Sustainability has become a highly used term in policies, in marketing, and in the media. So, every one of us might have some sort of understanding what sustainability might be. But what does this mean for tourism? An often used definition of sustainable tourism is provided by the United Nation World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), and I think describes it quite well:

"Sustainable tourism development guidelines and management practices are applicable to all forms of tourism in all types of destinations, including mass tourism and the various niche tourism segments. Sustainability principles refer to the environmental, economic and socio-cultural aspects of tourism development, and a suitable balance must be established between these three dimensions to guarantee its long-term sustainability.

Thus, sustainable tourism should:
1) Make optimal use of environmental resources that constitute a key element in tourism development, maintaining essential ecological processes and helping to conserve natural heritage and biodiversity.

2) Respect the socio-cultural authenticity of host communities, conserve their built and living cultural heritage and traditional values, and contribute to inter-cultural understanding and tolerance.

3) Ensure viable, long-term economic operations, providing socio-economic benefits to all stakeholders that are fairly distributed, including stable employment and income-earning opportunities and social services to host communities, and contributing to poverty alleviation.

Sustainable tourism development requires the informed participation of all relevant stakeholders, as well as strong political leadership to ensure wide participation and consensus building. Achieving sustainable tourism is a continuous process and it requires constant monitoring of impacts, introducing the necessary preventive and/or corrective measures whenever necessary. Sustainable tourism should also maintain a high level of tourist satisfaction and ensure a meaningful experience to the tourists, raising their awareness about sustainability issues and promoting sustainable tourism practices amongst them."
(Conceptual Definition, WTO, 2004)

The term sustainable tourism is often synonymously used with green tourism, responsible tourism or ecotourism. One can say that all these different forms of tourism fall under sustainable tourism; however, there might be slightly differences in their foci or definitions:

Ecotourism defined by Ecotourism Australia
"Ecotourism is ecologically sustainable tourism with a primary focus on experiencing natural areas that fosters environmental and cultural understanding, appreciation and conservation".

Ecotourism defined by The International Ecotourism Society
"Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people." (TIES, 1990)

Here a list of some information sites on sustainable tourism. If I have missed an interesting site, please send me an email at u.kachel@griffith.edu.au.

(all text is based on the companies'/organisations' description)
 

Center for Responsible Travel
The Center for Responsible Travel (formerly Center on Ecotourism and Sustainable Development, CESD) is a non-profit research institution whose mission is to design, monitor, evaluate, and improve ecotourism and sustainable tourism practices and principles. Its policy-oriented research focuses on ecotourism as a tool for poverty alleviation and biodiversity conservation, as well as socially and environmentally responsible tourism practices.
www.responsibletravel.org

DESTINET Sustainable Tourism Information Portal
DESTINET helps you to develop sustainable consumption and production in the tourism sector, both in the tourism value chain and at destination level. DestiNet is tourist destination information service that supports networking of various sustainable tourism stakeholders. The portal offers a number of services including the option to submit EVENTS or NEWS and to suggest new links on relevant TOPICS, TOOLS or STAKEHOLDERS.
destinet.ew.eea.europa.eu

Ecotourism Australia
Ecotourism Australia was formed in 1991 as an incorporated non-profit organisation, and is the peak national body for the ecotourism industry. Ecotourism Australia's Mission is about growing, consolidating and promoting ecotourism and other committed tourism operations to become more sustainable.
www.ecotourism.org.au

Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria
Launched at the World Conservation Congress in October 2008, The Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC) are a set of 37 voluntary standards representing he minimum that any tourism business should aspire to reach in order to protect and sustain the world’s natural and cultural resources while ensuring tourism meets its potential as a tool for poverty alleviation.
www.sustainabletourismcriteria.org

Go Green Travel Green
From green hotels and public transportation to local food and eco-tours, Go Green Travel Green is your source for eco travel tips, reviews, and news. Kimberly and Elizabeth Sanberg, co-founders of Go Green Travel Green, travelled the world and packed their green travel knowledge and experience into this site.
gogreentravelgreen.com

Rainforest Alliance
The Rainforest Alliance works to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behavior. Based in New York City, with offices throughout the United States and worldwide, the Rainforest Alliance works with people whose livelihoods depend on the land, helping them transform the way they grow food, harvest wood and host travelers. From large multinational corporations to small, community-based cooperatives, we involve businesses and consumers worldwide in our efforts to bring responsibly produced goods and services to a global marketplace where the demand for sustainability is growing steadily.
www.rainforest-alliance.org

Sustainable Tourism Gateway
The Sustainable Tourism Gateway was set up in order to develop awareness and educate on issues related to sustainable tourism; to assist in policy and programme development; and to facilitate monitoring and evaluation. The Global Development Research Center is an independent nonprofit think tank that carries out initiatives in education, research and practice, in the spheres of environment, urban, community and information, and at scales that are effective.
www.gdrc.org/uem/eco-tour/eco-tour.html

Sustainable Tourism International
Founded in 2002, Sustainable Travel International (STI) is a non-profit organization, dedicated to providing education and outreach services that help travelers, travel providers and related organizations support environmental conservation and protect cultural heritage while promoting cross-cultural understanding and economic development.
www.sustainabletravelinternational.org

Sustainable Tourism Stewardship Council
The Sustainable Tourism Stewardship Council (STSC) is a proposed global accreditation body for sustainable tourism and ecotourism certification programs. The core mission of the STSC is to enhance the sustainability of tourism operations by ensuring better environmental and social performance, and improved economic benefits to local communities and to certified businesses worldwide. The website also provides tips and resources for traveller.
(The Rainforest Alliance is providing technical and administrative leadership)
www.rainforest-alliance.org/tourism

The International Ecotourism Society
The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting ecotourism. Founded in 1990, TIES has been in the forefront of the development of ecotourism, providing guidelines and standards, training, technical assistance, research and publications. TIES' global network of ecotourism professionals and travelers is leading the efforts to make tourism a viable tool for conservation, protection of bio-cultural diversity, and sustainable community development.
www.ecotourism.org

Your Travel Choice Blog
Your Travel Choice Blog is an interactive online communication platform established by TIES (see above), as part of our mission to promote ecotourism, which is defined as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people” (TIES, 1990) by:
- Creating an international network of individuals, institutions and the tourism industry;
- Educating tourists and tourism professionals; and
- Influencing the tourism industry, public institutions and donors to integrate the principles of ecotourism into their operations and policies.
www.yourtravelchoice.org