The demand for and supply of sustainable tourism in Ireland: towards the sustainable management of tourism destinations

摘要

Introduction: Tourism destinations need to adapt to changes in management. They cannot afford to ignore the issue of changes in the pattern of demand and the type of tourism they offerud(Tourism Sustainability Group, 2007). The sustainable management of tourismuddestinations is being consolidated at an international level. The indicator systems andudcriteria for the sustainable management of tourism destinations demonstrate a precedentudfor the management of tourism destinations globally. This is through the GlobaludSustainable Tourism Criteria for destinations (2012) and the European Commissions,udEuropean Tourism Indicator System (2013) for sustainable management at destinationudlevel. This research contributes new knowledge on the demand for and supply of sustainableudtourism in Ireland. It also seeks to improve our understanding on the sustainableudmanagement of tourism destinations. This chapter will set the scene for the remainder ofudthe thesis. A consideration of the contextual issues demonstrating the research intentudcommences this chapter. With this foundation in place, a presentation of the aims andudobjectives will follow, in addition to a discussion on the importance of this research andudits contribution to knowledge. The context of Irish tourism and its structure for theudsustainable management of tourism will consequently be examined. The chapter will beudconcluded with an overview of the thesis structure.