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United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Sustainable Development
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Sustainable tourism

Description

Tourism is one of the world's fastest growing industries and an important source of foreign exchange and employment, while being closely linked to the social, economic, and environmental well-being of many countries, especially developing countries. Maritime or ocean-related tourism, as well as coastal tourism, are for example vital sectors of the economy in small island developing States (SIDS) and coastal least developed countries (LDCs) (see also: The Potential of the Blue Economy report as well as the Community of Ocean Action on sustainable blue economy).

The World Tourism Organization defines sustainable tourism as “tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities".

Based on General assembly resolution 70/193, 2017 was declared as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development.

In the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development SDG target 8.9, aims to “by 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products”. The importance of sustainable tourism is also highlighted in SDG target 12.b. which aims to “develop and implement tools to monitor sustainable development impacts for sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products”.

Tourism is also identified as one of the tools to “by 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries” as comprised in SDG target 14.7.

In the Rio+20 outcome document The Future We want, sustainable tourism is defined by paragraph 130 as a significant contributor “to the three dimensions of sustainable development” thanks to its close linkages to other sectors and its ability to create decent jobs and generate trade opportunities. Therefore, Member States recognize “the need to support sustainable tourism activities and relevant capacity-building that promote environmental awareness, conserve and protect the environment, respect wildlife, flora, biodiversity, ecosystems and cultural diversity, and improve the welfare and livelihoods of local communities by supporting their local economies and the human and natural environment as a whole. ” In paragraph 130, Member States also “call for enhanced support for sustainable tourism activities and relevant capacity-building in developing countries in order to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development”.

In paragraph 131, Member States “encourage the promotion of investment in sustainable tourism, including eco-tourism and cultural tourism, which may include creating small- and medium-sized enterprises and facilitating access to finance, including through microcredit initiatives for the poor, indigenous peoples and local communities in areas with high eco-tourism potential”. In this regard, Member States also “underline the importance of establishing, where necessary, appropriate guidelines and regulations in accordance with national priorities and legislation for promoting and supporting sustainable tourism”.

In 2002, the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg called for the promotion of sustainable tourism development, including non-consumptive and eco-tourism, in Chapter IV, paragraph 43 of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation.

At the Johannesburg Summit, the launch of the “Sustainable Tourism – Eliminating Poverty (ST-EP) initiative was announced. The initiative was inaugurated by the World Tourism Organization, in collaboration with UNCTAD, in order to develop sustainable tourism as a force for poverty alleviation.

The UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) last reviewed the issue of sustainable tourism in 2001, when it was acting as the Preparatory Committee for the Johannesburg Summit.

The importance of sustainable tourism was also mentioned in Agenda 21.

For more information and documents on this topic, please visit this link

Displaying 16 - 30 of 56
Title Category Date
Mr. Hasan Almasi Session 3.1 15-Oct-2014
Mr. Ralph Wahnschafft, Senior Advisor, Sustainable Development Policies, Berlin, Germany… Session 3.1 15-Oct-2014
Mr. Mohammad Zahedi (ICHTO) Session 3.1 15-Nov-2014
Mr. Hitesh Metha, HM design, Kenya Session 2 15-Oct-2014
Ms. Fen Wei, Consultant, World Bank Session 2 15-Oct-2014
Mr. Duranga Silva, Sri Lanka Tourism Senior Lecturer and Coordinator of Tourism Studies,… Session 2 15-Oct-2014
The Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF): An Overview Session 1: Financing sustainable (eco)resort/hotel investments and developing the markets for (eco)tourism services 15-Oct-2013
Certification of Sustainable Tourism In Costa Rica Session 1: Financing sustainable (eco)resort/hotel investments and developing the markets for (eco)tourism services 3-Dec-2013
Certified Sustainability Session 1: Financing sustainable (eco)resort/hotel investments and developing the markets for (eco)tourism services 3-Dec-2013
Mr. Warner Andrada, Office of Tourism Development Planning, Department of Tourism,… Session 1 14-Oct-2014
Mr. Zahed Ghaderi (ICHTO) Session 1 14-Oct-2014
Ms. Tri Mumpuni and Mr. Iskandar Kuntoadji, Co-founders and Managing Directors, People-… Session 1 14-Oct-2014
Mr. Xu Jing, Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, United Nations World Tourism… Session 1 14-Oct-2014
Mr. Hamid Zagham (ICHTO) Session 1 14-Oct-2014
Mr. Alex A Kerr, Jr, Chiiori Trust, Kameoka-shi City, Japan Session 1 15-Oct-2014

Milestones

  • The Manila Declaration was adopted in 1980 and aimed at providing guidelines for the harmonious, balanced and equitable development of national and international tourism, inviting States to formulate and implement, as appropriate, their tourism policies, plans and programmes, in accordance with their national priorities and within the framework of the programme of work of the World Tourist Organization.
  • January 1980 World Tourism Day
    During its third session reunited in 1980, the UNWTO General Assembly established the World Tourism Day on 27th September because it coincided with the anniversary of the adoption of the UNWTO Statutes on 27 September 1970.
  • January 1975 1st WTO GA
    The first WTO General Assembly gathered in Madrid at the invitation of the ‎Spanish Government. Robert Lonati was appointed as the first WTO Secretary-‎General.‎ The General Assembly represents the supreme organ of UNWTO. Its ordinary sessions have been held every two years and have been attended by delegates from UNWTO, Full and Associate Members, as well as representatives from UNWTO Affiliate Members. The GA is seen as the most important global meeting of senior tourism officials and high-level ‎representatives of the private sector.