Like all destinations worldwide, the Palestinian Territories are working on strategies to revitalise tourism after COVID-19 and are preparing for the return of tourists. To support this process, mascontour has developed COVID-19 standards for the tourism supply chain (e.g. transport, tour operators, tour guides, souvenir shops, street vendors, tourist attractions) in the Palestinian Territories on behalf of GIZ. They aim to ensure both safety at work and health protection for workers and travellers and are recognised by the local government as an official standard.
Author Sebastian D. Plötzgen (lead author); Matthias Beyer, Emilie Bitz, Layth Dajani, Trevor Girard, Dimitri Kashram, Bijan Khazai (content development)
Editor Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, GIZ
Year 2020
Matthias Beyer jointed the onTaP podcast of Time & Place Consulting and shared his thoughts on shaping post-crisis sustainable and resilient tourism business. He pointed out that we have to think beyond sustainability in the future! But listen for yourself in our podcast.
Author Glenn Cezanne (Host)
Editor onTaP
Year 2020
Matthias Beyer gave an interview to the trade journal touristik aktuell regarding the question "How to successfully sell sustainable travel?" He outlined that the demand as well as the supply of sustainable travel is constantly increasing, but that there is still a lack of awareness, competence and technical solutions to use this trend to the advantage of stationary travel sales.
Author Andre Hübner (touristik aktuell)
Source touristik aktuell, 03/2020
Year 2020
This guideline has been written to support students and graduates interested in setting up their own tourism business and employed individuals wishing to become entrepreneurs in the tourism/ hospitality sector. Part two of the booklet may also be relevant to individuals new to the industry who are managing or overseeing existing tourism businesses or potential small scale, international/ national investors and entrepreneurs interested in becoming stakeholders in Malawi’s tourism industry. The publication contains useful information on adequate market research and the development of a business plan, on the legal environment and prerequisites as well as on funding options and networking.
Author Elizabeth Bailie and Thomas Frommhold
Published by Malawi Tourism Council, Malawi Institute of Tourism
Year 2019
Kirsten Kohlhaw of Slow Food spoke with Diana Körner about how sustainable tourism can be put into practice.
Author Kirsten Kohlhaw (Interview with Diana Körner)
Published by Slow Food Magazin 03/2018
Year 2018
Since the 1990s, consumers have become increasingly environmentally conscious, critical and responsible. As a result, the demands made on tourism products have also risen: Dirty beaches, garbage in the sea or noisy hotel rooms are no longer accepted. Environmentally-friendly and healthy products, peace and safety are sought after. The article shows ways in which travel agencies can proactively communicate the topic of sustainability and successfully sell sustainable travel.
Author Roswitha M. Reisinger (Interview with Matthias Beyer)
Published by Business Art – Ideenschmiede für Nachhaltige Wirtschaftsmenschen 01/2017
Year 2017
The development of tourist destinations worldwide is increasingly oriented towards the guiding principle of sustainable development. The topic of sustainable tourism has also been discussed in Germany for around 30 years. Politicians, destinations and companies have taken a number of measures in the past to make tourism development in Germany more sustainable. The article contains the results of an exclusive online survey conducted by mascontour in cooperation with ITB Berlin, in which German tourism destinations nationwide were examined regarding sustainable tourism for the first time. The results of the study provide a current and comprehensive picture of the status quo and future need for action on sustainability in German tourism.
Authors Matthias Beyer, Thomas Frommhold
Published by Dagmar Lund-Durlacher, Matthias S. Fifka, Dirk Reiser (eds.) (2017): CSR und Tourismus – Handlungs- und branchenspezifische Felder. p. 301-314. Springer Gabler Verlag. ISBN: 978-3-662-53747-3
Year 2017
The article deals with current trends as well as the positive and negative aspects of tourism in developing countries and shows how (German) development cooperation uses tourism as an instrument for sustainable development. In this context, it also discusses existing challenges and recommends on how development cooperation can become even more effectively involved in tourism in the future.
Authors Matthias Beyer, Heike Dickhut, Diana Körner, Wolfgang Strasdas
Published by Michael von Hauff, Claudia Kuhnke (eds.) (2017): Sustainable Development Policy – A European Perspective. p. 181-205. Routledge Verlag. ISBN: 978-1-1-138-28499-9
Year 2017
In an exclusive online survey conducted by mascontour in cooperation with the ITB Berlin, German tourism destinations were examined regarding sustainable tourism for the first time. The study results provide a current and comprehensive picture of the status quo and future need for action on sustainability in German tourism.
Authors Matthias Beyer, Thomas Frommhold
Published by mascontour
Year 2015
Study Results (Short Version)
Summary of the Study Results
Figure Importance of Sustainability in Tourism
The handbook presents the diverse experiences of the past two decades in the field of sustainable tourism development in a practical way. In addition, it offers strategic, technical and methodological recommendations on how to deal with key challenges and questions that repeatedly arise in the context of tourism planning and the implementation of tourism projects in developing and emerging countries.
Author Matthias Beyer
Published by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
Year 2014
The study analyses existing capacities and potentials of environmentally-friendly technologies (solar energy, waste, sewage, energetic building refurbishment, etc.) in the tourism sector based on numerous destinations and companies in the upper Danube region in terms of status quo and transferability to countries of the middle and lower Danube.
Authors Thomas Frommhold, Matthias Beyer
Published by Donaubüro gemeinnützige GmbH
Year 2013
This best practice guide was prepared for The Travel Foundation, with support from the TreadRight Foundation and in close collaboration with Uniworld Boutique River Cruises. It is designed to support the river cruise industry around the world as it works towards a sustainable future. The best practices examples come from investigations on environmental performance and management carried out together with river cruise companies in Europe and Egypt. However, it is relevant to all river cruise operators, large and small, to help them start playing their part.
Author Hendrik Wintjen, Matthias Beyer
Editor The Travel Foundation
Year 2013
The article contains the results of a study comparing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategies and measures of ten international hotel groups with particular relevance for the European market.
Authors Xavier Font, Andreas Walmsley, Sara Cogotti, Lucy McCombes, Nicole Häusler
Published by “Tourism Management“ Journal
Year 2012
In hardly any other country tourism is growing as fast as in Myanmar. However, the rapid and largely uncontrolled development prompts fears that it will sooner or later lead to negative effects on people and the environment. The "Myanmar Responsible Tourism Policy" attempts to counteract this by providing policy-makers with an orientation framework for sustainable tourism development in Myanmar.
Authors Nicole Häusler, Achim Munz, Daw Kyi Kyi Aye, U Phyo Wai Yar Zar, Dörte Kasüske, Prof. Harold Goodwin
Published by Ministry of Hotels and Tourism of Myanmar, Myanmar Tourism Federation, Hanns-Seidel-Foundation
Year 2012
The article describes different sustainability approaches in tourism and shows where there are overlaps and differences.
Author Nicole Häusler
Published by Rural 21 (4/ 2011)
Year 2011
Using the hotel chain Jetwing in Sri Lanka as an example, the article shows how successfully tourism companies can cooperate with the local population and what advantages result from this for both sides.
Author Nicole Häusler
Published by Rural 21 (4/ 2011)
Year 2011
The guidelines illustrate to (canoe) tourism professionals, environmental associations as well as children’s and youth institutions how canoe tourism nature experience and environmental education offers can be professionally developed based on regional networks, especially for children and young people from underprivileged educational backgrounds.
Authors Matthias Beyer, Anja Gretzschel, Miriam Sannes
Published by Bundesvereinigung Kanutouristik e.V. (BKT) (today: Bundesverband Kanu e.V.)
Year 2010
The construction of second homes in attractive coastal locations has increased enormously globally over the past ten years. Nevertheless, this phenomenon hardly plays a role in the debate on sustainable tourism. Therefore, the article examines the socio-economic and ecological impacts of this development boom using the South Pacific coast of Nicaragua as an example.
Authors Xavier Matteucci, Dagmar Lund-Durlacher, Matthias Beyer
Published by Peter Keller, Thomas Bieger (eds.) (2008): Real Estate and Destination Development in Tourism – Successful Strategies and Instruments. International Tourism Research and Concepts No. 3, p. 149-161. Erich Schmidt Verlag. ISBN: 978-3-503-11088-9
Year 2008
The publication shows the thematic links between tourism and other fields of work and objectives of German development cooperation. It also contains proposals for a strategic framework for the future handling of tourism in German development cooperation.
Authors Matthias Beyer, Nicole Häusler, Wolfgang Strasdas
Published by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH (today: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH)
Year 2007
The brochure presents outstanding examples of German non-governmental organisations for sustainable development in the fields of the environment, nature conservation and transport. What all organisations have in common is that their activities promote the goals of sustainable tourism, develop their own offers and thus provide the tourism industry with important suggestions for the implementation of environmentally-compatible and socially-responsible tourism. They also contribute to consumer information and awareness.
Authors Matthias Beyer, Nicole Häusler
Published by Ökologischer Tourismus in Europa e.V.
Year 2007
The article outlines the main milestones in the debate on sustainable tourism and discusses the importance of sustainability in tourism promotion in developing countries as well as the role of development cooperation. In addition, the article deals with the question of the importance of “participation” in the implementation of tourism projects through development cooperation.
Author Matthias Beyer
Published by Heidi Weinhäupl, Margit Wolfsburger (eds.) (2006): Trauminseln? Tourismus und Alltag in "Urlaubsparadiesen". p. 127-152. Lit Verlag GmbH. ISBN: 978-3825886387
Year 2006
For about two decades, participation has been a key word in the development policy debate, and in practice it has become indispensable in any project proposal or report. In this respect, the publication shows ways and means of operationalising participation in the sense of sustainable development as an integral part of tourism development projects.
Author Matthias Beyer
Published by Studienkreis für Tourismus und Entwicklung e.V. (Schriftenreihe für Tourismus und Entwicklung)
Year 2003
The article deals with the importance of tourism in development cooperation and concludes that a comprehensive development policy strategy concept for the tourism sector is necessary to be able to provide effective support in developing countries.
Author Matthias Beyer
Published by Trialog 79 (4/2003). Zeitschrift für das Planen und Bauen in der Dritten Welt – Tourism and Development. IKO-Verlag für interkulturelle Kommunikation. p. 4-9.
Year 2003
The article is based on the thesis that the tourism value chain offers a multitude of opportunities to achieve long-term employment effects in developing countries and actively contribute to poverty reduction. However, one prerequisite is that tourism development is not purely profit- and growth-oriented, but rather that it takes social, cultural and ecological concerns, possible problem areas and influencing factors into account from the very beginning.
Author Matthias Beyer
Published by Zeitschrift Ökologisches Wirtschaften (4-2014). Schwerpunkt Green Economy in der Entwicklungszusammenarbeit. p. 25-26
Year 2014
In the conflicting areas between nature conservation and tourism, the real challenge is to protect nature from damage while making it possible for the general public to experience the value of nature through direct contact and facilitate access to natural resources. The article addresses the question of how to do justice to both sides.
Author Matthias Beyer
Published by Naturschutz heute – eine Frage der Gerechtigkeit? BfN-Skripten 355. p. 44-46
Year 2013
