Sustainable tourism and environmental protection
The aim of sustainable tourism is to strike a balance between the environmental, economic and socio-cultural aspects of tourism development. This type of tourism is particularly important for environmental protection. It strives to reduce the impact of tourism not only on the environment, but on local communities and culture as well. The idea is to create conditions for natural and cultural values to remain for future generations without having a negative impact on profit, employment and development of communities. Sustainable tourism thus emphasizes the positive influence of tourism on environmental protection and local communities.
Sustainable development provides the important funds for protection of habitats. The funds tourists spend while visiting a site are often re-invested in protection and promotion of the area. In addition to funds for active protection of important natural areas, there are also funds for small local communities whose livelihoods depend on these tourist sites.
This type of tourism is also a channel for education and raising awareness among visitors and tourists about the importance of environmental protection, particularly protection of biodiversity.
Sustainable tourism is a branch in the travel industry committed to decreasing the overall impact of tourism in all areas, particularly natural values. It creates a positive line of systems that promote protected area, the local population, tourists as well as travel organisations and agents.
The United Nation’s World Tourism Organisation defines sustainable tourism as tourism that addresses the needs of visitors and the industry, while it protects nature and opens up possibilities for long-term development of the location. This means that sustainable tourism is not just a simple product, service or offer, but a specific part of the economy committed to the values of sustainable development. This type of tourism has an integral approach to ensuring good tourism experience and environmental protection.
