Topic 1 What is sustainable tourism ?
Sustainable tourism can cover various thematics and various representations. Let’s come back to the sustainable development definition to better understand what is or should be sustainable tourism.
The most often quoted definition comes from the UN World Commission on Environment and Development (n.d.): “[…] sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
The most common representation of sustainability is the following one:
Source: World Commission on Environment and Development (1987). Our Common Future. .
To meet our present needs, an equilibrium has to be found between social and economic development. In order not to compromise the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, environmental aspects have to be taken into account.
According to the UNTWO (n.d.), sustainable tourism can be defined as a “[…] 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”.
- Social objectives are empowerment, social cohesion, cultural identity, etc.
- Economic objectives are growth, efficiency, etc.
- Environmental objectives are ecosystems integrity, carrying capacity, biodiversity, etc.
Some types of tourism can emphasize 1 of the 3 pillars, e.g., ecotourism the pillar of environmental development, responsible tourism the one of social development.
Source: from World Commission on Environment and Development (1987). Our Common Future.