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World Ecotourism Summit Sets International Guidelines

Delegates from 133 countries concluded the recent World Ecotourism Summit with the announcement of the Québec Declaration on Ecotourism, a new tool for the international development of tourism practices that prioritize local communities and the environment. Read More

Delegates from 133 countries concluded the recent World Ecotourism Summit with the announcement of the Quebec Declaration on Ecotourism, a new tool for the international development of tourism practices that prioritize local communities and the environment

“I am convinced that the Quebec Declaration on Ecotourism will become the point of reference for all future discussion and debate,” said David de Villiers, assistant secretary-general of the World Tourism Organization. “This summit and the declaration are important steps, however a lot of work remains to be done, notably in the fight against poverty — a cause ecotourism can contribute to.”

The declaration was developed through the work of the more than 1,100 officials from around the globe who participated in the summit. Participants worked to clarify the concept of ecotourism, and discussed: ecotourism policy and planning; regulation of ecotourism; marketing strategies, and monitoring costs and benefits. The declaration will be presented at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in August.

“The impressive number of stakeholders and ecotourism practitioners that were able to participate in the summit offers great hope for the full implementation of the Quebec Declaration”, said Oliver Hillel, tourism program coordinator for the United Nations Environment Program. “Through implementation of agreed guidelines, principles and standards, the follow-up regional consultations and concrete demonstration projects, the first-ever Ecotourism Summit has signaled that ecotourism, in practice, can contribute to poverty alleviation and environmental protection, the twin goals of the upcoming Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development.”

Organizers of the summit called on all countries to promote and support ecotourism.

“The Quebec Declaration signifies that from now on, ecotourism must be considered a privileged tool, leading the way and paving the road toward a tourism that is truly sustainable,” said Richard Legendre, the minister responsible for Youth, Tourism, Recreation and Sport and Minister responsible for Wildlife and Parks. “It is an expression of our belief that sustainable tourism can contribute to the more global effort of protecting the sustainability of our planet’s resources.”

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