World Conference on Sustainable Tourism

The Charter is the result of the World Conference on Sustainable Tourism. It acknowledges that while tourism can be a positive force for socio-economic development and cultural interchange, it can also have negative consequences for communities. It calls for planning and management of tourism that conserves and protects the natural and cultural heritage. The Charter also calls for tourism to be ecologically bearable, economically viable, socially equitable for local communities, and sustainable for the future. With regard to the cultural heritage, the Charter calls for tourism to consider its effect on both the cultural heritage and the traditions of the local community. The Charter recommends special assistance for environmentally and culturally vulnerable areas and for areas that have been degraded as a result of high impact tourism.