Sustainable Tourism

Tourism is now one of the world’s largest industries and one of its fastest growing economic sectors. Prior to 1997, the issue of sustainable tourism had been discussed by the Commission on Sustainable Development only in the context of the small island developing states. However, during the nineteenth Special Session of the General Assembly to review the first five years implementation of Agenda 21, the General Assembly considered that there is a need to consider further the importance of tourism in the context of Agenda 21. Tourism, like other sectors, uses resources, generates wastes and creates environmental, cultural and social costs and benefits in the process. The General Assembly, therefore, placed sustainable tourism on the agenda of the Commission at its seventh session.

The Commission at its seventh session in 1999 considered tourism as an economic sector and held a multistakeholder dialogue on the topic. The Commission adopted decision 7/3 on tourism and sustainable development, which includes an international work programme on sustainable tourism development. The implementation of the programme will be reviewed in 2002 as part of the 10-year review of progress achieved since UNCED. The General Assembly in 1998 proclaimed 2002 as the International Year of Ecotourism (A/RES/53/200), reaffirming Economic and Social Council resolution 1998/40, of 30 July 1998.

United Nations – Sustainable Development website:
http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/tourism.htm

© European Vegetarian Union - Contact form