WTO-STD e-bulletin, July 2003

TEXT VERSION

World Tourism Organization
Sustainable Development of Tourism
e-bulletin 
Issue: Nº 3. July 2003

Online at: http://www.world-tourism.org/sustainable/ebulletin.htm
En español: http://www.world-tourism.org/sustainable/esp/boletine.htm
En français: http://www.world-tourism.org/sustainable/fr/ebulletin.htm

Contents of this issue:

1. Final Report now available: 
1st International Conference on Climate Change and Tourism (Djerba, Tunisia, 
9-11 April 2003)

2. Outcomes of the International Year of Ecotourism (IYE) 2002:
WTO Report to the UN General Assembly on activities undertaken by Governments 
and International Organizations

3. New collection of exemplary tourism practices:
Sustainable Development of Ecotourism - A Compilation of Good Practices in 
SMEs

4. Certification for sustainable tourism: WTO recommendations for 
governments, regional seminars

5. Congestion management at cultural and natural sites - new WTO study 

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WTO Sustainable Development of Tourism Section
Events / Activities / Publications / Ecotourism / Tourism at WSSD
http://www.world-tourism.org/sustainable

1. Final Report now available:
1st International Conference on Climate Change and Tourism (Djerba, Tunisia, 
9-11 April 2003)

More than 150 participants from 42 countries and six international
organizations gathered at The First International Conference on Climate 
Change and Tourism that was convened by the World Tourism Organization (WTO), 
upon the kind invitation of the Government of Tunisia.

The 26 presentations delivered by experts of UN, public and private sector, 
NGO and academic institutions presented a wealth of knowledge on the specific 
interrelations of climate change and tourism. The Conference especially 
focused on climate change related impacts on water resources, at coastal and 
island destinations, as well as mountain areas. A specific session was also 
dedicated to policy and mitigation issues.

As a major result of the Conference, the Djerba Declaration on Climate Change 
and Tourism was prepared through consultation with the participants. The 
Declaration recognizes that climate change impacts are already occurring at 
some tourism destinations and the effects are expected to spread in the 
future and, consequently, there is a need for adaptation and mitigation 
measures, among others. It includes a series of recommendations for 
international organizations,
government and private sector agencies for collaborative actions at the 
international, national and local destination levels.

The Final Report of the Conference, the Djerba Declaration on Climate Change 
and Tourism, as well as the various documents presented at the Conference are 
available at:
http://www.world-tourism.org/sustainable/climate/brochure.htm

2. Outcomes of the International Year of Ecotourism (IYE) 2002:
WTO Report to the UN General Assembly on activities undertaken by governments 
and international organizations

At the request of the United Nations General Assembly, in its resolution 
A/RES/53/200, and the Economic and Social Council, in its resolution 1998/40, 
the World Tourism Organization (WTO) has prepared this report on the 
activities undertaken by States and major international organizations in the 
framework of the International Year of Ecotourism (IYE).

This report presents, in its first part, all the activities carried out by 
WTO, UNEP and other international organizations in preparation for and during 
the IYE. In its second part, this report synthesises the activities 
undertaken by governments in the framework of the IYE. This information, 
mainly based on the responses of 93 countries to a questionnaire sent by WTO, 
is structured according to the following six main themes:
 
1. National policy
2. Activities and publications
3. Stakeholders' participation and support
4. Awareness raising
5. Regulation
6. Cooperation. 

The Report reveals an extremely wide range of activities stimulated by the 
IYE at the national and local levels, with the participation of the various 
sectors involved in ecotourism. In general terms, even though the global 
situation of ecotourism still needs improvements, the International Year of 
Ecotourism permitted, in most countries and in all domains, to improve 
sustainability levels in ecotourism, and in the tourism sector generally. 
This year served to stimulate the replication of good practices among 
governments and private
companies, and as a strong engine for innovative programmes and projects.

The Report also contains a programme of follow up activities to the IYE, 
proposed by WTO and UNEP.

Read the IYE Report:
http://www.world-tourism.org/sustainable/IYE/IYE-Rep-UN-GA.htm

Follow up activities and archives of IYE 2002:
http://www.world-tourism.org/sustainable/IYE-Main-Menu.htm


3. New collection of exemplary tourism practices:
Sustainable Development of Ecotourism - A Compilation of Good Practices in 
SMEs

WTO has been systematically collecting and disseminating case studies as an 
important means of promoting the exchange and adaptation of good practices in 
tourism development and management. This new publication is the 3rd of a 
series of good practice compilations, and it has been prepared in the follow 
up to the International Year of Ecotourism 2002. This compilation contains 65 
case studies
received from 47 countries about exemplary practices in small ecotourism 
businesses. The cases provide rich details on methodologies and business 
approaches applied successfully by a wide range of ecotourism companies; they 
provide a valuable well of information that can serve for generating ideas 
and
adapting sustainable ecotourism practices to the specific local conditions 
elsewhere. The experiences presented in this book come directly from the 
field, from the people who have developed these initiatives and who are daily 
in charge of these business ventures. They reflect well the complexity of 
small businesses, the great challenges and opportunities they face, and the 
endless creativity
that this business allows for.

Content, ordering:
http://www.world-tourism.org/cgi-bin/infoshop.storefront/EN/product/1312-1


4. Certification for sustainable tourism: WTO recommendations for 
governments, regional seminars

WTO has been involved in the field of voluntary tourism regulations and 
certification since the 7th meeting of the UN Commission on Sustainable 
Development (CSD-7, 1999). Based on the findings of its 2002 publication 
"Voluntary Initiatives for Sustainable Tourism: Worldwide Inventory and 
Comparative Analysis of 104 Eco-labels, Awards And Self-commitments", WTO has 
been actively supporting national governments and international processes 
with a view to enhance standards and certification processes for sustainable 
tourism.
The Organization has been actively supporting the feasibility study and 
development process of the Sustainable Tourism Stewardship Council, a body 
aimed at developing international standards for accreditation of 
certification systems.

WTO has been assisting its Member States, recognizing the pivotal role of 
governments in certification systems. After conducting a survey among WTO 
Member States considering the feasibility of a Sustainable Tourism 
Stewardship Council (PDF doc.), and following the recommendation of the WTO 
Committee on Sustainable Development of Tourism, at its 3rd Session held in 
Costa Rica, September 2002,
the Organization prepared a set of guidelines for Governments on 
certification systems for sustainable tourism.

The WTO Recommendations to governments for supporting and/or establishing 
national certification systems for sustainable tourism (PDF doc.) emphasizes 
the role of governments in establishing and coordinating multi-stakeholder 
processes for certification systems, gives orientations for developing 
certification criteria, and on the following operational aspects:

· Application 
· Verification 
· Awarding of certification 
· Consulting, advisory and technical assistance services
· Marketing and communication
· Fees and funding

WTO is currently organizing regional seminars, in collaboration with the 
Rainforest Alliance, UNEP and TIES to bring together stakeholders from the 
different sectors, stimulate and reinforce national processes, and for 
establishing regional networks of certification systems for the exchange of 
experiences, harmonization of procedures and standards. The first in this 
series of regional seminars will be held in Brazil, for the Americas (Bahia, 
29-30 September 2003), the second one in the Asia-Pacific region, possibly in 
Malaysia.

WTO activities related to voluntary initiatives and certification systems on 
the web (point 4 in the list):
http://www.world-tourism.org/sustainable/activities.htm


5. Congestion management at cultural and natural sites - new WTO study

Today many tourism sites are receiving huge influx of visitors, especially in 
peak periods, that might cause severe management difficulties, deterioration 
of the visitor experience, as well as the general site conditions. Successful 
management of congested tourism attractions goes much beyond the sites 
themselves; it is dependent on the effective coordination between a range of 
actors involved, such as site managers, local authorities, tour operators, 
transportation companies, information managers at different levels, etc. 

A new WTO study has been launched recently on this topic, following a
recommendation of the WTO Business Council and jointly with the Sustainable 
Development of Tourism Section. The study will examine international 
experiences with the involvement of an expert group representing different 
sectors. It will provide guidelines, practical tools and case study examples 
for congested sites from the demand-, destination- and site-management 
perspectives. The results of the study are expected to be published in early 
2004.

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The World Tourism Organization is the only intergovernmental organization 
that serves as a global forum for tourism policy and issues. Its Members 
include 144 countries and territories as well as over 350 Affiliate Members 
from the public and private sectors. WTO's mission is to promote and develop 
tourism as a significant means of fostering international peace and 
understanding, economic development and international trade.

http://www.world-tourism.org