Closing the circularity gap in tourism through policy co-design

Currently, only 7.9% of Northern Ireland’s (NI) economy is circular, meaning NI is using substantially more natural resources than it can regenerate each year (DfE, 2022). The continual disregard for the environment suggests that the current linear system is outdated, with interest peaked towards a circular system (Andersen, 2007; Zhong et al., 2011). The circular economy is also gaining traction in policy, with China, Japan and Germany paving the way for more sustainable development through the SDGs (Ogunmakinde, 2019). “The Circularity Gap” – a NI Department for the Economy (DfE) report identifies the tourism industry as one of the most offending culprits of linearity and contributing to environmental degradation (DAERA, 2019; DfE, 2022). However, the report also recommends that individual sectors take action and responsibility.
As part of a wider PhD project, this research aims to understand NI’s approach towards tourism circularity. Therefore, a qualitative content analysis of 25 NI policy documents was carried out, using themes developed from the literature review. These policy documents relate to the tourism industry and the circular economy. The findings highlight mutual themes such as value creation and stakeholder collaboration. However, they also demonstrate a disconnect at all policy levels regarding the implementation of a circular economy and the tourism industry’s development. The DfE have since published a – “Circular Economy Strategy”- which highlights tourism as one of four focus areas for circular economy implementation. Yet, once again it does not provide specific guidance for the tourism industry, despite the call for a “fit-for-purpose policy framework” to encourage a circular tourism industry in NI (DfE, 2022, p.87; DfE, 2023). To align with circular tourism literature, further research recommendations include uncovering the barriers and enablers for the NI tourism industry in achieving a circular economy, as well as the development of a tourism circularity conceptual framework for NI and other comparable destinations.

References:
Andersen, M.S. (2007) An introductory note on the environmental economics of the circular economy. Sustainability Science, 2 (1), 133–140.
DAERA (2019) Northern Ireland’s top environmental concerns revealed. Available from: https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/news/northern-irelands-top-environmental-concerns-revealed [Accessed Dec 19, 2023].
Department for the Economy (2022) The Circularity Gap Report Northern Ireland | Department for the Economy. Available from: https://www.economy-ni.gov.uk/publications/circularity-gap-report-northern-ireland [Accessed Feb 6, 2023].
DfE (2023) Draft Circular Economy Strategy for Northern Ireland: Public Consultation Response Report. Northern Ireland: DfE. Available from: https://www.economy-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/economy/Draft-Circular-Economy-Strategy-NI-Public-Consultation-Response-Report.pdf [Accessed Sept 29 2023].
Ogunmakinde, O.E. (2019) A Review of Circular Economy Development Models in China, Germany and Japan. Recycling, 4 (3),
Zhong, L., Deng, J., Song, Z. and Ding, P. (2011) Research on environmental impacts of tourism in China: Progress and prospect. Journal of environmental management, 92 (11), 2972–2983.