Treehugger: What Is Sustainable Tourism and Why Is It Important?
As people begin to pay more attention to sustainability and the direct and indirect effects of their actions, travel destinations and organizations are following suit.
What Makes Tourism Sustainable?
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), which is the United Nations agency responsible for the promotion of sustainable tourism, and the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), the global standard for sustainable travel and tourism, have similar opinions on what makes tourism sustainable. By their account, sustainable tourism should make the best use of environmental resources while helping to conserve natural heritage and biodiversity, respect the socio-culture of local host communities, and contribute to intercultural understanding. Economically, it should also ensure viable long-term operations that will provide benefits to all stakeholders, whether that includes stable employment to locals, social services, or contributions to poverty alleviation.
Travel tip
The GSTC is an excellent resource for travelers who want to find sustainably managed destinations and accommodations and learn how to become a more sustainable traveler in general.
Read the article
Read the full article: Why local communities are important to the future of Japan’s ailing tourism industry by Katherine Gallagher on Treehugger (March 10, 2021)