Environmental awareness, action and performance in the Guernsey hospitality sector

Abstract

This paper examines knowledge of and attitudes to environmental protection techniques and sustainable development and the nature of action taken to adopt the former to move towards the latter in a study of the existing Guernsey hospitality sector, a survey of which concentrates on the value added services it produces. An indication is given of the hospitality sector's current practice with regard to environmental performance in terms of materials and energy used and waste generation in existing premises as opposed to new development. The likelihood of what changes might be introduced to effect environmental protection is also explored. It is argued that given the evidence of their current attitudes, management strategies and methods, businesses are more likely to incorporate environmental objectives and practice if it can be demonstrated that benefits in the form of lower costs and/or higher revenues and profits result. Some key reasons for inaction are highlighted and the implications for the ways in which central and local governments, public sector bodies and the business sector itself can encourage sustainable development (SD) initiatives by individual enterprises are offered from a largely economic standpoint.