Tourism is one of the world’s fastest growing industries and is a major source of income for many countries. It can have both positive and negative impacts towards the image of the particular destinations tourism image. Sustainable tourism development attempts to find the balance between Environment, Economic and Culture to create an improved quality of life for the host community. The paper analyses about the concepts, practices, strategies, issues and trends of Sustainable Tourism Development

1. Sustainable Tourism Development
Kavindu Jayawardana
Department of Interdesciplinary Studies,
Faculty of Information Technology,
University of Moratuwa,
Katubedda, Moratuwa, Sri Lanka
mail.kavindu@gmail.com
Abstract
Tourism is one of the world’s fastest growing industries
and is a major source of income for many countries. It
can have both positive and negative impacts towards the
image of the particular destinations tourism image.
Sustainable tourism development attempts to find the
balance between Environment, Economic and Culture to
create an improved quality of life for the host
community. The paper analyses about the concepts,
practices, strategies, issues and trends of Sustainable
Tourism Development
Key Words: Sustainable development, Tourism, Tourism
development, Ecotourism, Tourism strategy development
I. INTRODUCTION
Over the past few decades, tourism experienced
continued expansion and diversification, becoming
one of the largest and fastest growing economic
sectors in the world. Many new destinations have
emerged apart from the traditional favorites of Europe
and North America. Tourism has affected directly and
indirectly for 9% of the GDP globally and every single
employee of 11 employees engage in a tourism related
job. According to the Statistics of World Tourism
Organization (WTO), they predict 1.8 billion of
international tourists in 2030. [9]
According to the definition of World Tourism
Organization (WTO) Sustainable Tourism
Development is "Tourism that takes full account of its
current and future economic, social and
environmental impacts, addressing the needs of
visitors, the industry, and the environment and host
communities" (UN-WTO 2002)
“Sustainable tourism development guidelines and
management practices are applicable to all forms of
tourism in all types of destinations, including mass
tourism and the various niche tourism segments.
Sustainability principles refer to the environmental,
economic, and socio-cultural aspects of tourism
development, and a suitable balance must be
established between these three dimensions to
guarantee its long-term sustainability.”[3] Also it
includes a positive, and integrated approach to tourism
development, which involves resource management
and working together with stakeholders for the long-
term viability and quality of the social, economic and
environmental resources.
Even though attempts have been taken to develop
tourism in a sustainable manner, they have issues in
lack of quality, reliability, technical content, maturity,
equity, and effectiveness.
However tourism can bring many advantages to all of
its stakeholders including visitors, local communities
and wider society. Tourism provide a political and
financial support for the host countries. Tourism is
benefited in a way by providing local economic
opportunities. Tourism has a direct relationship with
the economic development through the services such
as accommodation, food and beverages and all supply
chains related with those activities. Also through
increased economic activities public services such as
internet services, public transport, maintenance of
roads, health-care and specially it develops poorly
developed services in rural areas. It leads avoiding
depopulation of those areas by encouraging younger
generation to make a living in rural areas.
As well as tourism builds the local identity of the host
countries through the appreciation by the visitors of
the local culture and it is easier to sustain traditions
and social values. Working together on tourism
development creates better understanding between the
partnered businesses and individuals helping to
empower communities to strengthen the civil society.
Also tourism provides an income for protecting nature.
After having experience such as hiking, cycling and
kayaking, the visitors tend to make a donation for the
protection of the environment they enjoyed. [8].
II. HOW TOURISM AND SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT LINKED
Since the 1992 Global UN Rio de Janeiro Conference
on sustainable development, sustainability has been
widely accepted as the basis for planning and
managing the way we live now and in the future.
Sustainable development is “Development that meets
the needs of the present without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their own needs”
(Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1987)

2. A. Booming Tourism
People have always had the desire to explore to travel
and to experience other cultures. “It was about 200
years ago that individuals who travelled for pleasure
or curiosity were first defined as “tourists”. But the
tourism go back much further” [8]. Today tourism
have become a part of the European life style seeking
health and pleasure. They have more holidays and the
increased average income levels motivate them to
travel more. “Tourism is a booming business. It
produces almost 5% of the world’s economic turnover,
employs around 200 million people globally and is the
fastest growing industry. Tourism is also one of the
main economic drivers of Europe’s rural economies;
directly and indirectly it accounts for around 10% of
European GDP and 20 million jobs1. Between 2000
and 2010 European countries recorded over 440
million annual international visitor arrivals. On top of
this, an even greater amount of tourism activity can be
added in the form of own-country (domestic) tourists
and people on day trips.” [8].
B. Pressure on resources
Tourism is a good source of income and provides a
social and economic development for many rural
regions. Though the high profits are realized short
term the partners should ensure the durability of the
destinations in the long run. If nature or landscapes are
damaged the tourist attractions may lose out. When too
many visitors are placed at the wrong place at the
wrong time can cause erosions, disturbing wildlife by
creating excessive noise and increased air and water
pollution affect the sustainability of the locations. Also
the communities may affect by the constructions of
new infrastructure and limitations of access leading
anger and conflicts.
III. SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
A specific definition for sustainable tourism is not yet
defined. But the definitions share some common
attributes such as quality, continuity, and balance.
Quality expect providing a quality experience for
visitors while improving the quality of life of the host
community and protecting the quality of the
environment. Continuity means ensuring the
continuity of natural resources upon which it is based
and the continuity of the culture of the host community
with satisfying experience for visitors. Sustainable
tourism balances the needs of the tourism industry and
the local community. Sustainable tourism emphasizes
mutual goals and cooperation among visitors, the host
community, and the destinations. These goals include
to improve the quality of host community, to preserve
the environment and natural resources for future, to
protect the quality of the environment by maintaining
biological diversity and ecological systems, to ensure
the cultural integrity and social cohesion of
communities and to provide a high quality experience
for visitors.
To detail further United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP) and World Tourism Organization
(UN-WTO) has identified twelve aims for sustainable
tourism.
i. Economic Viability – ensure the viability and
competitiveness of tourism initiatives so that
they are able to continue to grow and deliver
benefits in the long run.
ii. Local prosperity – maximize the contribution
of tourism to the prosperity of the host
destination, including the proportion of
visitors spending that is retained locally.
iii. Employment quality – strengthen the quality
of the created jobs and supported by tourism,
including the level of pay etc.
iv. Social equity – divide the benefits from
tourism in all sectors of the community
including improving opportunities and
services available to poor.
v. Visitor fulfillment – provide a safe
experience for visitors without any
discrimination in gender, race or in other
ways.
vi. Local control – get the participation of local
communities in planning and decision taking
about the relevant developments.
vii. Community well-being – strengthen the
quality of life in local communities.
viii. Cultural richness – respect and enhance the
historic heritages, culture and traditions
ix. Physical integrity – maintain the quality of
landscapes, both in rural and urban areas.
x. Biological Diversity – support the
conservation of natural areas, habitats and
wildlife and minimize damage to them.

3. xi. Resource efficiency – minimize the use of
scarce resources in the development and
operation of tourism.
xii. Environment purity - minimize the pollution
of water, air and land and the generation of
waste by tourism activities and visitors [8].
Also tourism planning, development, and operation
should be part of sustainable development strategies.
They should incorporate several sectors, involving
different government, private corporations, citizen
groups and individuals. Those corporations should
follow ethical and other principles that respect the
culture and environment of the area, the traditional
way of life, the community and traditional behavior,
and political patterns.
Tourism should be planned and managed in a
sustainable manner to extract the appropriate uses of
the natural and human environment in host areas. Also
prior to the development and during the development,
good information and communication on the nature of
tourism and effects on the human and cultural
environment should be available. Also local people
should make aware about those information so that
they can participate in and influence the direction of
development and the effects. Also they should be
encouraged to take the leadership in planning and
development with the assistance of the relevant
parties.
Most specially integrated environmental, social and
economic planning analyses should carried out prior to
the major projects. Also throughout all stages of
tourism development and operations a careful
assessment and mediation programmes should be
implemented to allow the people and others take the
advantage of opportunities or to respond to changes.
IV. CONCEPTS FOR MANAGING
SUSTAIANBLE TOURISM
DEVELOPMENT
A. Carrying Capacity
Carrying capacity is “the physical and social capacity
of the environment, meaning the ability of nature and
the cultural environment to react to intervention
without losing value, properties and qualities”. It
represents the intensity of the use a certain
environment can stand over a determined period of
time without damaging its sustainable potential for the
respective use. Actually it is a method to establish
critical or maximum values acceptable to use which,
once exceeded, have a negative influence and damage
normal development. There are types of carrying
capacity
a) Physical capacity – number of tourists a place
can physically accommodate
b) Environmental/Ecological capacity - Number
of visitors that can be accommodate before
damage to be caused to the environment or
ecosystem.
c) Economic capacity - The number of tourists
that can be welcomed before the local
community start to suffer economic
problems.
d) Social capacity - The number of people
beyond which social disruption damage will
occur
e) Perceptual capacity – the number of people a
place can welcome before the quality of the
tourist experience begins to be adversely
affected.
f) Infrastructure capacity - The number of
tourists that can be accommodate by the
destination infrastructure.
B. Government Interventions
A central authority takes mandatory measures to
reduce environmental degradation in order to prevent
pollution and control
C. Economic Approach
Instruments such as taxes are enact to reduce
environmental degradation to prevent pollution and to
encourage sustainable practices.
D. Self-regulation
Self-regulation is tourism industry itself taking
responsibility for its own action.
E. Education
Educating tourists on developing and displaying more
sustainable behaviors at the destination. Education is
done to encourage sustainable consumption patterns
by educating them to see the effects of their actions on
the environment and to modify their behavior.

4. F. Monitoring
Regular assessment of an issue with regards to specific
goals, objectives and expectations set based on this
issue. This is done to provide a clear measurement of
progress and to keep updated information and
enhanced knowledge to assist in the movement from
theory to practice.
G. Marketing and Information services
Destinations market segment in order to attract the
types of tourists they want. The main objective of
marketing and information services is promote
product offerings and reduce seasonality by promoting
off season opportunities.
H. Environmental Management
Allocation of natural and artificial resources that will
make optimum use of the environment to satisfy at
least the basic human needs.
I. Cleaner Production
“The continuous application of an integrated
preventive environmental strategy to processes,
products, and services to increase overall efficiency,
and reduce risks to humans and the environment”
(United Nations Environment Programme, 2006) [1].
V. SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AND THE
ENVIRONMENT
Concept of sustainability arose with the fact of earth’s
limited resources could not fulfil the rapid population
and industrial growth. In early time it was recognized
as tourism can be beneficial to the natural environment
by promoting environmental conservation, it was
identified that it also has negative impacts as well.
Usually tourists wish to visit clean places which are
not polluted and attractive. Tourism and environment
can consider as entities which are strongly linked and
independent.
A. Ecolabeling
As an effort to reduce the negative environmental
impacts tourism may have on a destination an
accreditation system called ecolabeling has been
developed in some destinations. It encourages the
enterprises to act responsibly in order to receive the
accreditation. Standards should reflect the concepts of
sustainable tourism development with regards to
natural resources, environmental conservation and
pollution. Through this tourists are also educated on
tourist related impacts encouraging them to act in a
more responsible manner. Ecolabeling is highly
beneficial for the developing countries because it
attracts more responsible international tourists through
the use of international ecolabeling system
B. Socio-cultural Impact
Most of the tourist attractions and activities are related
to both the natural environment and historic and
cultural heritage of a particular area. If these resources
are destroyed tourism cannot thrive. Maintaining the
cultural traditions and ethnic identities is another
important element of conserving cultural heritage of
an area. Below factors can consider as pillars of
sustainable tourism in the aspect of socio-cultural
background.
a) Community involvement
Community should be encourage to become involved
in the development involved in the development
process. Even though the community participation
may have limitations depending on the destination.
Especially in developing countries.
b) Community conflict
Community conflicts are arise because of the
traditional cultures which are rooted in the
communities. Most of the young crowd accept the fact
that tourism creates a less rigid society. For example,
usually the younger population who are exposed to
tourists are like to follow their dresses and habitats.
This may be a positive impact for those who expect a
more relaxed life style while it can be seen as a
negative trend to older population. Such matters may
lead to conflict within communities.
Also there might be more conflicts through the
creation of new jobs. This is happened because of not
fairly spreading the economic opportunities among
communities. In resort communities tourism provide
more job opportunities for women. In return it
increases the family tensions and also women need to
struggle to balance both their traditional role and the
job. But such conflicts are not permanent and can be
resolved.
c) Cultural change
Culture plays a major role in attracting tourists to a
destination. Tourism demand can also affect cultural

5. festivals and ceremonies. Tourist interest in cultural
activities can also result in invasions of residents’
privacy.
d) Cultural interpretation
One of the main objectives of cultural interpretation is
to assist visitors in developing a keener awareness,
appreciation, and understanding of the area and culture
of the people they are visiting. Goal of community
interpretation is to link people with sites, stories and
info ration about an area. Also this provides a more
enriching experience for visitors and helps them to
differentiate one destination from another.
C. Environmental Impact
Although it is recognized that tourism can be
beneficial to the natural environment by promoting
environment conservation, tourism also has a negative
impact on the environment. Governments should pay
more attention to environment protection. Most
tourists wish to visit attractive areas which are clean
and not polluted. A high level of environmental quality
is needed for the local residents as well. Tourism can
make local residents more aware of the quality of their
environment and support maintenance where
necessary.
VI. STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT
Strategy development is more related with partnership
building process. Strategies should be made based on
careful consultation and assessment of resources. Also
it should be understood by all the parties who are
involving in the process including the public sector,
private sector, NGOs, community and the educational
institutes and research bodies. Also efforts should be
made to strengthen the link needed to prepare
innovative packages. Identifying the stakeholders in
the process is known as the participative planning and
once the participative planning is done the strategy
development process can start.
i. Define the area – the area to be influenced by
the strategy. It should include the
geographical description of the boundaries
and general description of the boundaries and
physical characteristics. Also the area should
be recognizable to visitors and the local
people through an historic or natural physical
linkage.
ii. Assessment of the area – assess all the
resources including natural geographical
resources such as landscapes, mountains,
waterfalls, lakes and beaches; cultural
resources such as cultural heritages,
archeological sites, paintings, folklore,
cultural events and festivals; and social and
economic resources such as human
resources, community organizational
structures, and available infrastructure such
as roads, bridges and communication etc.
iii. Assessment of available tourism facilities –
assessing present tourism facilities and
services such as providers of accommodation
food and drink, tourism operators and service
providers, information points and other
facilities. It is recommended to assess all the
details such as type and quality of the
facilities. Also most importantly it is needed
to acquire information about the unofficial
hospitality providers too.
iv. Assessment of tourism demand – accurate
information should be gathered about the
current and potential visitor numbers,
experience and satisfaction of current
visitors, type of tourists: their needs and
expenditures. Here it should ensure that not
estimating the potential visitor numbers and
expenditure. To collect information primary
and secondary research techniques are used.
v. Assessment of context and framework for
tourism development – main focus will be on
the positive and negative impacts of regional
and national policies, funding opportunities,
environmental and cultural conservation,
rural development etc.
vi. SWOT analysis and strategic objectives – the
assessment of the above factors in resources,
tourism facilities and demand are used as an
input for an analysis of strengths, weakness,
opportunities and threats (SWOT). This give
an idea of the position and the level of the
strategy that should be taken. SWOT analysis
decides the future in terms of quality and
quantity of tourism development, visitor
management, community involvement,
heritage conservation and marketing.
vii. Action plan – an action plan need to be
developed with the stakeholders and include
programmes that support the achievement of
objectives stated prior.

6. viii. Proposals and monitoring – continuous
monitoring of what is happening on the
ground is essential. It is needed to decide the
benchmarks and control the process. If
anything is not meeting the standards the
relevant steps need to be taken immediately
to make the process accurate and up to the
standards. Also it is important to share the
results. [8].
Figure 1: Tourism Assessment Process [7].
VII. SMART GUIDELINES FOR
SUCCESSFUL PLANNING OBJECTIVES
SMART criteria is use in setting objectives in project
management and employee performance
management. The objective of this criteria is, it is
easier to understand and measure the progress. In
tourism planning and development SMART is used in
a unique way according to the industry.
A. Output-oriented
Output oriented defines objectives deal with the results
of an activity. It describes what is to be accomplished.
“Provide 3,000 visitors annually with a world-class
wildlife viewing opportunity” [8].
B. Specific
Objectives should provide a clear vision of what is to
be accomplished to all the relevant parties. So soon
after the partners agree to the objective, they all are
clear to its meaning and all are bind for their specific
role in achieving the objective. The time frame is fixed
here. Example: ““Over the next 3 years, labour income
from park tourism should increase 4% per year” (The
time-frame is fixed, the increase is explicit and the
term “labour income” has a shared meaning.)” [8].
C. Measurable
Measurable objective provide a clear basis for evaluate
the progress. So managers have a clear idea about
where the required efforts need to be placed in the
future. Moreover managers are aware about what
elements in the destination need to be monitored,
where and with what frequency. Example: ““Over the
next three years, labour income from park tourism
should increase 4% per year.” (This indicates that local
labour income needs to be measured at least once per
year over the first three years of the protected area
plan.)” [8].
D. Attainable
Objectives must be realistic with the time frame. Also
they should be achievable with the available funds and
the human resources. Especially attainable objectives
provide a motivation for others. Example: “Increase
the average ecological knowledge of visitors by 50%
within five years” [8].
E. Time-bound
The time frame of the objective should be specified.
So it provide the direction needed to develop the
appropriate management decisions at time. Example:
“Within five years, provide 3,000 visitors annually
with a world- class wildlife viewing opportunity.” In
the example the time is specified as “Within five
years” [8].
VIII. SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES IN TOURISM
Sustainability practices are becoming increasingly
common. Individuals and corporations have started to
think about it and debate it more frequently.
Sustainability issues have become an essential part of
the social and political sector in most countries.
Corporate and professional ethics should emphasized.
All stakeholders including local communities should
get together and discuss this in an open discussion. A
special concern should pay on educating the young
people on the environmental issues and instilling the
values in their minds seems an essential factor. Also
some issues have been identified as some common
issues related to sustainable tourism development.

7. - Exclusive nature of tourism is a major issue.
Nature of tourism is different from a
destination to another destination and
opportunities should uniquely identified to
implement better strategies. Investment
activities in accessing the product has been
limited.
- Also there is an issue between policy and the
practices. Sustainable tourism development
policies should align with community
participation and benefits arising from
tourism.
- Narrow definition of tourism is another issue.
There are many aspects of tourism related to
a particular destination and those aspects
should identified well. For an example
concerning only on hotels should not be the
tourism should not be the policy.
- Resource management is also an important
issue. Resources are different from
destination to destination. Countries do not
identify their unique resources in tourism
planning which benefit in attracting more
visitors.
- Most of the participants do not have a clear
vision in sustainable tourism development
- Also there is not a visible intellectual
leadership. The concept have to deal with
fundamentals when it comes to the industry.
Even the researchers are focus on this
industry. Even most of the researches are
historical. [2]
IX. TRENDS OF SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
Tourism industry has been recognized as a really fast
growing industries in the world and can be used as an
efficient driver in economic development.
A. Indigenous and community tourism
Community tourism is becoming a trend in many
countries. “Community tourism is founded on a
different philosophy referred as “living well” whose
central purpose is to live in harmony with nature. This
type of tourism focuses on those who have a different
way of seeing the world and want to use their five
senses when they travel; people who wish to interact,
get to know the culture, see how community protects
its territory and above all, get to know the families and
understand how they live and why they are as they are”
[11]. By strengthening community based tourism
enterprises and support the creation of new ones, try to
find new ventures marketing their unique resources in
the destination. Prepare and implement instruments
and methodologies for territorial tourism management
is another trend. Some countries prepare and
implement strategies to market and promote national
tourism supply in the internal market in the context of
an intercultural and economic coordination.
B. Public and private sector synergy
Now destination wise sustainable tourism is becoming
a popular topic with the issue of over development and
under development in some destinations. Now public
sector is more corporate with the private sector and the
combination and coordination leads sustainable
tourism in many destinations. This promote long tern
planning process while multiplying jobs and providing
a unforgettable experience for the tourists assuring the
well-being and improved management of natural and
cultural resources.
C. Ecotourism
“Ecotourism is sustainable tourism in (protected)
nature areas. It should include visitor interpretation
and should involve or benefit local communities.”
[UN-WTO, 2002] Sustainable tourism is not mere
ecotourism and it should not confused with nature
tourism as well. It is a type of a sustainable tourism
including communities and sustainable travel.
Ecotourism should basically minimize the impact and
should provide positive experience for both visitors
and hosts. Ecotourism provide financial benefits for
local people while empowering them.
D. Agritourism
Recent times here has been a substantial increase in
the field of agritourism. Agritourism ranges from
activities related with agriculture such as milking
cattle, plucking tea leaves, rubber tapping and working
in paddy field related activities.
E. Ethical Tourism
“Ethical Tourism is a growing sector. Tourists and tour
companies are staying away from countries like
Burma (Myanmar) where torture, human rights
abuses, forced labour on tourism projects, and mass

8. disruption for local communities from tourism
development occur.” [6].
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
I would like to pay my sincere gratitude to supervisor
of Independent Studies Mrs. Mufitha Buhari, lecturer
at Faculty of Information Technology for her guidance
and enormous support. I am also indebted to the
Faculty of Information Technology, University of
Moratuwa for giving me this opportunity to study an
extremely interesting research topic on Sustainable
Tourism Development.
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