07 Jan Sustainability and Tourism

If you start with two terms that aren’t well understood its not surprising that combining them into a single term can lead to confusion. “Sustainability” is term that is frequently used but seldom understood. “Tourism” is a complex activity and – while many have traveled – few have thought about the many moving parts of the tourism system that contribute to make a successful trip.

Which brings us to sustainable tourism. It doesn’t help that we often use the term “sustainable tourism” in two very distinct ways:

• Sustainable tourism: This is most frequently about conducting/producing tourism in a sustainable way. Its about making sure tourism businesses are operating in sustainable ways and that destinations are stewarding their resources for today and the future.  
• Sustainable Development through Tourism: This is about using tourism as a tool to achieve goals related to sustainability. Tourism has the potential to support programs that help achieve a range of activities including reducing inequalities, contributing to gender equality, and reducing poverty and hunger.

Highlighting these differences may seem like “splitting hairs”. Nevertheless, recognizing the differences between these two ways tourism and sustainability intersect can be useful in focusing conversations on ways tourism contributes to the great challenges we face today.