Written by BETH ALTRINGER
IET's 2005 Research Fellow

Photo Credits:  Jim Dearmore

This research paper was funded through the
Institute of Ecotourism's Conservation Fellows

INTRODUCTION BRIEF:

The precarious balance between economic growth and prosperity, quality of life and environmnetal sustainability has long been an idealized community goal... But without careful attention to the balance between economic growth, community vitality and environmental integrity, an area's prolific success in tourism may quickly erode the natural beauty and charm that originally attracted visitors and their vital economic support...  Mountain resort towns like Sedona, AZ, as they currently exist, run the risk of becoming overrrun in the long-term by their very success as tourist destinations... In long-term destination planning, there are few winners and much to be gained by a cooperative approach to community decision-making using a balanced model addressing each of the three interdependent areas of sustainability: economics, environment and community

The idea of sustainability has become a buzzword of the 21st Century, attracting the attention of forward-thinking professionals in government, non-profit organizations, academia and business. The key principle of sustainability is a balanced consideration of three critical dimensions:  economic growth and/or prosperity, active environmental awareness, and community quality of life/social vitality... 

This research aims to provide salient applied information and develop a model for effective decision-making that balances environmental, economic and community effects of tourism development in Sedona, Arizona. this model is designed to enable all relevant stakeholders to understand the importance of balanced decision-making and cooperation in working toward a shared long-term and sustainable vision...

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