Tourism is one of the world's largest industries. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the business volume that tourism is generating today equals or even surpasses that of oil exports, food products, or automobiles. As disposable income continues to increase, the overall number of tourists is forecasted to grow by 4% per year between now and 2020.

In addition to this capacity and growth, the tourism industry faces greater challenges than ever before. Potential impacts include harm to the environment, society, and local economies of tourist destinations around the world. Awareness and action about these concerns are on the rise within the tourism industry, government, and NGOs. The goals of this site and the Sustainable Tourism Criteria Survey (click here) are to help the tourism industry define its stance on sustainable tourism and take a lead in addressing customer concerns about sustainable tourism practices. Through this initiative, businesses that are taking steps to sustainability will be recognized for their efforts. Those that are interested in sustainability can use the criteria and the resources provided on how to implement these sustainable practices.

Sustainable tourism is of growing interest to travelers, and it is increasingly becoming a distinguishing factor that travelers use when researching and booking travel. International organizations and businesses such as the UN Foundation and Expedia Inc. continue to lead the movement to support the industry and government in the adoption and implementation of sustainable tourism principles and best management practices.

Though there are a wide range of perspectives on sustainable tourism, a consensus is beginning to emerge that integrates the elements of sustainability: environmental, social, and economic well-being. The following definition provided by J. Swarbrooke (1999), is one that accentuates the needs of the industry and the sustainable use of its resources:

“Sustainable tourism is tourism that is economically viable, but does not destroy the resources on which the future of tourism will depend, notably the physical environment, and the social fabric of the host community.”

When we refer to “sustainable tourism” activities, we mean any activity that can be carried out in the same or similar way for an indefinite future (sustainable in time) in three main aspects:

•   Environmentally – the activity minimizes any damage to the environment, i.e. plants, animals, water, soils, energy use, contamination, etc., and provides a benefit to the environment through protection and conservation;
•   Socially and culturally – the activity does not harm, and may revitalize, the social structure or culture of the community where it is located; and
•   Economic – the activity can sustain itself economically; it continues to contribute to the economic well-being of the local community through local ownership, employment, buying local, etc. A sustainable business should benefit its owners, its employees, and its neighbors.

When we take these three aspects into account, this is called the “triple bottom line”. Sometimes it is referred to as “doing well by doing good.”  It means running a business in a way that does not destroy the resources – natural, cultural, or economic – on which it depends. This why it is important for the industry to seek a suitable balance between these three dimensions to ensure not only its long-term sustainability but that of the destination in which it operates.