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Sustainable tourism
Sustainable development seeks to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It requires preserving ecological balance, respecting environmental limits, and ensuring rational use of resources. The concept has evolved since the 1970s, with key milestones including the UN Stockholm Conference in 1972, the Brundtland Commission report in 1987 defining sustainable development, and the Rio Earth Summit in 1992 establishing principles of sustainable development.
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Sustainable tourism
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- 2. • Development whichseeks to produce sustainable economic growth while ensuring future generations’ ability to do the same by not exceeding the regenerative capacity of the nature. In other words it is trying to protect the environment
- 3. • This ispossible in particular via measures to protect the quality of the environment, and by the restoration, development, and maintenance of habitats that are essential to species. • This implies the sustainable management of the use of the animal and plant populations being exploited. • In other words, it is the rational management of human, natural, and economic resources that aims to satisfy the essential needs of humanity in the very long term.
- 4. • Sustainable developmentimplies the fulfilment of several conditions: preserving the overall balance, respect for the environment, and preventing the exhaustion of natural resources. • Reduced production of waste and the rationalisation of production and energy consumption must also be implemented. • Sustainable development is presented as a more or less clean break from other modes of development, which have led and are still leading to worrying social and ecological damage on both a worldwide and a local scale.
- 5. Evolution • Faced withthe over-exploitation of natural resources that accompanied economic and demographic growth, the think tank known as the Club of Rome, created in 1968, advocated zero growth. • This group unites scientists, economists, national and international civil servants, and industrialists from 53 countries. • It considers the complex problems that face all societies, whether industrialized or developing.
- 6. • In 1971,this private international association sounded an urgent alarm by publishing ‘The Limits to Growth’. Broadly speaking, it presents current economic development as being incompatible with the long-term protection of the planet.
- 7. • The UnitedNations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm in 1972 gave birth to the first true notion of sustainable development, which was called ‘eco development’ in those days. • This founding conference was held in an atmosphere of conflict between the ecology and the economy.
- 8. • This wouldresult in the creation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). • In 1980, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) published its world conservation strategy. This document is one of the original sources of the expression ‘sustainable development’, which is ‘développement durable’
- 9. • The term‘sustainable development’ remained virtually unnoticed until its revival in the Gro Harlem Brundtland report 'Our common future', published in 1987. • As the Prime Minister of Norway and the chair of the World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) at the time, she aimed to clarify this concept of sustainable development as ‘development that fulfils the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to fulfil theirs’. • Since then, the concept of sustainable development has been accepted all over the world.
- 11. • Environmentally:- sustainabletourism has a low impact on natural resources, particularly in protected areas. It minimizes damage to the environment (flora, fauna, habitats, water, living marine resources, energy use, contamination, etc.) and ideally tries to benefit the environment.
- 12. • Socially andculturally:- it does not harm the social structure or culture of the community where it is located. Instead it respects local cultures and traditions. It involves stakeholders (individuals, communities, tour operators, government institutions) in all phases of planning, development, and monitoring, and educates stakeholders about their roles.
- 13. • Economically:- itcontributes to the economic well being of the community, generating sustainable and equitable income for local communities and as many other stakeholders as possible. • It benefits owners, employees and neighbors. It does not simply begin and then rapidly die because of poor business practices.
- 14. • A tourismenterprise that meets these three principles will “do well by doing good”. This means running a tourism business in such a way that it doesn’t destroy natural, cultural, or economic resources, but rather encourages an appreciation of the very resources that tourism is dependent on. • A business that is run on these three principles can enhance conservation of natural resources, bring appreciation to cultural values, bring revenue into the community, AND be profitable.
- 15. • Unsustainable developmentoccurs when present progress is at the expense of future generations. For example, irresponsible planning and environmental degradation through exploitation of resources generates waste and pollution that damages ecosystems. Such practices are not sustainable in the long term.
- 18. • World ConservationStrategy: Living Resource Conservation forSustainable Development. IUCN–UNEP–WWF, 1980. The World Conservation Strategy of 1980 is the first international document on living resource conservation produced with inputs from governments, non-governmental organizations, and other experts.
- 19. • Since thelaunch of the World Conservation Strategy in 1980, IUCN and its members have been advocating that environmental health is fundamental to economic health and human well-being. Since then, sustainable development has grown into a household word while momentum has been steadily building towards international cooperation to achieve it.
- 20. • Ensuring ahealthy planet is more important now than ever before. Healthy ecosystems provide our growing population with the very underpinning of human existence. And nature's amazingly constructed web of interdependencies provides our food, air and water; the very essence of life on earth.
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- 27. REPORT OF THEUNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT (Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992) “Working towards international agreements which respect the interests of all and protect the integrity of the global environmental and developmental system, Recognizing the integral and interdependent nature of the Earth, our home”
- 28. • PRINCIPLE 1 Humanbeings are at the centre of concerns for sustainable development. They are entitled to a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature.
- 29. • PRINCIPLE 2 Stateshave, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of international law, the sovereign right to exploit their own resources pursuant to their own environmental and developmental policies, and the responsibility to ensure that activities within their jurisdiction or control do not cause damage to the environment of other States or of areas beyond the limits of national jurisdiction.
- 30. • PRINCIPLE 3 Theright to development must be fulfilled so as to equitably meet developmental and environmental needs of present and future generations. • PRINCIPLE 4 In order to achieve sustainable development, environmental protection shall constitute an integral part of the development process and cannot be considered in isolation from it.
- 31. • PRINCIPLE 5 AllStates and all people shall co-operate in the essential task of eradicating poverty as an indispensable requirement for sustainable development, in order to decrease the disparities in standards of living and better meet the needs of the majority of the people of the world.
- 32. • PRINCIPLE 6 Thespecial situation and needs of developing countries, particularly the least developed and those most environmentally vulnerable, shall be given special priority. International actions in the field of environment and development should also address the interests and needs of all countries.
- 33. • PRINCIPLE 7 Statesshall co-operate in a spirit of global partnership to conserve, protect and restore the health and integrity of the Earth's ecosystem. In view of the different contributions to global environmental degradation, States have common but differentiated responsibilities. The developed countries acknowledge the responsibility that they bear in the international pursuit of sustainable development in view of the pressures their societies place on the global environment and of the technologies and financial resources they command.
- 34. • PRINCIPLE 8 Toachieve sustainable development and a higher quality of life for all people, States should reduce and eliminate unsustainable patterns of production and consumption and promote appropriate demographic policies
- 35. • PRINCIPLE 9 Statesshould co-operate to strengthen endogenous capacity-building for sustainable development by improving scientific understanding through exchanges of scientific and technological knowledge, and by enhancing the development, adaptation, diffusion and transfer of technologies, including new and innovative technologies.
- 36. • PRINCIPLE 10 Environmentalissues are best handled with the participation of all concerned citizens, at the relevant level. At the national level, each individual shall have appropriate access to information concerning the environment that is held by public authorities, including information on hazardous materials and activities in their communities, and the opportunity to participate in decision-making processes. States shall facilitate and encourage public awareness and participation by making information widely available. Effective access to judicial and administrative proceedings, including redress and remedy, shall be provided.
- 37. • PRINCIPLE 11 Statesshall enact effective environmental legislation. Environmental standards, management objectives and priorities should reflect the environmental and developmental context to which they apply. Standards applied by some countries may be inappropriate and of unwarranted economic and social cost to other countries, in particular developing countries.
- 38. • PRINCIPLE 12 Statesshould co-operate to promote a supportive and open international economic system that would lead to economic growth and sustainable development in all countries, to better address the problems of environmental degradation. Trade policy measures for environmental purposes should not constitute a means of arbitrary or unjustifiable discrimination or a disguised restriction on international trade. Unilateral actions to deal with environmental challenges outside the jurisdiction of the importing country should be avoided. Environmental measures addressing transboundary or global environmental problems should, as far as possible, be based on an international consensus.
- 39. • PRINCIPLE 13 Statesshall develop national law regarding liability and compensation for the victims of pollution and other environmental damage. States shall also co-operate in an expeditious and more determined manner to develop further international law regarding liability and compensation for adverse effects of environmental damage caused by activities within their jurisdiction or control to areas beyond their jurisdiction.
- 40. • PRINCIPLE 14 Statesshould effectively co-operate to discourage or prevent the relocation and transfer to other States of any activities and substances that cause severe environmental degradation or are found to be harmful to human health.
- 41. • PRINCIPLE 15 Inorder to protect the environment, the precautionary approach shall be widely applied by States according to their capabilities. Where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation.
- 42. • PRINCIPLE 16 Nationalauthorities should endeavour to promote the internalization of environmental costs and the use of economic instruments, taking into account the approach that the polluter should, in principle, bear the cost of pollution, with due regard to the public interest and without distorting international trade and investment.
- 43. • PRINCIPLE 17 Environmentalimpact assessment, as a national instrument, shall be undertaken for proposed activities that are likely to have a significant adverse impact on the environment and are subject to a decision of a competent national authority.
- 44. • PRINCIPLE 18 Statesshall immediately notify other States of any natural disasters or other emergencies that are likely to produce sudden harmful effects on the environment of those States. Every effort shall be made by the international community to help States so afflicted.
- 45. • PRINCIPLE 19 Statesshall provide prior and timely notification and relevant information to potentially affected States on activities that may have a significant adverse transboundary environmental effect and shall consult with those States at an early stage and in good faith.
- 46. • PRINCIPLE 20Women have a vital role in environmental management and development. Their full participation is therefore essential to achieve sustainable development. • PRINCIPLE 21 The creativity, ideals and courage of the youth of the world should be mobilized to forge a global partnership in order to achieve sustainable development and ensure a better future for all.
- 47. • PRINCIPLE 22 Indigenouspeople and their communities, and other local communities, have a vital role in environmental management and development because of their knowledge and traditional practices. States should recognize and duly support their identity, culture and interests and enable their effective participation in the achievement of sustainable development.
- 48. • PRINCIPLE 23 Theenvironment and natural resources of people under oppression, domination and occupation shall be protected. • PRINCIPLE 24 Warfare is inherently destructive of sustainable development. States shall therefore respect international law providing protection for the environment in times of armed conflict and co- operate in its further development, as necessary.
- 49. • PRINCIPLE 25 Peace,development and environmental protection are interdependent and indivisible. • PRINCIPLE 26 States shall resolve all their environmental disputes peacefully and by appropriate means in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations. • PRINCIPLE 27 States and people shall co-operate in good faith and in a spirit of partnership in the fulfilment of the principles embodied in this Declaration and in the further development of international law in the field of sustainable development
- 54. • Faced withan alarming deterioration in the earth's ecosystems, global leaders will gather at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 26 August to 4 September to pursue new initiatives on the implementation of sustainable development and the building of a prosperous and secure future for their citizens.
- 55. • The JohannesburgSummit promises to be one of the largest and most important international meetings ever held on the integration of economic, environmental and social decision-making. • It will focus on building a commitment at the highest levels of government and society to better implement Agenda 21, the roadmap for achieving sustainable development adopted at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development -- the "Earth Summit" -- held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
- 56. • The internationalcommunity will be meeting in Johannesburg just as southern Africa is struggling with a drought that has parched the entire region, compounding problems of poverty and HIV/AIDS, and threatening famine. • Heads of State and government who will be attending the Summit to forge a new course of action will be joined by representatives from citizen and community groups, as well as business leaders, farmers, scientists and academics, trade unionists, local authorities, women, indigenous people and youth.
- 57. • Well over20,000 people have sought accreditation to the Summit, and the South African Government has estimated that the number of people participating in the official Summit, along with the parallel events, could approach 60,000.
- 58. Summit Outcomes • TheWorld Summit will result in an implementation plan detailing the priorities and actions that countries will pursue after Johannesburg, as well as a political statement in the form of a "Johannesburg Declaration", to be agreed by world leaders, reaffirming their commitment to work towards sustainable development. • While expressing continued support for the goals of Agenda 21, the two documents will specify concrete means of overcoming problems that have hampered the implementation of Agenda 21, with a renewed focus on those activities that can be realized in each priority area.
- 61. Climate Change &Tourism • Background • The growing international awareness about the fast pace of climate change taking place on our planet, together with the impacts that such changes are having on the natural environment, on humans and their economic activities have become evident. • For tourism, climate change is not a remote event, but a phenomenon that already affects the sector and certain destinations in particular, mountain regions and coastal destinations among others. At the same time, the tourism sector is contributing to greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), especially through the transport of tourists.
- 62. The impacts ofclimate change • Climate is an essential resource for tourism, and especially for the beach, nature and winter sport tourism segments. Changing climate and weather patterns at tourist destinations and tourist generating countries can significantly affect the tourists’ comfort and their travel decisions. Changing demand patterns and tourist flows will have impacts on tourism businesses and on host communities, as well as knock off effects on related sectors, such as agriculture, handicrafts or construction. • In small island states and developing countries, where tourism is a major economic activity, any significant reduction in tourist arrivals will have serious employment impacts and generate further poverty.
- 63. Awareness • Since the1st International Conference on Climate Change and Tourism, convened by UNWTO in Djerba, Tunisia in 2003, a growing body of knowledge has been generated addressing the complex relationships between the tourism sector and climate change with important research activities on this subject. • There is now a wide recognition of the urgent need for the tourism industry, national governments and international organizations to develop and implement strategies to face the changing climate conditions and to take preventive actions for future effects, as well as to mitigate tourism’s environmental impacts contributing to climate change. Furthermore, such strategies should take also into account the needs of developing countries in terms of poverty alleviation and other Millennium Development Goals.
- 64. Climate Change &Poverty – a coherent strategy • UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called for action on Climate to be taken in close coordination with global action on Poverty Alleviation & the Millennium Development Goals. • UNWTO is committed to ensuring that this coherence is applied to the Tourism sector generally and particularly in regard to the world’s poorest countries, for whom tourism is a driver of jobs, livelihoods, exports and competitiveness. • This was a major aspect of UNWTO's submission to the Bali Climate Summit.