Sustainable development

"Tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities"

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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.

Reference: Making Tourism More Sustainable - A Guide for Policy Makers, UNEP and UN Tourism, 2005, p.11-12

COMMITTEE ON TOURISM AND SUSTAINABILITY (CTS) 

Biodiversity

The tourism sector is committed to halting and reversing biodiversity loss while promoting environmental conservation and restoration. It seeks to enhance people's well- being, livelihoods and economies, leveraging tourism's unique potential as an agent for positive change.

Biodiversity is vital for tourism and a healthy environment is a critical factor for the competitiveness of the tourism sector. The conservation efforts of many destinations depend largely on tourism revenues. Coasts, mountains, rivers, and forests are major attractions for tourists around the world.  Biodiversity lies at the heart of nature-based tourism products – such as wildlife watching, scuba diving or tourism in protected areas Tourism connects people with nature, it can foster environmental responsibility and conservation if pursued sustainably.

Over the years, UN Tourism has actively addressed biodiversity issues at various levels and contributed to the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)'s works. It has also participated in the CBD's discussions on tourism and biodiversity for various Conferences of the Parties (COPs), Guidelines on Biodiversity and Tourism Development. In 2004, the CBD Secretariat published the Guidelines on Biodiversity and Tourism Development, followed by the Tourism for Nature and Development: A Good Practice Guide in 2009, Tourism for Nature and Development: A Good Practice Guide to which UN Tourism contributed.

In 2010, in the context of the International Year of Biodiversity and the Tenth Conference of the Parties to the CBD, UN Tourism prepared the publication Biodiversity, Achieving Common Goals Towards Sustainability. In 2016, the CBD's COP13 Cancun Declaration on Mainstreaming the Conservation and Sustainable use of Biodiversity for Well-Being, supported by UN Tourism, recognized tourism as a driving force for change. It acknowledged the tourism sector as one of the major sectors of the global economy contributing to conservation and raising awareness about the importance of biodiversity.

UN Tourism actively participates in the UN Environment Management Group (EMG), a coordination body addressing international environmental issues. It has contributed to the 2021 Report Supporting the Global Biodiversity Agenda, a United Nations System Commitment for Action to assist Member States delivering on the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, as well as to the Environment Management Group’s Biodiversity Report and the UN Common Approach on Biodiversity and Nature-Based Solutions, among others.

NEW INITIATIVES

Nature Positive Travel and Tourism

At COP15 in Montreal, in December 2022, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), UN Tourism and the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance announced a new collaboration to unite public and private sectors towards a shared nature positive vision for travel and tourism to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. Signatories from the travel and tourism sector pledged to adopt a nature positive approach to tourism. This includes integrating biodiversity safeguards, reducing carbon emissions, mitigating the impact of pollution, curtailing the unsustainable use of resources, and protecting and restoring nature and wildlife. 

This new alliance aims to inspire and support governments, businesses, and civil society in implementing the Post-2020  Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), particularly Targets 14, 15, & 16, focused on mainstreaming, assessing and reducing impacts, and promoting sustainable use, respectively. As one of the primary instruments for the sustainable use of biodiversity, the travel and tourism sector plays a pivotal role in implementing the GBF.

A United Vision for Nature - 'Nature Positive' Report Marks New Collaborative Era in Travel & Tourism

Launched on 22 April, Earth Day 2024, “Nature Positive Travel & Tourism in Action” is the first joint outcome of the high-level Nature Positive Tourism Partnership as the sector’s pledge to support the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), the UN’s Biodiversity Plan.

The report presents more than 30 case studies of inspiring and progressive actions from around the world involving large and small businesses, national and local government agencies, civil society groups, and inter-sectoral partnerships.

By offering actionable guidance and insights, this report not only highlights the intrinsic link between biodiversity and tourism’s resilience, but also empowers businesses to become stewards of nature.

 

The integration of biodiversity in national tourism policies

Published on International Day of Biodiversity, the report "The Integration of Biodiversity in National Tourism Policies", explores the intricate relationship between the tourism sector and biodiversity, which encompasses the diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems. It assesses how 80 national tourism policies incorporate biodiversity values and aims to deepen the understanding of the references to biodiversity within these policies.

The report comprises four detailed subsections that examine the integration of biodiversity within policy narratives, policy statements, strategic programs, and commitments to monitoring. By providing insights into the breadth and depth of current integration efforts, it serves as a valuable resource for policymakers, stakeholders, and the global community, urging further action towards a sustainable future.