Tackling Poverty through Sustainable Forms of Tourism Oslo, Norway, 14 May 2007
Presentation by Mr. Eugenio Yunis Head of Department Sustainable Development of Tourism
International Year of Ecotourism 1. 2. 3.
Partnership of UNEP & UNWTO Involving all the actors in the field of ecotourism Promotion of an ample debate on ecotourism
Sustainable Development of Tourism
World Ecotourism Summit - Over 1.200 participants - More than 170 presentations - Consensus on Quebec Declaration on Ecotourism - Wide dissemination of results - Submission to UN General Assembly
Sustainable Development of Tourism
UNWTO Survey of Impacts of IYE 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
47 countries had set up national multistakeholder ecotourism committees Nearly all states conducted ecotourism activities Participative mechanisms were established Realization of awareness raising campaigns Increased regulations in the field of ecotourism Comprehensive collaboration as a result of the International Year of Ecotourism
Sustainable Development of Tourism
Ecotourism & Poverty Alleviation Ecotourism benefits: • …protected area authorities • …visitors • …and especially local populations
Sustainable Development of Tourism
Ecotourism & Poverty Alleviation Benefits to local populations: • Employment of the poor in tourism enterprises • Supply of goods and services to tourism enterprises by the poor or by enterprises employing the poor • Direct sales of goods and services to visitors by the poor • Establishment and running of tourism enterprises by the poor • Tax or levy on tourism income or profits with proceeds • Voluntary giving/support by tourism enterprises and tourists • Investment in infrastructure stimulated by tourism
Sustainable Development of Tourism
Ecotourism & Poverty Alleviation External support for poverty reduction: • Delivering business support to micro & small tourism businesses • Ensuring that tourists’ expenditure is received locally • Strengthening links between local businesses • Influencing the levels of visitor spending • Participation of local communities in the entire process
Sustainable Development of Tourism
Ecotourism & Poverty Alleviation Activities of the UNWTO: • Sustainable Tourism as an effective tool for Eliminating Poverty (ST-EP) • ST-EP Foundation • Establishment of a multi-donor Trust Fund • Technical assistance for ST-EP pilot projects • More than12 capacity-building seminars attended by around 1,000 officials and community leaders • 4 publications including “Tourism and Poverty Alleviation: Recommendations for Action” Sustainable Development of Tourism
Ecotourism & Poverty Alleviation Challenges ahead: • Widespread application of sustainable tourism guidelines • Monitoring of sustainability performance
Sustainable Development of Tourism
Thank you www.unwto.org/sustainable Sustainable Development of Tourism