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The International Task Force on Sustainable Tourism Development is a voluntary initiative led by France. Its main objective is to encourage the implementation of actions that promote sustainability in tourism by developing tools that support

the various stakeholders in achieving this objective. The Task Force also presents and disseminates existing initiatives to inspire the replication of pilot projects and good practices on sustainable tourism. The Taskforce is comprised of members from

18 developed and developing countries, nine international organisations, seven non-governmental organisations, and seven international business associations.

A shorter version of this document will be produced for communication purposes. The policy recommendations address key stakeholders - governments including local authorities, indigenous and local communities, international organisations, the private sector, NGOs and consumers. These recommendations build upon the projects of the ITF-STD, and lessons learned on promoting sustainable tourism.

Tourism is one of the world's fastest growing industries and an important source of foreign investment and employment for many developing countries. According to the

UNWTO statistics 903 million international tourists travelled in 2007 with an average annual increase of over four percent since the year 2000. In spite of the 2008 economic and financial crisis, which has continued into 2009, the same statistics indicate that the global figure will reach one billion international tourists by the end of this decade and 1.6 billion by the year 2020. These millions of people are already consuming and will continue to demand enormous quantities of energy, water, and other natural resources to support their tourism activities. Domestic

tourists also add to this sector's environmental footprint.

On one hand tourism will bring additional income to local communities and will increase direct and indirect employment at this level. On the other hand, the increasing demand for basic goods and services from tourists will often cause price increases that negatively affect local residents whose income does not increase proportionately.

As it is a large and growing industry, tourism is often scrutinized in terms of its impacts on the environment, economy, culture and societies. Some reviews highlight

the power of tourism to contribute to economic growth while others emphasize the negative impacts to ecosystems, indigenous societies and cultural heritage. It is thus

clear that tourism can have positive or negative impacts depending on how it is planned, developed and managed. Developing sustainable tourism' means that strategies are in place to promote the positive impacts and minimise the negative.

The concept of sustainable tourism is applicable to all forms of tourism in all types of destinations, including the mass tourism and the various niche tourism segments.

Sustainability principles refer to the environmental, economic, and socio-cultural aspects of tourism development. Sustainable tourism requires the establishment of a suitable balance between these three dimensions to guarantee long-term sustainability of tourism development.

The response of the tourism sector to the current unprecedented economic crisis should include elements that reinforce sustainability parameters in tourism planning

and management. Great challenges present great opportunities. Tourism can contribute to its own resilience and to the global economic recovery by pursuing a climate neutral strategy, as well as innovation in the use of cleaner energy and more efficient resource use. Combining these strategies and approaches contributes to the reduction of poverty, and to social and economic development within the carrying capacities of ecosystems. A strong leadership and a shared purpose are needed to guide the identification and realization of these opportunities. This document aims at providing a set of policy recommendations to achieve this.

Given the important, but relatively unexploited potential of tourism to contribute to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (particularly in developing

and least developed countries), international organizations, governments, local authorities, the private sector, consumers and the civil society are asked to foster sustainable consumption and production (SCP) patterns for tourism, with the following overarching objectives:

The destination's local society and environment can absorb and benefit from the positive effects of tourism and such sustainable tourism development also provides

ways of protecting and enriching the knowledge from local and indigenous culture

These economic benefits from the tourism sector can be offset by negative environmental and socio-cultural impacts, which should be addressed and reduced

through planning, policies and regulations. Voluntary mechanisms, access to training, fostering communication for transfering of knowledge, access to financial mechanisms, as well as consultations with local communities based on sustainability parameters, all have a key role to play in constructing these solutions.

In order for all forms of tourism to become more sustainable, the systematic application of sustainability objectives and criteria to new and existing infrastructures

and services should be encouraged. This also includes improved governance, rethinking the existing infrastructure at destinations, especially with the assistance of relevant public and private operators, identifying innovative modes of travel, and strengthening the development of various niche' tourism segments (e.g. ecotourism, community or rural tourism, heritage or cultural tourism) to become a more significant share of the market and a major form of tourism for some countries.

Given the cross-sectoral characteristics of the tourism industry, this document's references to the private sector cover the transportation to and from tourist destinations, the tour operators, the accommodation/hotel chains, and all the economic activities generating resources, products and services throughout the entire

tourism value chain.

Recognizing that the implementation of this vision will require an integrated open-ended process engaging governments at all levels, international organizations, businesses, NGOs and consumers, the recommendations are structured around a simplified life-cycle of the tourism value chain, including:

There is a need to integrate sustainable tourism planning into national and regional development plans to strengthen action on the ground and build the skills and resources needed to apply them effectively. Public policies, governance mechanisms and stakeholders' involvement should be incorporated into the framework outlined in the national and regional development plan. Planners should identify and utilize legal and fiscal regimes, information, knowledge, evaluation tools, and cooperative processes among professionals and civil society.

III.1.1 - The principles of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism adopted by UNWTO and endorsed by the UN General Assembly and the recommendations and guidelines provided by Multilateral Environmental Agreements and conventions as appropriate, including the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the World Heritage Convention, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate

Change (UNFCCC), the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the Code of Conduct for the protection of children against sexual exploitation in travel and tourism :

Public and private institutions and organizations engaged in tourism planning, including tourism master plans, should make use of credible scientific methods and tools encompassing economic, environmental and social approaches and assessments for sustainable development that will help stakeholders relate to different components of the value chain understand their environmental and socio-

cultural impacts. They then should work to maximize benefits and reduce negative impacts.

III.1.2 - Experience has shown that a plan is more effective if produced by a multi-stakeholder participatory planning process (NGOs, local authorities, community based organizations, enterprises, experts, and Destination Management Organisations, etc.), as well as through the development of partnerships at local, national, regional and international levels. Establishing structures to enable this participatory process ensures that different stakeholders, especially local communities, have their say in how tourism is developed and managed. They are, in turn, encouraged to reflect on agreed priorities for tourism in their own work. It is thus a two-way process.

The effectiveness of policies will be thus enhanced by the setting up of structures that would allow coordination between all stakeholders, and the adoption of a balanced

mix of tools, including economic and legislative instruments and Strategic Environmental Assessments. Structures which promote the implementation of the provisions of multilateral environmental agreements relating to the obligations for conservation and environmental protection, prevention and control of pollution, and sound management of natural resources will also contribute to the planning of sustainable tourism development.

Planning defines a vision for tourism and other public use development and management. It includes zoning systems with the appropriate visitor experiences aligned with the zone.

Desired conditions serve as the basis for planning and product development. Descriptions of desired conditions are based on local, regional and national values, existing national legislation, and the goals and objectives of management authorities. Consultation with relevant constituencies is recommended in formulating desired conditions. Plans are developed so as to preserve destination values by outlining processes to monitor change, evaluate threats and opportunities, and permit public and private leaders to respond to key values so as to maintain the destination's sense of place.

Planning can also address the potential negative impacts of extensive tourism operations on land and property prices and the consequent evolution of ownership patterns, as well as on local assets such as the aesthetic value of landscapes.

Planning is a process which provides important opportunities to build community and constituency engagement, to better understand changing expectations and environmental and social conditions and to support local values. By involving

constituencies in the planning process, conflicts can be resolved and the constituencies develop the sense of responsibility and ownership needed for the implementation of plans. The establishment of a council comprised of those constituencies, including the tourism industry, helps to understand and reflect the different values attached to tourism and its outcomes. Moreover, the engagement

of the tourism industry is important in the development and implementation of the plans.

The value-chain perspective would thus enhance the understanding of the various roles of different tourism players and enhance opportunities for cooperation and collaboration.

Planning facilitates cooperation and collaboration between ministries of tourism and similar agencies, and ministries of culture, departments of conservation, and ministries of the environment.

the capacity of a specialist or coordinator within the agency in charge of tourism

A plan is developed and implemented by public staff at the local level. An external consultant can mentor the local planner during the developmental phase of the plan. However, local professionals should be involved in producing the plan. This contributes to the sense of ownership by management, local communities or other constituencies; recommended tools, methods and timetables are then better gauged to the technical, financial and governance capacity of management.

Coordination between destinations within a region usually improves planning. Considering the ties among regional assets and attractions during the planning phase will create opportunities for linking all the regional attractions of a destination.

If properly planned, it may also diminish pressures on certain attractions. It can also help to maximize the complementary roles of various agencies and organisations in management and economic development issues.

Governments and all stakeholders should consider promoting regional and/or sub regional approaches to sustainable tourism development.

III.3.2 - Regulatory instruments with fully integrated environmental and social criteria should be applied in tendering, licensing and permit-approval procedures. These

instruments should also include and support the application of tools, such as Strategic Environmental Impact Assessments, Environmental and Social Impact Assessments, and related enforcement and monitoring processes. Moreover, regulatory instruments contributing to sustainability should be designed to help governments to build institutional capacity and develop streamlined and coordinated

procedures for this purpose.

III.3.3 - The estimation of the expected benefits of tourism development on the basis of the Total Economic Value' that includes ecosystem services and social accounting benefits should be considered in investments decision-making. Particular emphasis should be given to the inclusion of impacts in societies and local communities.

III.3.4 - Corporations should adopt corporate social and environmental responsibility (CSER) principles in their tourism investments. Traditional investors should be invited to strengthen their commitments towards responsible investments, because they are among the key actors currently able to promote sustainable practices.

III.3.5 - Methods and tools based on new economic and financial approaches can support decision makers to identify and make sustainable investments, including methods developed through environmental economics that estimate the expected Return on Investment (ROI) and Internal Rate of Return (IRR).

III.3.6 - The criteria for sustainable investments in the tourism sector should be adopted within the spirit of the Equator Principles. The criteria should also prioritize investments on projects developed by Small, Medium and Micro-sized Enterprises (SMMEs) that steer sustainable consumption and production processes in tourism businesses in order to facilitate the access to specific funds or financial resources by micro and small investors. The creation of new financial and investment tools or mechanisms to support SMMEs aiming at sustainability should be promoted.

primary option for tourism development and to influence consumer choices.

III.4.2 - Governments, businesses and civil society organizations should be encouraged to make all meetings, incentives, conferences and excursions (MICE) activities as sustainable as possible, using both policy and technical tools to ensure responsible execution of these activities.

III.5.1 - All stakeholders should be encouraged to build capacity for sustainable tourism and apply this capacity in their internal operations as well as to influence the decision of other stakeholders. Within this framework, the capacities of local communities and indigenous populations should be enhanced, while respecting their traditions, and enabling them to build sustainable, community-based initiatives.

III.5.2 - International organisations, NGOs, academia and knowledge-brokers should be engaged to support the capacity enhancement of all stakeholders, including national governments, for the achievement of sustainable tourism objectives.

III.6.1 - Consumers should be encouraged to use locally developed products and services that generate local employment and support initiatives for social and infrastructure community development including, among others, education, health, and sanitation.

III.6.2 - Consumers (individuals, businesses and public sector) of tourism products and services should be encouraged to evaluate the environmental, socio-cultural

footprint and economic implications of their decisions. They should also be inspired to purchase local sustainable tourism products and services, including products such as crafts, food, etc.

III.6.3 - Guidelines for the behaviour of tourists at destinations should be promoted using networks, media and other communication channels, such as information from

service providers and operators through the whole value chain of tourism.

III.7.1 - Governments and businesses should set baseline and measurable targets, review progress and report towards the achievement of sustainable tourism objectives. The UNWTO guide on Indicators for Sustainable Tourism' should be used for examples of practical applications.

III.7.2 - Given that an activity can be acceptable in one context and very harmful in another, monitoring and evaluation approaches should be adapted to the specific

context of each local destination according to resources, forms and volumes of tourism, management capacity, etc.

III.7.3 - The concept of a Global Observatory on Sustainable Tourism' may be considered as an initiative to stablish a network of regional, national and local observatories. Its objective would be the promotion of systematic application of monitoring and information management techniques, as well as related communication and reporting processes, supporting informed decision-

making in sustainable tourism matters.