Tourism is widely recognized as one of the biggest industries in the world and offers great poten-tial to both developed and developing countries in terms of income generation, foreign exchange earnings, and employment creation. This industry is very dependent on the quality of local environments and societies as tourists are often looking for esthetical and cultural attractive places to visit. Unfortu¬nately, if tourism is not managed properly, it can damage the very resources that ensure its success and sustainability. This delicate balance engenders the need to develop policies for sustainable tourism that maximize benefits while minimizing its negative economic, social, cultural and environmental impacts.

This report summarizes the various projects, tools, and achievements of the ITF-STD over the past three years and outlines its steps to transform into a UN Partnership for Sustainable Tourism. This trans¬formation will provide the necessary foundation to continue the initiative’s progress. Full report in PDF format (7.63 MB); Pages: 42p