established, evidence based sustainable tourism indicators – this smart approach to tourism planning, monitoring and evaluation is a key to unlocking the new era of sustainable tourism. The Observatory hosted by ATU collaborates closely with tourism destinations along the Atlantic coast, Ireland’s islands, and heartlands providing the tools and skills needed to monitor the transition towards smart sustainable tourism.
The Observatory has developed of a suite of actions that promotes sustainable tourism, facilitates destination comparison, for evidence-based planning and management. The data collected informs a broad range of issues relevant to the impact on local economy, community and environment that will help destinations build an accurate picture of tourism in their region (the horizontal TAAS project mentorship cluster for smart planning). Assists the transition to a more sustainable sector, that measures and monitors the positive and negative costs and benefits that tourism has for society and the planet.
The Observatory data collected informs sustainable tourism policy for local authorities, state agencies, managers, community and enterprises. The tourism sector is linked to and dependent on several key industrial sectors including, agriculture, industry, energy, construction, services, food, and transport and the multi-sectoral data collected has potential for use beyond the tourism sector.
Expert opinion
Resources needed
One off cost:
Set up website - €30,000
Annual costs:
Data collection - €40,000
Staff Resources - €50,000 (Director, Project Manager, Admin) currently funded by ATU.
Evidence of success
The Observatory is Ireland's only INSTO and is committed to the excellence and proven impact in tourism research. INSTO membership underscores ATU rigorous approach to monitoring, providing evidence of our systematic and professional methodology in assessing tourism's multifaceted impacts based on collaborative Data Collection with Sligo, Donegal, Galway, Mayo, Clare, the islands, and the heartlands. The Observatory consulted on the new Government of Ireland Tourism Policy Framework 2030
Potential for learning or transfer
Becoming an INSTO member is a rigorous process, but the benefits include global access to sustainable tourism experts, methodological tools and best practices. The Observatory has been measuring and monitoring sustainable tourism since 2017 through the application of 43 sustainable tourism indicators. These are collected using visitor surveys, enterprise survey and resident surveys. The Observatory works with destination tourism committees, committees and stakeholders. The indicators provide a baseline to facilitate evidence informed planning to transition towards a sustainable tourism destination. The Observatory collaborates with local authorities, county councils, Failte Ireland. Experience shows that a higher education institute is well suited to develop and maintain an INSTO as they house the knowledge and resources to support the required work.
