Sustainable development and assurances in Iceland: An Industry Point of View on the Role of Government

Abstract

This thesis investigates sustainable development and sustainability assurances and certifications, and the government's role in them through the perceptions of Icelandic tourism enterprises. The research addresses the question of “How do tourism enterprises in Iceland view sustainable development, the use of certification systems, and the government's role in them?”. The research is rooted in a previous study by the author and therefore uses an abductive approach to examine the question at hand. It is a qualitative study that utilizes data collected through in-depth interviews with five owners of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in various sectors of the Icelandic tourism industry. Additionally, this study examines a large number of previous literatures to provide a deep understanding of the topics of sustainable development, sustainable tourism, the use of sustainable assurances and certifications, and the role of government in sustainable tourism development. The study finds that while there seems to be a general understanding of sustainable tourism development among participants, with a particular focus on environmental sustainability - but confusion and lack of knowledge are still present about the concepts at hand. Examining the participants' lived experiences with, and perception of, sustainable certifications, a strong preference for processes and standards over certifications is presented. Limited resources of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the biggest influencer there, although all participants have a clear desire to engage in sustainable practices. As for the role of government, it is clear from this research that mandatory sustainability certifications and onerous requirements are unlikely to be successful should the government want to reach its goal of becoming a leader in sustainability. Although different opinions are offered by participants, it seems the role of the government should entail increased education about sustainability and a focus on supportive actions, particularly through infrastructure development. With this study, the author hopes to inform policymakers and other tourism stakeholders about the importance of the perspectives of small and medium-sized (SMEs) operating in tourism, as sustainability efforts and assurances move increasingly from voluntary to mandatory, to ensure longevity, prosperity, and sustainability for all tourism stakeholders

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A master thesis from Aalborg University

Sustainable development and assurances in Iceland: An Industry Point of View on the Role of Government