WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE TOURISM?
What is Sustainable Tourism? Sustainable tourism refers to sustainable practices within and by the tourist sector. It is a goal to acknowledge all aspects of tourism, both positive and harmful. It seeks to reduce negative repercussions while maximizing beneficial ones.
What is Sustainable Tourism?
Negative effects on a destination include economic leakage, environmental degradation, and overpopulation, to mention a few.
Job development, cultural heritage preservation and interpretation, wildlife preservation, landscape restoration, and other benefits are all positive for a destination.
The UN Environment Programme and the United Nations World Tourism Organization define sustainable tourism as "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."
Furthermore, they state that sustainable tourism "refers 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" (UNEP & UNWTO, 2005: 11-12). Making Tourism More Sustainable: A Guide for Policymakers.
Explanation of Ecological Tourism:
Ecotourism is a type of tourism that takes place in natural settings. The word originated in the late 1980s.
Fennell defined ecotourism as "a sustainable form of natural resource-based tourism that focuses primarily on experiencing and learning about nature, and is ethically managed to be low-impact, non-consumptive, and locally-oriented." It often happens in natural places. It should help to conserve or preserve such regions" (Fennell, 1999: 43, Ecotourism: An Introduction).
The Mohonk Agreement (2000) proposed international certification for Sustainable Tourism and Ecotourism, defining ecotourism as "sustainable tourism with a natural area focus, which benefits the environment and communities visited, and fosters environmental and cultural understanding, appreciation, and awareness."
The Global Ecotourism Network (GEN) defines ecotourism as "responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people, and creates knowledge and understanding through interpretation and education of all involved."
Guidelines for Responsible Tourism:
Individual travelers who strive to make decisions consistent with sustainable tourism practices are called responsible tourists. When visiting a tourist site, the actions mainly revolve around limiting negative effects and enhancing pleasant ones.
Travelers interested in learning more about how to be a responsible traveler may visit the GSTC website's For Travelers section.
- Ecotourism is a type of tourism that takes place in natural settings.
- Sustainable tourism does not relate to a single type of tourism, but rather to the hope that the effects of all types of tourism will be sustainable for future generations.
- Responsible travel refers to the behavior and style of individual travelers. The habits correlate with having a good influence on the destination rather than a negative one.
Sustainable Tourism and the General Services Commission Criteria:
The GSTC Criteria are the global criteria for sustainability in travel and tourism. The Criteria are used for educational and awareness purposes. They are used for policymaking, measuring, and evaluation purposes, and as a foundation for certification.
They are the product of a global effort to create a shared language for sustainability in tourism. They are classified into four pillars.
- (A) Sustainable management.
- (B) socioeconomic implications.
- (C) cultural impacts.
- (D) environmental consequences.
These guidelines are based on decades of preceding effort by industry professionals throughout the world. They received extensive consultation during the development process in both developed and developing nations. They represent our objective of achieving worldwide consensus on sustainable tourism.
The criteria were developed following the ISEAL Alliance's standards-setting charter. The ISEAL Alliance is an international organization that assists in the management of sustainability standards across all industries. That code is based on applicable ISO standards.
Finally, the GSTC Criteria serve as a baseline for enterprises, governments, and destinations to strive for. Each tourist location has its own unique culture, atmosphere, customs, and regulations. As a result, the Criteria are intended to be tailored to local conditions and augmented with extra criteria for each place and activity.
Know More About Sustainable Tourism:
Reading just one article isn't enough. The GSTC website provides materials for anyone who wants to learn more about sustainable tourism.
- For Hotels & Accommodations
- For Tour Operators
- For Governments & Destinations
- For Corporate and Business Travel
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