Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria

Sustainable Tourism Planning and Development Laboratory USA endorses Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria

The Sustainable Tourism Planning and Development Laboratory today endorsed the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria established by the United Nations Foundation, the Rain Forest Alliance and the United Nations World Tourism Organization according to Dr. Robert Billington its President.

The new criteria extracted the best from the existing standards. Then it develops a common framework to guide the emerging practices of sustainable tourism. This can be used to assist communities, consumers, education institutions and non-governmental organization to ensure that tourism helps rather than harm the environment. According to Francesco Frangialli, Secretary-General of World Tourism Organization, “Tourism is one of the fastest-growing industries and a strong contributor to the sustainable development and poverty alleviation” therefore it is imperative that the world uses sustainable principles to achieve its objectives.

Recognizing the need to become sustainable, the Blackstone River Valley, North America’s industrial birthplace, founded the Sustainable Tourism Planning and Development Laboratory to educate its communities about sustainable principles. The Sustainable Tourism Laboratory works with New England communities to create and build their sustainable tourism programs. The Tourism Laboratory has expanded its mission and is prepared to help communities around the world design customized tourism development programs. The Tourism Laboratory has initiated regional and international conferences presenting experts that educate practitioners and decision makers on sustainable tourism practices. These programs developed strategies that participants use in their communities.

There is a growing need in communities around the world to implement thoughtful tourism planning and development strategies. The Sustainable Tourism Laboratory is designed to meet these needs and overcome the challenges facing communities in the 21st Century with the knowledge that tourism impacts a community positively and negatively.

The Sustainable Tourism Laboratory shares 25 years of the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council’s experience in developing sustainable tourism projects with leaders and community stakeholders seeking to build viable destinations. The Sustainable Tourism Laboratory is an experiential, community-based, learning program that has been implementing sustainable tourism strategies in the United States.

In support of the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria the Sustainable Tourism Laboratory is pleased to endorse and contribute to these standards by offering practical experiences and educating our communities on sustainability. According to Billington, “tourism in its best form creates an understanding of people that cannot be accomplished in any other way. Learning the aspects of a culture while visiting a country is the best way to sustain our planet. The eagerness to learn, explore and to practice tolerance are the seeds of sustainability and tourism adds to this ideal.”

December 9, 2008
Sustainable Tourism Planning and Development Laboratory
Blackstone Valley Visitor Center
175 Main Street
Pawtucket, Rhode Island, USA 02860
Sustainabletourismlab.com
401 724 2200