Effective governance is a key condition for the sustainable development of tourism destinations. It´s efficiency largely depends on inter-relationships between relevant actors in the sector, who through participatory processes are connected in the making of policies and decisions. For an evidence-based or evidence-informed decision-making process, the collection of data, deriving, inter alia, from sustainable tourism indicators, their transformation into subsequent information and knowledge, is crucial and shall help to improve tourism sustainability and competitiveness in a destination. 

However, the process of informing policy decisions is highly complex. It depends on various factors, ranging from the capacity to understand what the newly generated information means for the destination, to political, cultural, financial and other considerations that are influencing such.  

For the establishment of Observatories in general and for INSTO Observatories in particular, the participatory process is considered fundamental. The Rules for the Operation and Management of the UNWTO INSTO Observatories clearly outline the need to engage all relevant stakeholders through a participatory approach and involve them in the processes and decisions ensuring coherent action regarding, inter alia, the monitored issue areas as well as the selection of indicators and methodologies.  

PUBLICATIONS

PRESENTATIONS

OTHER RESOURCES