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Joyful and Sustainable Tourism

Good morning everyone present. I feel immensely privileged to have this opportunity to express my
views on Joyful and Sustainable Tourism. The International Ecotourism Society defines ecotourism
as responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well being
of local people.

Thus ecotourism or sustainable tourism is a form of travel dedicated to sustainable travel


destinations. With the rise in economic prosperity, more and more people are travelling for leisure.
The tourism industry is flourishing exponentially. More and more people are travelling within the
country and internationally! However, this boom in the tourism has adversely affected the
environment! Owning to poor waste management unplanned and reckless construction along with
the increasing pressure of catering to the needs of the tourist , beautiful beaches, coral reefs,
forests, sanctuaries, waterways, lakes, lagoons, hills, mountains are being polluted. These spots of
pure natural beauty are also habitats for various species of flora and fauna. These species are being
adversely affected due to the construction, development, and other tourism related activities.

The United Nations (UN) has declared 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for
Development. This decision comes fifty years after the celebration of the International Tourist Year
on Tourism- Passport to Peace (1967) and fifteen years since the International Year of Ecotourism
(2002).

2017 presents a unique opportunity to explore and highlight tourisms potential to help transform
our world into a place of prosperity and wellbeing for all.

With the right policies in place, tourism can contribute to gender equality, the preservation of
ecosystems and biodiversity, the protection of natural and cultural heritage, and offers solutions to
many other pressing challenges our world is facing today.

This Year shall explore and highlight tourisms role in the following five key areas:

1. Inclusive and sustainable economic growth

2. Social inclusiveness, employment and poverty reduction

3. Resource efficiency, environmental protection and climate change

4. Cultural values, diversity and heritage

5. Mutual understanding, peace and security

Line Of Action

1.Knowledge creation and dissemination

To improve the understanding of how sustainable tourism contributes to the

aforementioned five areas in both developing and developed countries

To promote tools and mechanisms for the monitoring and the measurement of

tourisms positive and negative impacts.


2.Policy making

To promote evidence-based policies and exchange of good practices that advance and maximize
tourisms contribution to sustainable development

To encourage integrated and holistic approaches to tourism development through cross-cutting


national tourism policies that contribute to the 2030 Agenda and the SGDs

To stimulate public/private sector cooperation and promote Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as
a pillar of tourism development

3.Capacity building and education

To support the formulation and implementation of educational policies that promote the
contribution of sustainable tourism to development

To empower women and youth through knowledge-building and skills development

So, ecotourism is an initiative to promote tourism without damaging the environment. The central
and state governments, along with the peoples involvement must make ecotourism a popular
campaign and save the environment and invaluable flora and fauna. The tourists must also ensure
their travelling must not harm the ecology of the place in any manner.

so lets celebrate this year with a sustainable tourism move towards developement.

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