What Is the Meaning of Sustainable Tourism According to Wced?

By Alice Nichols

Sustainable tourism is a concept that has gained significant attention in recent years due to its potential to promote environmental conservation, cultural preservation, and economic development. The World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) defines sustainable tourism as “tourism that meets the needs of present tourists and host regions while protecting and enhancing opportunities for the future” (WCED, 1987).

What does this definition mean?

In essence, sustainable tourism aims to balance the economic benefits of tourism with environmental and social considerations. It recognizes that tourism can have both positive and negative impacts on a destination, and seeks to minimize the negative impacts while maximizing the positive ones.

Environmental considerations

One of the key goals of sustainable tourism is to minimize the environmental impact of tourism activities. This includes reducing waste, conserving natural resources such as water and energy, and minimizing pollution. Sustainable tourism also involves protecting natural areas such as forests, coral reefs, and wildlife habitats.

Social considerations

Another important aspect of sustainable tourism is ensuring that local communities benefit from tourism development. This includes providing employment opportunities for local people, supporting local businesses, and preserving cultural heritage sites. Sustainable tourism also aims to promote cross-cultural understanding by encouraging tourists to learn about local customs and beliefs.

Economic considerations

Finally, sustainable tourism recognizes that tourism can be an important driver of economic growth in many countries. However, it also acknowledges that this growth must be balanced against other economic priorities such as agriculture or manufacturing. Sustainable tourism seeks to ensure that economic benefits are distributed fairly across communities and that they are not outweighed by negative environmental or social impacts.

The importance of sustainable tourism

Sustainable tourism is important for a variety of reasons. First, it helps to protect natural areas from overdevelopment or degradation. This is essential for preserving biodiversity and maintaining ecosystem services such as clean water and air.

Second, sustainable tourism can help to promote economic development in communities that might otherwise be marginalized or underdeveloped. By providing employment opportunities and supporting local businesses, sustainable tourism can help to lift people out of poverty and improve their standard of living.

Finally, sustainable tourism can help to promote cross-cultural understanding and reduce tensions between different communities. By encouraging tourists to learn about local cultures and customs, sustainable tourism can promote peace and cooperation between different groups.

Conclusion

In summary, sustainable tourism is a concept that seeks to balance the economic benefits of tourism with environmental and social considerations. Overall, sustainable tourism is an important tool for promoting environmental conservation, cultural preservation, and economic development around the world.