DECLARATION OF ARONA

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INFORMACIÓN DE INTERÉS https://www.biospheretourism.com/es http://www.institutoturismoresponsable.com/es http://es.unesco.org/ http://www2.unwto.org/es


DECLARATION OF ARONA

ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND COMPETITIVENESS AT TOURIST DESTINATIONS We, the participants in the International Conference on “Sustainable Development and Competitiveness at Tourist Destinations� assembled in Arona, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain, on June 16th, 2017, the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, Acknowledging that sustainability is no longer only an option or an attribute but rather an unrenounceable commitment for guiding tourism-related development at destinations, and that competitiveness and sustainability have today become a inseparable pairing in any future-facing tourism policy; Considering sustainable tourism also as a tourism that respects both the inhabitants of the location as well as visitors, and in addition, treats cultural heritage and the environment responsibly;


Concerned about the effects and negative impacts of tourism development in some destinations, such as those relating to the abusive use of resources, the degradation of land, impacts on biodiversity and aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, the destruction of cultural resources, or the increase in social inequality; Convinced that, by adopting suitable policies, tourism-related activities at resorts can contribute to gender equality, sustainable local development, the conservation of ecosystems and biodiversity, the protection of heritage, the promotion of resilient cities, as well as offer solutions for many other urgent challenges facing our world today; Recalling the principles of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism approved by the WTO and adopted by the United Nations General Assembly and the recommendations and guidelines provided by the different conventions and multilateral agreements regarding culture and the environment, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the New Urban Agenda; Highlighting that tourist destinations must significantly reduce their environmental footprint and that, in consequence, tourism can become a driver for innovation and the development of green, inclusive and low-carbon economies;


Aware that tourist destinations, particularly in urban settings, face growing risks and unprecedented threats, such as the loss of biological diversity, pollution, natural disasters and those caused by humankind affecting tourism-related activities; Convinced that tourism must be a transcendental protagonist and a great ally in the current battle against climate change, where coastal and island destinations are presented as the main victims but also as potential advanced models for its mitigation through a wager in favour of sustainability; Considering that advancing towards the development of sustainable tourist destinations constitutes a process of shared responsibility affecting the tourism industry, services, local authorities, civil society and tourists themselves; Aware of the inescapable need to contribute actively to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), the new United Nations Framework for sustainable development, and to commit to the achievement of the challenges set out and made explicit in each of its objectives; Led by the guidance, principles and calls manifested in the World Charter for Sustainable Tourism +20, approved in 2015, as well as by the objectives mapped out for the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development; We now advocate a wide-ranging alliance among tourism destinations in favour of sustainability, expressed in the following principles and guidelines for action:


Preserving heritage at tourist destinations To establish agreements among the main players at resorts with the aim of safeguarding natural heritage and the diversity of cultural expressions, including the tangible and intangible heritage materials housed there, and considering these as basic assets for modern tourism. To contribute to the creation, development and implementation of sustainable, innovative tourism-related products and services encouraging the respectful use of the natural and cultural heritage, and conveying the values of the destination and its identity through the experience offered to tourists. To drive the analysis of natural and anthropogenic risks at tourist resorts for the development of resilience and action plans enabling them to prepare for, recover from and adapt speedily to any problem and achieve minimum impacts with their activities on the setting and the lives of individuals.

Strengthening the economic and social responsibility of tourism To evaluate the social impacts at the destination over its life cycle, including the project planning and design phases, so as to be able to minimize the negative effects and maximize the positive ones. To adopt the measures needed to maximize the economic benefits of tourism in the host community, redistributing wealth, minimizing leaks and creating strong ties to the local economy at the resort and other economic


activities in the surroundings. To encourage quality economies by creating a responsible offering of local services and products in an alliance with responsible clients. To strive to turn tourism into an inclusive social experience and ensure its accessibility, particularly for vulnerable and disadvantaged communities and individuals.

Guaranteeing the integrity and wellbeing of the environment To manage sustainably the destination’s natural diversity and restore it, where necessary; respecting the integrity of vulnerable ecosystems, critical habitats and species in danger of extinction, and its protected areas, also considering the volume and type of tourism that the natural resources can bear. To advance towards an ecosystemic vision in the planning of tourism at the scale of the destination, reducing its ecological footprint, considering the services and products supplied by the ecosystems themselves, and establishing adaptive, intelligent and minimum-impact territorial strategies and infrastructure design.

Encouraging efficient use of resources and promoting responsible consumption


To increase efficiency in the management of resources in the context of a circular economy by minimizing waste generation, increasing efficiency and reducing consumption and pollution. To apply intelligence to the improvement of efficiency in the use of resources, particularly scant and non-renewable resources, by increasing the performance of tourism-related companies at the destination. To promote responsible consumption and production practices throughout the service chain and tourism-related activities, supporting local green economies and zero-kilometre consumption. To encourage the measures necessary to transform tourist resorts into areas with more efficient and productive tourism-related systems, making optimal use of the natural and cultural surroundings, the human capital and local knowledge. To urge tourism-related companies, those responsible for search engines, travel agencies and tour operators in both inbound and outbound markets to adopt responsible approaches to their offerings, and to commit to the promotion of responsible consumption practices.

Making innovation in sustainability a competitive advantage for destinations To strengthen innovation as a key factor in competitiveness, together with quality, efficiency, marketing, human resources and knowledge.


To promote innovative public and private practices capable of applying methodologies and strategies that respond to business and management models based on creativity and local talent, aimed at generating new, sustainable services and products for tourists. To apply innovation in all non-technological areas, such as the generation and design of new products and services, process improvement, markets, and organizational and institutional innovation, always considering in this area that only destinations that are sustainable and non-seasonal can be competitive. To take advantage of the opportunities afforded by the green technological revolution, incorporating the latest in information and communication technologies, and the extensive range of renewable energy and efficient lighting solutions, waste management plans, efficient water management, sustainable mobility, smart buildings and smart infrastructures, that would today allow us to lay the foundations for the future of sustainable destinations in optimal market conditions. To support the development of smart, efficient and sustainable tourist destinations, capable of creating settings where technology is integrated into all areas within the destination itself, placing visitors and residents at the heart of all actions. To increase the capacity of tourism-oriented organizations and businesses at the resort to improve their environmental performance and sustainable practices through innovation.


To be able to turn the different facets of sustainability into attractive vectors of competitiveness at destinations by designing and generating imaginative, innovative products and activities that can be sustained on their own terms.

Committing to the climate To reaffirm the level of practical commitment at each destination to the Paris Agreements by establishing the necessary measures within the sector and the local administrations to enable a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, aspiring with this commitment to the promotion of a future with tourist resorts that are emission-free and capable of offsetting tourists’ carbon footprint. To create favourable regulations and market frameworks at destination level for a speedier transition towards the supply of 100% renewable energy for the sector, including the coverage of needs with respect to electricity, heat, thermal comfort and drive power, while also incorporating a culture of efficiency and energy saving. To back sustainable mobility and the use of collective transport systems and modes of transport with zero or low emissions, acknowledging these actions as substantial improvements of tourists’ experience and the environmental quality of the destination.


Developing participatory governance at destinations To ensure that the governance of a tourist resort includes all stakeholders, especially at local level, and that the role and responsibilities of each party are clearly defined. To acknowledge the need to combine voices, add resources and reach a consensus on planning, with a long-term horizon, for the transition towards sustainable destinations. To involve the local community actively in the planning and decision-taking process and provide for the creation of skills to make it a reality. Supporting a model of sustainable and competitive tourism at the destinations demands the implementation of a long-term vision capable of identifying the changes needed and opportunities from a shared perspective involving all players, clearly defining the process for transition, as reflected in the Arona Memorandum. Consolidating the commitment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals By working in harmony with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), tourist resorts are being called on to promote sustainable tourism as a tool for development, competitiveness and wellbeing, fostering their full integration into the policies implemented at each destination and underlining their function as a catalyst for economic growth and sustainable development.


For this purpose, it is necessary to drive substantial changes in policies, business practices and consumer behaviour in order to achieve a more sustainable tourism sector. As an overarching activity and depending on the characteristics of each destination, the tourism sector can make a substantial contribution to each of the SDG through different routes: Goal 1. Encouraging the development of inclusive tourism and boosting its ability to mobilize resources for the eradication of poverty, social protection, the fair distribution of the benefits of tourism and the empowerment of the most disadvantaged groups. Goal 2. Increasing food security by supporting sustainable agriculture and fishing and by promoting and integrating production, use and sale of local produce at tourist destinations. Goal 3. Contributing to the improvement in healthcare in the destination area, the promotion of healthy forms of tourism, as well as the prevention of health-related risks. Goal 4. Promoting fair and inclusive training and education of high quality in tourism, and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for local communities. Goal 5. Defending gender equality and female empowerment, including the participation of women in the taking of decisions at all management levels in the destination and in the process of designing tourism-oriented products.


Goal 6. Guaranteeing smart and efficient use and management of water, respecting the water cycle and the capacity of the water resources at the destination, as well as ensuring the availability of water for all. Goal 7. Driving energy sustainability and seeking out innovative ways to stimulate additional investment to generalize the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency measures, with the perspective of progressing to 100% renewable-powered destinations. Goal 8. Contributing new routes for the destination’s continued economic growth in a way that is both inclusive and sustainable, supporting entrepreneurship in matters of sustainable tourism and ensuring acceptable and productive jobs in the sector. Goal 9. Fostering innovation and intelligence applied to tourism as a vector for sustainability and competitiveness while at the same time promoting sustainable, resilient infrastructures, as well as the regeneration of degraded areas. Goal 10. Elimination of barriers limiting the integration of individuals and inclusion of equality and equal opportunity criteria into all of the links on the chain of tourism-related activities, including the challenge of universal accessibility. Goal 11. Making destinations more inclusive, creative, safe, resilient and sustainable, while preserving their cultural heritage and common spaces.


Goal 12. Incorporating sustainable consumption and production patterns into the whole of the value chain underlying tourism products, supporting the circular economy and the efficient use of resources.

Goal 13. Mobilizing resources and the necessary ability to innovate to create favourable settings for climate-friendly low-carbon initiatives in such key areas as sustainable mobility, energy, construction and the use of materials, advancing towards the concept of resorts free of CO2. Goal 14. By applying conservation strategies and measures, protect and restore water-based ecosystems and their biodiversity in the face of the potential impacts of tourism-related activities at coastal destinations, and support the sustainable management of fishing resources and fish-farming in connection with activities for tourists. Goal 15. Contributing to the conservation and preservation of biodiversity in situ and in the areas around tourist destinations by increasing the conservation of autochthonous flora and fauna and respecting land-based ecosystems to free them of any kind of pollution or spillage, and raising awareness and interest among tourists and residents regarding their importance. Goal 16. By respecting the cultural diversity of visitors and residents, encouraging and boosting tolerance, interculturality and a culture of peace. Goal 17. By strengthening public-private partnerships and collaboration with other business sectors and civil society at the destination, as well as establishing alliances with other resorts for the interchange of experience and best practices under the premise of sharing to compete.




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