UNEP/GRID Arendal supports and communicates the UNWTO/UNEP 12 Aims of Sustainable Tourism
The 12 Aims:
1) Economic Viability: To ensure the viability and competitiveness of tourism destinations and enterprises, so that they are able to continue to prosper and deliver benefits in the long term.
2) Local Prosperity: To maximize the contribution of tourism to the economic prosperity of the host destination, including the proportion of visitor spending that is retained locally.
3) Employment Quality: To strengthen the number and quality of local jobs created and supported by tourism, including the level of pay, conditions of service and availability to all without discrimination by gender, race, disability or in other ways.
4) Social Equity: To seek a widespread and fair distribution of economic and social benefits from tourism throughout the recipient community, including improving opportunities, income and services available to the poor.
5) Visitor Fulfilment: To provide a safe, satisfying and fulfilling experience for visitors, available to all without discrimination by gender, race, disability or in other ways.
6) Local Control: To engage and empower local communities in planning and decision making about the management and future development of tourism in their area, in consultation with other stakeholders.
7) Community Wellbeing: To maintain and strengthen the quality of life in local communities, including social structures and access to resources, amenities and life support systems, avoiding any form of social degradation or exploitation.
8) Cultural Richness: To respect and enhance the historic heritage, authentic culture, traditions and distinctiveness of host communities.
9) Physical Integrity: To maintain and enhance the quality of landscapes, both urban and rural, and avoid the physical and visual degradation of the environment.
10) Biological Diversity: To support the conservation of natural areas, habitats and wildlife, and minimize damage to them.
11) Resource Efficiency: To minimize the use of scarce and non-renewable resources in the development and operation of tourism facilities and services.
12) Environmental Purity: To minimize the pollution of air, water and land and the generation of waste by tourism enterprises and visitors.
UN Environment Programme & UNWTO- UN World Tourism Organisation Publication: “Making Tourism More Sustainable – A Guide for Policy Makers”.
The order in which these twelve aims are listed does not imply any order of priority. Each one is equally important.