UN passes landmark tourism resolution
The UN has passed a landmark resolution recognising ecotourism as a key factor in the fight against poverty and the protection of the environment.
The resolution, which was adopted at the UN General Assembly on 21 December 2012, is a significant acknowledgment of tourism as a force for environmental protection. It calls on UN member states to adopt policies that promote ecotourism, highlighting its “positive impact on income generation, job creation and education, and thus on the fight against poverty and hunger”. It adds that ecotourism creates “significant opportunities for the conservation, protection and sustainable use of biodiversity and of natural areas by encouraging local and indigenous communities in host countries and tourists alike to preserve and respect the natural and cultural heritage”.
“UNWTO welcomes the adoption of this resolution on the importance of ecotourism,” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai. “The remarkable support that the resolution has received, from all regions and across the development spectrum, is a clear testimony that sustainable tourism has a vital role to play in a fairer and sustainable future for all.”
The resolution was sponsored by a record 105 delegations.