LITERATURE REVIEW
Nevertheless, it's important to review the literature. Here's
how the UK-based Travel Foundation defines sustainable tourism
Sustainable tourism is about making a positive difference when
we travel …
* Enjoying ourselves and taking responsibility for our actions
- respecting local cultures and the natural environment
* Giving fair economic returns to local families - helping
to spread the benefit of our visit to those who need it most
* Recognising that often water and energy are precious resources
that we need to use carefully
* Helping to protect endangered wildlife and preserve the natural
and cultural heritage of the places we visit
* Protecting and enhancing favourite destinations for the future
enjoyment of visitors and the people who live there
Source:
Travel Foundation
Here's the formal definition from the World
Tourism Organization.
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.
Source:
Sustainable Development of Tourism Conceptual Definition (WTO,
2004)
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