


Measuring What Truly Matters
How do you measure a successful trip? Is it just about profit? Let's look deeper. What if we measured success by the number of new jobs for locals, the resurgence of a traditional craft, or the cleanliness of a river? This is about tracking the changes that genuinely improve people's lives and protect the planet, giving us a true picture of tourism's value. 💎

The Ripple Effect of Your Trip
Ever wonder how your vacation choices truly affect the place you're visiting? It's not just about the money you spend. Imagine a roadmap that starts with your visit and leads to stronger communities, healthier environments, and thriving local traditions. That's the idea: mapping out how tourism can create a cascade of positive change, ensuring that every visit contributes to the well-being of the destination.

The Leaky Bucket: Where Does Your Money Go?
Think of a local economy as a bucket. When you buy from local artisans, eat at family-owned restaurants, and stay in neighborhood inns, you fill that bucket. But when money flows to distant corporate headquarters, the bucket "leaks," and the community misses out. The goal is to plug those leaks, making sure the money you spend stays local to fix roads, support schools, and build a better place for residents and future visitors.
A different approach for positive social change
This document from Destination Canada introduces the concept of Social Return on Investment (SROI) in the tourism sector. It highlights SROI as a comprehensive approach to evaluating the social impacts of tourism activities. The document explains that SROI analysis is a new method for destination developers to understand, engage with, and measure the success of communities. It goes beyond a simple metric to provide a long-term perspective and support for stakeholder engagement.
A Guide for tourists, destination developers, community leaders, and tourism operators who want to:
- Understand the social impact of their tourism activities
- Engage with their communities in a meaningful way
- Measure the success of their initiatives beyond financial metrics
- Build a more resilient and adaptable tourism sector