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What the industry can do

The tourism industry can contribute to the conservation of areas that are assets for its development such as parks, protected areas, cultural and natural sites, through financial contributions, provision of environmental infrastructure and improved management. This possible contribution of tourism to conservation is one of the reasons explaining the current interest given to the development of nature tourism. However, for sustainable tourism, there is a need to better understand not only the benefits but also the costs of tourism. There is also a need to develop both a more systematic analysis of direct and indirect costs and benefits from tourism as well as green accounting approaches.

The involvement of local communities in tourism development and operation appears to be one important condition for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. Financial contributions are being made for a limited number of initiatives by the tourism industry and this trend should be further developed. However, focus on nature tourism should not obscure the challenge to make mass tourism sustainable.