Stakeholders’ Perspective in Sustainable Tourism: A Swedish Case Study

Cruise tourism is strongly growing and destinations have had a fivefold increase in tourists that go ashore. Investments in development of quays are done in several ports of call. The Brundtland Commission, 1987 meant that sustainable development includes economic growth but with protection of the environment’s quality. This paper was written within a larger interdisciplinary research programme, about how to create conditions for economic growth but with protection of the quality of the delicate environment in order to balance different spheres of interest.This paper aims to study perceptions of local residents about the development of a new quay for cruising ships. The residents are stakeholders, which is an important concept in quality-driven sustainability. What does a new quay for cruising ships mean to the residents? What consequences can be identified? Does the cruising season affect the residents’ quality of life?Within a qualitative research approach a survey based on a questionnaire was done. One delimitations in the data collection was made, i.e., residents in Visby, Gotland were asked to participate.The main results indicate that the respondents have several opinions about tourists in general but don’t see difference between e.g. tourists and cruising visitors. There were both positive and negative consequences emphasized by the respondents. One particular opinion mentioned by a majority of the respondents was that they think the new quay will bring income to Visby and Gotland.The major implication of the study is to show that visits at destinations also include the residents as stakeholders.