Sustainable tourism is currently being promoted in all countries which are being encouraged by governments, agencies and private enterprise. The World Tourism Organization (WTO) states that:
«Sustainable tourism development meets the needs of tourists and host regions present, while protecting and enhancing the opportunities of the future. It is focused on the management of all resources so as to satisfy the economic needs, social and aesthetic, while respecting cultural integrity, essential ecological processes, biological diversity and systems of life support. »
There are certain principles that define sustainable tourism among them are:
1 .- To plan and manage tourism in a way that preserves the environment and human society and culture cause no damage.
2 .- The conservation of natural and cultural resources for continuous use in the future and at the same time generate benefits.
3 .- To maintain and improve environmental quality.
4 .- It raises the prestige of maintaining target levels of visitor satisfaction.
5 .- Society benefit with this kind of tourism.
The traditional tourism in many places had a negative impact this has caused many losses in economic, social and environmental drawbacks to it. Sustainable tourism needs to look earlier in the design of tourism products and services to offer.
Although it is believed that the traditional tourism generates economic gains to the countries and creates jobs but it might cause adverse effects on the communities where it can be done like generating inflation in the cost of land, increase in the basic family basket, increase in agricultural production costs, eviction of families and entire communities from their land and others. The employment generated is usually not very skilled which does not contribute positively, in addition is not always stable and seasonal.
Investment in infrastructure should be balanced with other productive activities in the area concerned; the benefit of generating construction can affect agricultural activities and other environmental impacts. Additionally, if you’re not careful the benefits of tourism could be mainly in the countries of origin because many of them belong to large multinationals such as hotel chains, airlines, tour operators that define and impose the prices according to their convenience in these countries of origin and detrimental to the destination countries.
Referring to the environmental impact may be that natural resources are overexploited and the scenery undergoes decay, water use is greatly affected, treatment of wastes, solid and liquid waste is not seen before. Air pollution by gases are produced by vehicles and equipment that consume electricity.
With regard to socio-cultural impact of tourism on host societies can increase social differentiation when the benefits are not fairly distributed, but tend to remain in some areas and minority groups in the population. Culture can also be modified with the introduction of the preferences of the majority groups that visit a particular area, such as westernization of crafts, dances and rituals to please and satisfy these market segments.
To meet the basic requirements should be reviewed and constantly monitor the impacts of three categories: socio-cultural, economic and environmental development of indicators.
For example, ecotourism is a form of sustainable tourism because in addition to worrying about the environment also takes into account socioeconomic factors. The local population of the target site is enhanced with this type of tourism. However, they may arise under the name of «eco-tourism» unsustainable ways when it respects the environment but it affects the communities of the area vacated or pressured to sell their land and properties at very low prices.
In conclusion, sustainable tourism more than one category within tourism is a philosophy of life in which one becomes aware of the fragility of the places visited and therefore there is a limit to what can be developed. It should promote «the optimal use of economic resources, social, cultural and natural target area while maintaining lower levels of visitor satisfaction.»