Sustainable Tourism Development: Roles of International Organizations

This essay delves into the concept of sustainable tourism development, highlighting its significance in the modern world. It examines the roles and responsibilities of various international organizations, including the UNWTO, UNESCO, and others, in fostering sustainable tourism practices globally. The essay provides specific examples of how these organizations have influenced tourism in different destinations through projects and international agreements, particularly in developing countries. Furthermore, it critically analyzes the effectiveness of these organizations' work, offering a justification for their involvement in promoting sustainable tourism. The essay emphasizes the importance of community involvement and resource redistribution in achieving sustainable development, addressing the existing gap between developed and less developed nations in the tourism sector.

Running Head: Sustainable Tourism Development
Sustainable Tourism Development
Institution
Name
Date

Sustainable Tourism Development
Tourism is viewed as one of the World's vast industry hence bearing the potential of continued
growth in order to uphold that status appropriately into the twenty-first century (Pender &
Sharpley, 2004) It is therefore important to note that the tourism industry represents a key
environmental, economic and socio-cultural influence (Hall & Jenkins, 2003). However, the
importance of public policy process in tourism has been neglected. Recently, tourism has been
perceived as an integral part of various programmes of government in both the developed and
lesser developed nations.
Sustainable tourism development refers to all the efforts that are directed towards achieving a
low impact mainly on the local culture and the environment while making sure it generates
future job opportunities for the local people (Theobald, William F., 2013) Therefore, all the
social, economic and environmental aspects of sustainable development should consider the
interests of all the key stakeholders such as the local communities, indigenous people industry,
visitors and government (Kunkel, Lily Marlene, 2010).
There are various international organizations which seek to promote sustainable tourism
development across the globe (Fayos-Sola E. , 2014). They include the UNWTO, UNESCO,
Asian Development Bank (ADB), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWN) etc. Such organizations
were formed under the framework that recognizes ecotourism as a cross-cutting activity that can
promote the creation of employment and education and the ability to contribute significantly to
the preservation of fauna and flora by encouraging communities and visitors to conserve natural
and cultural heritage. They also highlight the importance of ecotourism in raising the socio-
economic welfare of the local communities.
2

Sustainable Tourism Development
This essay will focus on discussing the responsibilities and functions of various types of
organizations in tourism, give instances of how tourism has been influenced in different
destinations as a result of international agreements or these organizations, examine the
effectiveness of their work and provide a justification for the involvement of the international
organization in tourism for the pursuit of sustainable tourism.
The various organizations in tourism have been playing different roles. This is coupled with
community tourism (Murphy & Murphy, 2004). For instance, the United Nations World Tourism
Organization (UNWTO) gives sponsorship to the less developed countries to help change
tourism sector as a panacea to alleviating the pressing social and economic problems. It conducts
research studies for the tourism market, prepares drafts regarding international agreements on
tourism, and organizes conferences and seminars on various issues such as the development of
infrastructure, aviation, planning, and marketing shared by a majority of nations. It also collects
information on tourism which consists of special events, statistical facilities, legislation and
regulation, gathers, analyses and distributing relevant information on various aspects of tourism
and the provision of updated information.
The United Federation of Travel Agents Association (UFTAA) founded in Roma in 1996
provides its members with the necessary technical and professional advice, material and help to
enable them to assume their proper place in world tourism economy. It also seeks to oppose
legislators that are either directly or indirectly harmful to tourism.
The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) provide viable information and practical assistance
in the field of tourism and helps upcoming destinations to develop their infrastructure.
3

Sustainable Tourism Development
These international organizations have partnered with the National Tourism Organization of
different countries especially the third world nations on key tourism projects. For instance, the
United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) within its framework of ST-EP
(Sustainable Tourism-Eliminating Poverty), gave support to Uganda’s Ministry of Tourism in
implementing the Kisiizi Falls tourism project situated on the Rushona River. The project’s
objective was to appraise activities of tourists at Kisiizi Falls by constructing toilets, visitor
center, viewing points, hiking trails, a lagoon, a hanging bridge, a monument, a zip line,
information boards and road signage.
The project also ensured the mobilization of the community and provision of training in
hospitality services and guiding skills (Briggs & Roberts, 2016). The project was successfully
completed at the end of August 2017 through the generous contribution from the ST-EP
Foundation and the Korea Tourism Organization. Consequently, the Kisiizi Falls is witnessing an
increase in tourist traffic (7,856 tourists recorded during the first half of 2017). Community
businesses are also benefiting from the sales of tourist services and products. The disadvantages
members of the community, who otherwise would be unable to access medical care are now
catered for by the Good Samaritan Fund that gets some share of the tourism income.
The UNWTO completed activities of yet another ST-EP project recently on a community-based
ecotourism. It is located in two villages called Borey Osvay and Preah Rumkel along the
Mekong River in northern Cambodia. It was launched in May 2016 with the generous
contribution from Europamundo, a Spanish foundation and implemented by Mlup Baitong, a
renowned Cambodian NGO. The project assisted both community-based ecotourism (CBET)
sites in Preah Rumkel and Boray to improve their marketing materials and advertisement with an
aim of raising the tourist population. The UNWTO collaborated with the CBETCs for each
4

Sustainable Tourism Development
ecotourism site and did the following; installed 5 bill boards, produced 6 attractive road maps
and tour itineraries and designed tree planting areas for tourists. They also compiled relevant
information on tourist attractions of the area and uploaded photos to the website of the Provincial
Department of Tourism of Stung Treng. In the course of the project, the number of visiting
tourists reached an estimated 4,200. The income generated was about 13,000USD in the period
of twelve months of the project establishment.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has been
actively taking action in the Congo Basin since 2000 focusing mainly on the improvement of
conservation and management of Natural World Heritage Sites. Considering that the forests of
Central Africa represent the World's second largest tropical rainforest after the Amazon, the
conservation of the Congo Basin forest is important for its 30 million inhabitants who rely on the
endless list of environmental products and services provided by the forest. The area also plays a
vital role in carbon sequestration and regulation of climate (Megevand, Caroline, 2013).
These international organizations have successfully achieved most of their objectives in
promoting sustainable development in the tourism industry, especially in the less developed
countries. The effectiveness of their programmes has been realized through proper research
conducted on the potential benefits before implementation of the various tourism projects.for
instance, the Kisiizi Falls project in Uganda generated 9,146,000 Ugandan shilling from entry fee
and 2,577,505 UGX from product sales in the first half of 2017. The income goes to the activities
of alleviating poverty through the provision of socio-economic welfare for the local communities
and the economy at large. Looking at the statistics provided by the tourism organizations such as
UNESCO and UNWTO, it is evident that their efforts in promoting sustainable tourism
development have yielded tremendous results.
5

Sustainable Tourism Development
The involvement of International Organizations in tourism for the pursuit of sustainable tourism
is justifiable in a number of ways. For instance, they have the necessary resources such as
sufficient and qualified workforce and finances required for these huge tasks of biodiversity
conservation (Suresh, Kumar, 2015). They are able to offer partnerships with governments of the
respective nations on issues of tourism promotion and sustainability (Lennon, Smith, Cockerell,
& Trew, 2006). The International Organizations provide a viable avenue for redistributing wealth
from developed countries to the less developed ones through the financial and technical support
for reliable and effective commercialization of tourism (Edgell & Swanson, 2013).
Conclusively, tourism can set the pace for economic growth and development through
accelerated investment in realizing the full potential of the industry (Denman & Denman, 2004).
This is likely to be achieved through partnerships of these organizations and the respective less
developed countries with a common goal of ensuring sustainable tourism development. Several
studies have associated world heritage with the development of tourism of the African Continent
emphasizing on the potential for heritage to become a driving force behind tourism especially in
the developing and lesser developed countries. Therefore, it is important to appreciate the
ongoing participation of the International Tourism Organizations in promoting international
tourism growth. However, the existing gap between the most highly developed nations in regards
to tourism and those that are less developed (some even not at all) should be fully addressed.
These organizations should take into consideration the best criteria that will ensure sustainable
development, in particular through community involvement and the redistribution of the
available resources. It is important to note that the right drive instituted in majority of the
International Tourism Organizations has contributed largely in the framework of attaining
sustainable tourism development, main focus being on the less developed countries.
6

Sustainable Tourism Development
7

Sustainable Tourism Development
Reference
Briggs, P., & Roberts, A. (2016). Uganda. Bridt Travel Guides.
Colin Michael Hall, J. M. (2003). Tourism and Public Policy. London: Thomson.
David L. Edgell, S. J. (2013). Tourism Policy and Planning: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. Routledge.
Denman, R., & Denman, J. (2004). Touurism and Poverty Alleviation. World Tourism Organization.
Edgell, D. L., & Swanson, J. R. (2013). Tourism Policy and Planning: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.
Routledge.
Fayos-Sola, E. (2014). Tourism as an Instrument of Development: A Theoretical and Practical Study.
Emarald Group Publishing.
Hall, C. M., & Jenkins, J. M. (2003). Tourism and Public Policy. London: Thomson.
John Lennon, H. S. (2006). Benchmarking National Tourism Organizations and Agencies. Routledge.
Kunkel, L. M. (2010). International Tourism Policy and the Role of Governments in Tourism in the Context
of Sustainability. GRIN Verlag.
Lennon, J., Smith, H., Cockerell, N., & Trew, J. (2006). Benchmarking National Tourism Organizations and
Agencies. Routledge.
Lesley Pender, R. S. (2004). The Management of Tourism. SAGE.
Megevand, Caroline. (2013). Derorestation Trends in the Congo Basin: Reconciling Economic Growth and
Forest Protection. World Bank Publications.
Murphy, P. P., & Murphy, A. E. (2004). Strategic Management for Tourism Communities: Bridging the
Gap. Channel View Publishers.
Pender, L., & Sharpley, R. (2004). The Management of Tourism. SAGE.
Philip Briggs, A. R. (2016). Uganda. Bradt Travel Guide.
Prof. Peter E. Murphy, A. E. (2004). Strategic Management for Tourism Communities: Bridging the Gaps.
Channel View Publishers.
Richard Denman, J. D. (2004). Tourism and Poverty Alleviation: recommendations for action. World
Tourism Organization.
Suresh, K. (2015). International Tourism and Hospitality in the Digital Age.
Suresh, Kumar. (2015). International Tourism and Hospitality in the Digital Age.
Theobald, William F. (2013). Global Tourism. Routledge.
8