"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"
Sustainable tourism development guidelines and management practices are applicable to all forms of tourism in all types of destinations, including mass tourism and the various niche tourism segments. Sustainability principles refer to the environmental, economic, and socio-cultural aspects of tourism development, and a suitable balance must be established between these three dimensions to guarantee its long-term sustainability.
Thus, sustainable tourism should:
- Make optimal use of environmental resources that constitute a key element in tourism development, maintaining essential ecological processes and helping to conserve natural heritage and biodiversity.
- Respect the socio-cultural authenticity of host communities, conserve their built and living cultural heritage and traditional values, and contribute to inter-cultural understanding and tolerance.
- Ensure viable, long-term economic operations, providing socio-economic benefits to all stakeholders that are fairly distributed, including stable employment and income-earning opportunities and social services to host communities, and contributing to poverty alleviation.
Sustainable tourism development requires the informed participation of all relevant stakeholders, as well as strong political leadership to ensure wide participation and consensus building. Achieving sustainable tourism is a continuous process and it requires constant monitoring of impacts, introducing the necessary preventive and/or corrective measures whenever necessary.
Sustainable tourism should also maintain a high level of tourist satisfaction and ensure a meaningful experience to the tourists, raising their awareness about sustainability issues and promoting sustainable tourism practices amongst them.
Reference: Making Tourism More Sustainable - A Guide for Policy Makers, UNEP and UN Tourism, 2005, p.11-12
COMMITTEE ON TOURISM AND SUSTAINABILITY (CTS)
Biodiversity
UN Tourism strives to promote tourism development that supports, in equal measure, the conservation of biodiversity, the social welfare and the economic security of the host countries and communities.
Biodiversity
Climate Action
Tourism is both highly vulnerable to climate change while at the same time contributing to it.Threats for the sector are diverse, including direct and indirect impacts such as more extreme weather events, increasing insurance costs and safety concerns, water shortages, biodiversity loss and damage to assets and attractions at destinations, among others.
Climate Action
Global Tourism Plastics Initiative
The problem of plastic pollution in tourism is too big for any single organisation to fix on its own. To match the scale of the problem, changes need to take place across the whole tourism value chain.
Global Tourism Plastics Initiative
Hotel Energy Solutions (HES)
Hotel Energy Solutions (HES) is a UN Tourism-initiated project in collaboration with a team of United Nations and EU leading agencies in Tourism and Energy.
Hotel Energy Solutions (HES)
Observatories (INSTO)
The UN Tourism International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (INSTO) is a network of tourism observatories monitoring the economic, environmental and social impact of tourism at the destination level.
INSTO
One Planet
When responsibly planned and managed, tourism has demonstrated its capacity to support job creation, promote inclusive social integration, protect natural and cultural heritage, conserve biodiversity, generate sustainable livelihoods and improve human wellbeing. As the sector is experiencing tremendous growth, collective efforts to ensure its long-term sustainability are essential.
One Planet
Resource Efficiency in Tourism
The report aims to inspire stakeholders and encourage them to advance the implementation of the SDGs through sustainable tourism.
Resource Efficiency in Tourism
Small Islands Developing States (SIDS)
Small Island Developing States face numerous challenges. For a significant number, their remoteness affects their ability to be part of the global supply chain, increases import costs - especially for energy - and limits their competitiveness in the tourist industry. Many are increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change - from devastating storms to the threat of sea level rise.
Small Islands Developing States (SIDS)
Travel facilitation
Travel facilitation of tourist travel is closely interlinked with tourism development and can be a tool to foster increased demand and generate economic development, job creation and international understanding.
Travel facilitation
UNGA Sustainable Tourism Resolutions
The UN Tourism is regularly preparing reports for the General Assembly of the United Nations providing updates on sustainable tourism policies both from UN Tourism member States and States Members of the United Nations, as well as relevant agencies and programmes of the United Nations system.
UNGA Sustainable Tourism Resolutions
FAQs
"Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."
What are sustainable development question answers? ›
The Brundtland Report defined sustainable development as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.
What are the 17 sustainable development goals and their meaning essay? ›
The short titles of the 17 SDGs are: No poverty (SDG 1), Zero hunger (SDG 2), Good health and well-being (SDG 3), Quality education (SDG 4), Gender equality (SDG 5), Clean water and sanitation (SDG 6), Affordable and clean energy (SDG 7), Decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), Industry, innovation and infrastructure ...
Why is sustainability no longer enough? ›
Sustainability is not enough
Sustainability focuses on maintaining the current state of the environment and society, which implies that we are striving for a status-quo. But this won't protect the future of our planet and our species.
What is sustainability answers? ›
Sustainability is ability to maintain or support a process over time. Sustainability is often broken into three core concepts: economic, environmental, and social. Many businesses and governments have committed to sustainable goals, such as reducing their environmental footprints and conserving resources.
What is sustainable development one word answer? ›
Sustainable development can be defined as an approach to the economic development of a country without compromising with the quality of the environment for future generations.
How do you explain sustainable development? ›
Fast Facts – What is Sustainable Development? Sustainable development is how we must live today if we want a better tomorrow, by meeting present needs without compromising the chances of future generations to meet their needs. The survival of our societies and our shared planet depends on a more sustainable world.
How do you answer sustainability questions? ›
This may seem like a simple question, but to answer it would require an agreement of what sustainability means to your organization. To set a sustainability program in place, define what components it is comprised of and be ready to defend how it supports your organization's overall mission.
What is sustainable development goals short answer? ›
Section navigation. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aim to transform our world. They are a call to action to end poverty and inequality, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy health, justice and prosperity.
Why is sustainable development important? ›
we can ensure a balanced and prosperous future for all By embracing sustainable practices. It allows us to preserve the environment, protect biodiversity, mitigate climate change, eradicate poverty, promote social inclusivity, and foster long-term economic growth.
Providing access to clean drinking water and nutritious food. Protecting the environment from damage due to human activities. Planning smart infrastructure so that the population can be managed properly. Responsible use of information technology to support sustainable development.
What prevents sustainable development from happening? ›
Social Barriers
The world's largest societal hurdles to attaining sustainable development are population increase and unsustainable consumption and production practices among the wealthy. Sustainability will not be possible without a fundamental shift in human behaviour.
What is the biggest sustainability issue? ›
What are the biggest sustainability threats?
- Climate Change. Climate change is widely seen as the biggest challenge of our age. ...
- Biodiversity Loss. ...
- Pollution. ...
- Drought and water scarcity. ...
- Resource Depletion. ...
- Deforestation.
Our increasing and inefficient use of resources has knock-on effects including climate change, loss of biodiversity, pollution, poor health and poverty. These issues are interlinked and in turn often exacerbate each other.
What are the three main challenges of sustainability? ›
These include climate change, the depletion of non-renewable natural resources and environmental degradation in general.
What is sustainable development goals answer? ›
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aim to transform our world. They are a call to action to end poverty and inequality, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy health, justice and prosperity.
What can you say about sustainable development? ›
Sustainable development is how we must live today if we want a better tomorrow, by meeting present needs without compromising the chances of future generations to meet their needs. The survival of our societies and our shared planet depends on a more sustainable world. It's a bit of a juggling act.
What is the conclusion of sustainable development? ›
Sustainable development meets present needs without compromising the future. It requires holistic, systems-thinking about environmental, social, and economic limitations. Governments must lead the sustainability transition through policy, incentives and investment.
What is the strategy of sustainable development answer? ›
Meeting the needs of the present and future generations through sustainable and equitable use of resources, without causing any damage to the environment. Preventing further damage to the life-support systems, and. Conserving and nurturing biodiversity and other resources for food security for a long time.
