Find here the contents shared in our April 2023 thematic newsletter
Editorial of April 25, 2023
At TouriScope, we value continuous learning in all its forms. Some of our Girl Scouts are attending university. I myself am on an internship, as part of a master's degree in business administration. Our colleague Florine particularly enjoyed her course of communication and social acceptability this semester and she gave us the idea to tell you about it! To move forward more quickly with our projects or for other reasons, we may sometimes take their social acceptability for granted. It is only when we encounter opposition that we become aware of these issues. These debates are often transposed into the media. Listening to these criticisms and concerns can stimulate creativity and greatly improve the project. That is why public participation is desirable. After all, it is our communities that receive tourists in their homes. Expressing their opinion is therefore very legitimate!
For large-scale territorial approaches, it is not possible to articulate a vision and a mobilizing project without involving all the actors concerned. At TouriScope, we always advise our customers to seek the participation of stakeholders and to adapt their approaches. In fact, one of our three values is sharing. Internally too, our leadership style is participatory, empathetic, and non-hierarchical. This results in an atmosphere of collaboration and a great energy that we wish you all!
P.s. We wish you a happy Tourism week !
Social acceptability is the result of a collective judgment about a project, plan, or policy. To obtain a positive judgment, the parties concerned must jointly build the minimum conditions to be put in place for harmonious integration into the environment. Social acceptability does not mean unanimity, but it is also not a simple majority of support if the project harms vulnerable groups, for example. Public involvement, on the other hand, refers to the active participation of citizens in decision-making processes that affect their communities. In many cases, social acceptability and public participation are closely intertwined, as public opinion - locally, regionally, or nationally - determines what is socially acceptable. This can change at any time if new elements are revealed.
A new face at Touriscope!
Elise Delaplace : Trainee tourism lightkeeper. Master's degree in Tourism Development at the University of ISTHIA in Toulouse, France. Her dynamic attitude, her involvement and his thirst for learning will be assets for our team over the coming months.
Original TouriScope article
Consulting residents, a must today!
In a sustainable and responsible tourism development approach, the resident population of a territory is considered as a legitimate stakeholder to be concerned about. Surveys, discussion groups and public consultations are different ways to get their opinion in order to guide tourism development and ensure the social acceptability of an activity or project. In This article, discover how Touriscope goes about its mandates, what questions to ask as well as inspiring international examples.
Elsewhere on the web
A comprehensive guide to setting up socially acceptable projects
The Quebec Business Council for the Environment proposes a comprehensive guide that answers a lot of questions. What is social acceptability? How to assess it? What influences it? How to promote it? All accompanied by examples of good practices in relationships with the community, communication and public participation. To download and consult frequently to carry out your projects successfully!
Active citizenship for the future of mountain territories
Here is an example very inspiring in France. The desire to involve the entire population in the definition of regional guidelines has led Occitanie to develop a vast public consultation mechanism. The local population gives their opinion on various issues or questions, ranging from language issues to biodiversity or education. Among these themes, a particularly topical consultation body has been set up: the Mountain Parliament. Through this mechanism, the main guidelines were defined in the Plan Montagne d'Occitanie, Terres de Vie 2018-2025. In addition to the consultations, residents also actively participated through the participatory budgeting aimed at financing projects in mountainous territories based on votes.
An example of participatory governance on the North Shore!
Do you know the Manicouagan-Uapishka Biosphere Reserve? Here is an inspiring example of an organization that cares about citizen participation. It is a biosphere reserve designated by UNESCO located in Quebec, recognized for its unique geological characteristics and innovative collaborative approaches. The organization also includes the Uapishka station site and MU Tips.
The reserve follows the principle of inclusiveness, ensuring that diverse perspectives and knowledge are taken into account in planning and management initiatives, which is key to public participation. Education and awareness-raising programs are in place to engage the public and enable them to understand the importance of biodiversity conservation, as well as the sustainable management of resources. In particular, the participation of the Innu community of Pessamit in monitoring and research activities on the territory of the Uapishka biodiversity reserve is encouraged, which gives them the means to contribute actively to scientific and management efforts.
Our projects
Conservation and sustainable tourism at Mont Rigaud
In collaboration with Nature Action Quebec, we have been working for several months on the realization of a new master plan for conservation and sustainable tourism development for Mont Rigaud, in Montérégie. The mountain faces numerous development pressures, and local actors are committed to offering a vision of the future that will arouse popular support and preserve this local jewel for the benefit of future generations. This is why various consultation activities with the population and local actors were organized by Nature-Action Québec. As in all our mandates, we pay attention to the social acceptability of our proposals. It is part of our commitment to be a responsible consulting company. Revise our CSR commitment here.
Our services
Do you have a tourism project?
Touriscope, in collaboration with other specialized partners, can help you! Learn more about our services here
- Market study
- (pre) feasibility study
- Study of opportunities and development potentials
- Etc.
Another need? Contact us, we will be happy to discuss it!
Featured image: Pixabay on Pexels.com
POSTED
4/25/2023