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Sustainable Tourism: Definition
Tourism is one of the world's largest
industries and one of its fastest growing economic sectors. It
has a multitude of impacts, both positive and negative, on people's
lives and on the environment.
"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."
(UNWTO, 2004).
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