UNCTAD TrainForTrade Programme presents:
TrainForTrade/HRD/KSTCD/DTL/UNCTAD
TrainForTrade film
UN © copyright
April 2011
New Zealand is a country that prides itself on its 100 % Pure image. Its environmental record has consistently been rated as one of the top 10 countries in the world. Environmental protection is part of New Zealand's heritage through the principle of Kaitiakitanga or guardianship, with one third of New Zealand's land protected for conservation. Post PureNewZealand
Tourism is one of the world's important industries. It is a source of foreign exchange and vast employment worldwide. Sustainable tourism focuses on making a low impact on the environment and local cultures while helping to support local tourist industries and creating employment. The goal of sustainable tourism is to endorse sustainable development. Sustainable tourism focuses on natural environments as a large and growing part of the tourism industry.
Although sustainable tourism can contribute to socio-economic development, if uncontrolled, it can have destructive and devastating effects. Uncontrolled tourism can lead to environmental degradation, the devastation of ecosystems, and cause social and cultural conflicts.
The purpose of sustainable tourism is to advocate for responsible tourism on issues such as environmental integrity, social justice, cultural awareness, and economic development. Sustainable tourism emphases on all stakeholders (government, nongovernment, profit, nonprofit, local communities, and ethnic groups) being responsible for achieving sustainable development while maintain environmental and social awareness and integrity.
In 2002 the UN Commission reviewed the issues of sustainable development during the Johannesburg Summit. The World Tourism Organization commenced the Sustainable Tourism-Elimination Poverty Project. The purpose of the project is to use sustainable tourism as a means of alleviating poverty through socio-economical development.
Sustainable Tourism is an important issue concerning sustainable development because it is a fairly new concept that appears to have the same criticism and misconception as sustainable development. Some scholars argue that sustainable tourism will cause more harm to local communities, cultures, environments and social relations then it will help. However, it also embodies the same enthusiastic positivity that is expected to come form development without the corporate nemesis.
The videos above describe the progress of Cambodia and New Zealand, two countries whose economies depend heavily on tourism. Cambodia video is an example of sustainable tourism projects in less developed country (LDC) and the New Zealand video is an example of sustainable tourism in an economically developed country.
To find more on sustainable tourism see (Hyperlinks and Resources):
http://www.realitytoursandtravel.com/
ReplyDeleteThis is the organization I was speaking about in class in Mumbai, India who does community centric tourism.
John is a slacker who forgets to log out of his email on my computer... This is Mary Paschen
ReplyDelete