Definition:
– Sustainable tourism is a complex concept with varied definitions.
– It has roots in sustainable development.
– A 2020 definition emphasizes maintaining viability over time while safeguarding the Earth’s life-support system.
– It covers economic, social, and environmental concerns.
– Aims to reduce negative effects of tourism activities.
Background:
– The UNWTO monitors Sustainable Development Goal 8 targets related to tourism.
– The SDGs are a blueprint for a sustainable future.
– Responsible tourism is strongly promoted.
– Initiatives for tourism in SDGs are being created, but gaps exist in knowledge sharing and policy.
– Targets on tourism are included in SDGs 8, 12, and 14.
Global goals:
– The UNWTO is the custodian agency for SDG 8 targets related to tourism.
– The SDGs aim for a sustainable and better future.
– Responsible tourism is encouraged.
– Initiatives for tourism in SDGs are being developed.
– Targets on tourism are included in SDGs 8, 12, and 14.
Comparison with conventional tourism and mass tourism:
– Tourism involves travel outside usual environments for various purposes.
– Continuous tourism growth stresses habitats and cultures.
– Conventional tourism has better infrastructure than remote locations.
– Remote areas develop facilities to accommodate tourists.
– Mass tourism involves large numbers of tourists with standardized experiences.
Related similar concepts:
– Responsible tourism leads to sustainable tourism.
– Backpacker tourism contributes to sustainability.
– All stakeholders are responsible for the type of tourism they engage in.
– Responsible tourism requires ethical planning and development.
– The Cent… (content cut off)
Sustainable tourism is a concept that covers the complete tourism experience, including concern for economic, social, and environmental issues as well as attention to improving tourists' experiences and addressing the needs of host communities. Sustainable tourism should embrace concerns for environmental protection, social equity, and the quality of life, cultural diversity, and a dynamic, viable economy delivering jobs and prosperity for all. It has its roots in sustainable development and there can be some confusion as to what "sustainable tourism" means. There is now broad consensus that tourism should be sustainable. In fact, all forms of tourism have the potential to be sustainable if planned, developed and managed properly. Tourist development organizations are promoting sustainable tourism practices in order to mitigate negative effects caused by the growing impact of tourism, for example its environmental impacts.
The United Nations World Tourism Organization emphasized these practices by promoting sustainable tourism as part of the Sustainable Development Goals, through programs like the International Year for Sustainable Tourism for Development in 2017. There is a direct link between sustainable tourism and several of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Tourism for SDGs focuses on how SDG 8 ("decent work and economic growth"), SDG 12 ("responsible consumption and production") and SDG 14 ("life below water") implicate tourism in creating a sustainable economy. According to the World Travel & Tourism Travel, tourism constituted "10.3 percent to the global gross domestic product, with international tourist arrivals hitting 1.5 billion marks (a growth of 3.5 percent) in 2019" and generated $1.7 trillion export earnings yet, improvements are expected to be gained from suitable management aspects and including sustainable tourism as part of a broader sustainable development strategy.