How the World is Transforming: Essential Sustainable Development

Tourism is among the world’s fastest-growing industries and serves as a vital source of foreign exchange and employment. It is intricately tied to the social, economic, and environmental health of many nations, particularly developing countries. Ocean-related and coastal tourism, for instance, are critical pillars of the economy for small island developing States (SIDS) and coastal least developed countries (LDCs). For further insights, see the Potential of the Blue Economy report and the Community of Ocean Action on sustainable blue economy. The World Tourism Organization defines sustainable tourism as “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.” Recognizing its importance, the UN General Assembly declared 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development under resolution 70/193. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development underscores sustainable tourism in several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SDG target 8.9 aims to “by 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products.” Similarly, SDG target 12.b emphasizes the development of tools to monitor sustainable tourism’s impact, ensuring it supports job creation and cultural preservation. Furthermore, SDG target 14.7 highlights tourism as a means to “increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries by 2030.” The Rio+20 outcome document, *The Future We Want*, highlights sustainable tourism as a key contributor to the three dimensions of sustainable development, emphasizing its interconnectedness with other sectors and its potential to create decent jobs and trade opportunities. Paragraph 130 calls for supporting sustainable tourism initiatives that raise environmental awareness, protect biodiversity, and enhance the livelihoods of local communities. Additionally, it advocates for capacity-building to promote eco-tourism and cultural tourism while respecting wildlife, ecosystems, and cultural diversity. Paragraph 131 encourages investment in sustainable tourism, particularly eco-tourism and cultural tourism, and highlights the importance of fostering small- and medium-sized enterprises. It also calls for facilitating access to financial resources, such as microcredit, to empower indigenous peoples and local communities in areas with high eco-tourism potential. Establishing appropriate guidelines and regulations aligned with national priorities is also deemed essential for promoting sustainable tourism. In 2002, the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg emphasized sustainable tourism development, including eco-tourism, in Chapter IV, paragraph 43 of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation. The Summit also launched the “Sustainable Tourism – Eliminating Poverty (ST-EP)” initiative, spearheaded by the World Tourism Organization in collaboration with UNCTAD. This initiative aims to leverage sustainable tourism as a tool for poverty alleviation. The UN Commission on Sustainable Development last reviewed sustainable tourism in 2001, during its preparatory work for the Johannesburg Summit. The importance of sustainable tourism was also noted in *Agenda 21*, further solidifying its role in fostering global sustainable development.

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