Background:Promoting Sustainable Tourism
Background Guide: Promoting Sustainable Tourism
Tourism is a multi-billion dollar industry and brings great economic benefit to local communities. SWhile there are many definitions for sustainable tourism, the World Tourism Organization defines it as
Tourism that establishes a suitable balance between the environmental, economic and socio-cultural aspects of tourism development and plays an important role in conserving biodiversity. It attempts to minimize its impact on the environment and local culture so that it will be available for future generations, while contributing to generate income, employment, and the conservation of local ecosystems.
The United Nations has even established an office dedicated to tourism around the world. The UNWTO helps countries develop plans for creating sustainable tourism practices, particulalry ensuring the natural and cultural environment is protected in a way that can be enjoyed for years to come. Because tourism is a major source of jobs and revenue, it's important to ensure that jobs (including leadership, technical and entreprenuerial opportunities) are accessible to local people, including women, marginalized populations and people with disabilities.
The United Nations has also estimated that the tourism industry account for 7% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, primarily from transportation/air travel. Making tourism sustainable includes address issue of transportation and infastructure also.
Questions:
How can tourism raise awareness and support protection of our world's natural and manmade wonders?
How can jobs in the tourism industry support local populations and improve their economic prosperity?
What role can the United Nations play in helping countries develop sustainable tourism?
How can we reduce greenwashing in the tourism industry?
Background Information:
Start here! The UN World Trade Organization's website has a ton of great information, including issues related to innovation in the tourism industry, investment and the use of digital resources, ways that tourism can be developed so that they are ethical and culturally and socially responsible. There are lots of statistics and casestudies on this website. (Website Link.)
Tourism Dashboard: Want to know how your country is doing in the tourism industry? How it's recovering since the start of Covid-19? The UNWTO hosts many dashboards full of stastics so it's a good place to look for regional/country specific information. (Dashboard Link)
Tourism for SDGs: Tourism can impact many different SDGs. This website looks at Tourism through the lens of sustainability and has lots of links, reports and studies to explore. (Website Link)
VIDEO: Examples of Sustainble Tourism! This two minute video provides a summary: https://youtu.be/9GrTRA3BBRU.
Articles to Check Out:
The Positives and Negatives of Sustainable Tourism: This article is a great resource that lists positive benefits of sustainable tourism as well as some of the negative consequences that can arise. Use this article to help you see both sides of the issue. Article Link.
Investment in Sustainable Tourism: The UN is recommending additional investment in this important economic sector. Article link.
World Tourism Report 2022: This is a longer report, but towards the end you will find regional case studies and highlights that will help with your country research. Article Link.
