Tourism and environment: Enemies or allies?

Diving among the coral reefs of Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary has drawn many ecotourists to this beautiful site

February 15, 1999
Web posted at: 11:30 AM EST

"Putting tourism on a sustainable path is a major challenge, requiring partnership and cooperation within the tourism industry, and between the industry, governments and tourists themselves," said Klaus Toepfer, UNEP executive director.

More than $800 billion a year is spent building or renovating tourism hotspots and the World Tourism Organization estimates that tourists themselves spend $425 billion annually, making the industry a main sector of the world economy. It accounts for almost 11 percent of gross domestic product and is growing at an average rate of 4 percent yearly.

Ecotourism is defined as responsible travel to natural places which conserves the environment and sustains the well-being of the local people.

The problems being encountered stem from the fact that there are no real controls. Anyone can define a destination as ecotravel whether it's environmentally friendly or not, and whether it exploits or supports native populations. Many countries have developed their own guidelines and UNEP is calling for the development of international guidelines to help codify the management of the industry.

Attended by environment ministers and government representatives from more than 100 countries, the annual meeting provides a forum for the international community to address major and emerging environmental policy issues. The tourism roundtable was chaired by Dr. Richard Leakey, director of the Kenya Wildlife Service; and took place in Nairobi. The U.N. Commission on Sustainable Development will hold a follow-up meeting in New York at the end of February on tourism issues.

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