US Servas | Key Person Workshop Report

UN Reports |

Autumn 2002 I

UN Designates 2002 The Year of Ecotourism

By Sharon L. Wallenberg, Main US Servas UN Rep

Visiting fragile ecosystems is central to the concept of Ecotourism.

Tourism is one of the world’s largest industries, and for many developing countries it is one of the largest income generators. But, the infrastructure demands of tourism – the amount of water consumed, waste generated, and energy used – can have severe impacts on the local environment if not properly managed. Responsible tourism is the job of everyone involved – governments, local authorities, the tourist industry and tourists themselves. UNEP is working in a number of ways to promote sustainable tourism. The UNEP/World Tourism Organization/UNESCO/ Tour Operators’ Initiative for Sustainable Development, which was launches in 2000, has grown to 25 members, including some of the biggest names in tourism. Through the initiative UNEP is able to influence key decision-makers in tourism development.

UNEP has developed policy guidelines, such as Principles for the Implementation of Sustainable Tourism which have been widely distributed to governments and local authorities and used as inputs to various multilateral environmental agreements such as the Convention on Biodiversity. For tourists UNEP has developed, in cooperation with the advertising agency McCann International and the French government, “It’s My Choice – Coral or no Coral?”, a package of communication tools in five languages available for free to any organization or company ready to distribute them.

Visiting fragile ecosystems and cultures without causing harm is central to the concept of ecotourism. The United Nations has declared 2002 the International Year of Ecotourism. In preparation UNEP has facilitated preparatory conferences in Austria (linking ecotourism and mountains), India (for NGOs), and Seychelles (for Small Island Developing States), leading to the World Ecotourism Summit in Quebec City, Canada, in May 2002. UNEP and the Ecotourism Society have also prepared a new guide “Ecotourism: Principles, Practices and Policies for Sustainability”, highlighting ecotourism’s successes and difficulties.

UNEP with the UNESCO World Heritage Centre and support from the United Nations Foundation, is also implementing sustainable tourism components in six World Heritage Sites in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and Indonesia. A series of publication will be based on the experience gained. For more information visit: http://www.uneptie.org/pc/tourism/

For more information about US Servas' UN activities or to get involved, contact the main US Servas UN Rep, Sharon Wallenberg at sharonw77@hotmail.com.


UN Reports \| Autumn 2002 I UN Designates 2002 The Year of Ecotourism By Sharon L. Wallenberg, Main US Servas UN Rep Visiting fragile ecosystems is central to the concept of Ecotourism. Tourism is one of the world’s largest industries, and for many developing countries it is one of the largest income generators. But, the infrastructure demands of tourism – the amount of water consumed, waste generated, and energy used – can have severe impacts on the local environment if not properly managed. Responsible tourism is the job of everyone involved – governments, local authorities, the tourist industry and tourists themselves. UNEP is working in a number of ways to promote sustainable tourism. The UNEP/World Tourism Organization/UNESCO/ Tour Operators’ Initiative for Sustainable Development, which was launches in 2000, has grown to 25 members, including some of the biggest names in tourism. Through the initiative UNEP is able to influence key decision-makers in tourism development. UNEP has developed policy guidelines, such as Principles for the Implementation of Sustainable Tourism which have been widely distributed to governments and local authorities and used as inputs to various multilateral environmental agreements such as the Convention on Biodiversity. For tourists UNEP has developed, in cooperation with the advertising agency McCann International and the French government, “It’s My Choice – Coral or no Coral?”, a package of communication tools in five languages available for free to any organization or company ready to distribute them. Visiting fragile ecosystems and cultures without causing harm is central to the concept of ecotourism. The United Nations has declared 2002 the International Year of Ecotourism. In preparation UNEP has facilitated preparatory conferences in Austria (linking ecotourism and mountains), India (for NGOs), and Seychelles (for Small Island Developing States), leading to the World Ecotourism Summit in Quebec City, Canada, in May 2002. UNEP and the Ecotourism Society have also prepared a new guide “Ecotourism: Principles, Practices and Policies for Sustainability”, highlighting ecotourism’s successes and difficulties. UNEP with the UNESCO World Heritage Centre and support from the United Nations Foundation, is also implementing sustainable tourism components in six World Heritage Sites in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and Indonesia. A series of publication will be based on the experience gained. For more information visit: http://www.uneptie.org/pc/tourism/ For more information about US Servas' UN activities or to get involved, contact the main US Servas UN Rep, Sharon Wallenberg at sharonw77@hotmail.com.
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