9.3 Seventeen Goals of Sustainable Tourism
To help shift tourism away from extractive practices and to support community-led initiatives, a variety of organizations have coalesced to nourish collaboration among tourism stakeholders, including international organizations, individuals in the tourism industry, scholars of tourism, scientific institutes studying the impacts of travel and tourism, and the media. One of these, Solimar International works in conjunction with the USAID Climate Adaptation Project and with HATA to reshape the future of the Maldives. Other organizations working to shift toward earth- and community-centered systems include Responsible Travel Institute (RTI), which seeks to educate stakeholders about the 17 goals laid out in the World Charter for Sustainable Tourism [See Figure 2]. RTI is sponsored by the European Union and various organizations overseen by the United Nations, including the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Based out of the United States, the Center of Responsible Travel (CREST) works to educate and support destinations throughout the world in implementing responsible travel protocols, regulations, and infrastructure. CREST serves as a repository for state-of-the-art tourism research and provides support for destinations working on sustainable development plans based on environmental stewardship, conservation, and community collaboration. CREST also hosts educational forums, events, and workshops to cultivate collaboration and knowledge-sharing among stakeholders.
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Sustainable Development Goals (Note for Illustrator: Link leads to Source of the Information)
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
From the SDG Briefing Book 2023 by the UN Office for Partnerships (see references)
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Key Takeaway
A network of global organizations has emerged to promote the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and support community-led, environmentally conscious travel, aiming to counteract the severe harms caused by mass tourism and overtourism. Despite these efforts, many iconic destinations remain overwhelmed by the environmental and social impacts of poorly managed tourism growth.
Significance to Regenerative Tourism
The move to energize tourism and to focus the industry on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals has been fueled by international collaboration, knowledge sharing, and scientific research promoting environmental stewardship and the wellbeing of residents and local communities.
Significance to Tourism
Venice, Barcelona, Nepal, and Bali underscore how unchecked tourism can degrade natural and cultural assets to the point of crisis, undermining both local quality of life and long-term tourism appeal. The 17 SDGs and regenerative practices offer a roadmap for rethinking tourism as a system that must balance visitor experiences with ecological health, cultural preservation, and community rights.
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