Social Return on Investment in the Tourism Sector

Social Return on Investment in the Tourism Sector

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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.

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