Transitie naar duurzaam toerisme: casus Waalweelde

The implementation of sustainable development is currently very challenging. Although some international examples, both in the private and the public sector show 'best practice' examples about the process of sustainable transition. In many cases the succesful story is based on the "Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development" (FSSD). In June 2009 the Province of Gelderland invited the Radboud University (RU) Nijmegen to investigate whether the FSSD approach (pure or modified) would be feasib…

The implementation of sustainable development is currently very challenging. Although some international examples, both in the private and the public sector show 'best practice' examples about the process of sustainable transition. In many cases the succesful story is based on the "Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development" (FSSD). In June 2009 the Province of Gelderland invited the Radboud University (RU) Nijmegen to investigate whether the FSSD approach (pure or modified) would be feasible for a sustainable development for a project called "Wealthy Waal" (in Dutch: WaalWeelde (WW)). This master thesis is focused on sustainable development within the tourism segment in Wealthy Waal. The research target is: Gaining insight in and an overview of the transition process towards sustainable development for the tourism segment in Wealthy Waal(Rhine-Waal). The research question is: If and how the tourism business in the area of WW can participate in a process towards sustainable development. With the FSSD approach the concept of The Natural Step (TNS) has several experiences with the approach of working with so called 'Community of Practice'. Based on Peter Senge, social learning and the learning environment enriched with Etienne Wenger's input on Community of Practice, in this research the focus was on investigating and if desirable and or possible composing a CoP for sustainable tourism within the Wealthy Waal area. As a metaphor we used a cano. The CoP members start building a cano to explore the river Waal, 80 Km to explore, to learn and to exchange visions and insights. The name of the cano is WAALME (this Dutch hybride word refers to indulge me, seduce me, inspire me, surprise me, fancy me, long for me, transport me, en-light me, tryust me, spoil me, translate me, tell me, touche me, adore me, expect me, collect me, enlarge me, refrech me, sustain me and sign about me.