Building better communities, creating sustainable tourism
Tourism was once all about what visitors wanted, with little concern about its impact on local people, culture, or the environment. But now, Terrilyn Kunopaski is working to empower communities to use their voice to lead tourism development.Â
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For more than a decade, Terrilyn Kunopaski has held various positions across the tourism industry—as a storyteller, consultant, and organizational leader— which opened her eyes to the power of tourism when approached as a collaborative community initiative.Â
During the global pandemic of 2020, no one could have imagined the substantial restrictions and closures tourism would face, nor the rippling consequences it would have across the sector. At the time, Terrilyn was consulting at a firm that handled international tourism as part of its portfolio. As travel reached a standstill, the business could only watch as a portion of revenue disappeared.
Forgoing concerns associated with the pandemic, many industry professionals were still eager to see travel resume. Through LinkedIn posts and an open letter directed at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the premiers, certain people within the industry began pushing for Canada to ease border restrictions after months of lockdowns in time for the summer high travel season.
While Terrilyn understood people's dependence on the industry and their interest in getting travel back up and running, she could not help but think about some of the communities that would be tasked with welcoming visitors back. "I was thinking about the people on the ground in some countries where we were campaigning to travel to; those who most engage with visitors, who are largely underpaid, who are primarily racialized women, who were then going to show up to work to serve tables or clean rooms and risk getting sick. For the sake of other people's pleasure? It wasn't adding up to me," Terrilyn said.  Â
During these turbulent times, more and more examples emerged of how tourism often came at the cost of communities, centering on the needs and wants of visitors.
Wanting to take a different approach, Terrilyn looked to be a part of a movement in the tourism sector that values people, places, and the planet.
Moving the needle
Accepting the role of tourism manager for a municipality just outside of Toronto, Terrilyn was optimistic that it would be the perfect opportunity to demonstrate how tourism could be developed using a community-led approach. Trying to implement this strategy on a local level, she believed its results could ripple regionally, provincially, nationally, and even internationally.
However, Terrilyn realized that she wanted to move beyond the typical 9-5.
"When I was in this role, there was this 'aha' moment when I was completely unhappy. I was burnt out," Terrilyn shared. "I realized I wanted to take control of my time, I wanted to take control of how I invest my energy, and I wanted to be showing up every day in a space where I felt like I was moving the needle on something." After realizing this, Terrilyn took the leap that had been lingering in the back of her mind for a long time: starting her own company.  Â
tante was born
Ready to take a new direction in life, Terrilyn founded tante consulting inc., aligning her passion for consulting with her desire to support business owners and communities.
Seeing her business as a reflection of herself, Terrilyn chose a name that mirrored her values and the work she would do. The name 'tante,' inspired by Terrilyn's "favorite job in the world" as an auntie, parallels being a consultant. As shared on the tante website, "It means being a positive influence on [clients'] growth and evolution. It means caring for them as though they are my own but understanding where my responsibilities begin and end. With this in mind, the name seemed apt for this business; we're here to lead, guide, support, and care for our clients."
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At the core of tante's values are community and collaboration. Terrilyn strives to connect with like-minded individuals—as collaborators and clients—who share her values and are committed to building a better tourism sector. Â
Giving communities channels to advocate for their needs
Constantly hearing buzzwords like 'sustainable' and 'regenerative tourism,' Terrilyn saw firsthand how businesses weren't following through on these promises; she observed many industry practitioners using these terms for marketing without the tangible follow-through. "When it comes to responsible tourism development, I'm trying to practice giving the power to the communities," Terrilyn shares.
However, she acknowledges that this approach is not without its challenges. It requires bringing people together, asking questions to understand the community's needs, desires, and vision, and then giving them the tools, resources, and strategies they need to embody it themselves. tante consulting is committed to supporting communities in this process, providing guidance and expertise to overcome these challenges and achieve their tourism development goals.
Whether it's through projects such as branding, tourism strategy, storytelling, tante focuses on thorough engagement by creating comfortable and inclusive avenues for community members to share their ideas and frustrations.
tante's approach to community engagement is not just about gathering data, but about creating a space where every voice is heard and valued. Through focus groups, workshops, and unconventional sessions, tante strives to remove barriers and foster greater participation. This inclusive approach ensures that the community's needs and aspirations are accurately represented, making them an integral part of the sustainable tourism development process.
With this participatory engagement, tante strives to paint an accurate picture of the community needs so they can share their findings with clients who can work towards implementing the recommendations. "We're just the curators of the story and package it up nicely," said Terrilyn.  Â
Community-led prosperity
Terrilyn emphasizes the need for Canadians to consider the true cost of tourism, including its impact on community, climate, equity, and decolonization. She advocates for a model of 'community-led prosperity' in tourism planning and storytelling. This approach empowers communities to reclaim their space and share it with visitors in a way they have defined, leading to a more equitable and sustainable tourism sector.
The impacts of community-centered tourism development are not just immediate, but also long-lasting. By empowering residents, supporting local businesses, and stimulating economic growth, this approach paves the way for a sustainable future. Tourists can take heart in the fact that these efforts align with the values and goals of the community, ensuring a prosperous and welcoming destination for years to come.
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