Sustainable Development & Tourism

The importance of Sustainable Tourism

Manuel Martínez Viñas

Sustainable Development has been one of the most recognizable topics in any situation
imaginable. Due to the environmental crisis our planet is going through, many specialists
supported by worldwide governments started to work around this complex matter that affects
every single aspect related to our planet, and humanity.

In September 2015, The United Nations General Assembly finally approved the 2030
Agenda for Sustainable Development, where we can take a look at 17 ambitious
objectives to combat poverty, assure peace and prosperity and save the planet against the
high index of contamination worldwide.

Tourism is one of the most important bases of the economy no matter which continent or
country we would like to take a look at. Since its development due to globalisation, started in
the 20th Century, the influence of tourism has been strong and expanding every year.
According to the UNWTO, more than 900 million travellers had been confirmed during
2022, and 280 millions employment opportunities too. This proves not only that this can
affect multiple job positions around the world, it also benefits the promotion of different
cultures, the exchange of experiences, and even creates improvements on touristic areas,
such as infrastructures, communication, touristic services…

On the other hand, we have to be conscious of what this huge impact can create, because
every single action has consequences. For example, we can take a look at how Tourism has
been involved in Venice: the overextended amount of visitors every year has caused a risky
environmental damage, including pollution on water or even damage on the village, but it
has also affected the population. Nowadays living in Venice is so much more expensive, and
the affluence of people makes it harder to live peacefully, which confronts local people with
tourists.

In conclusion, Sustainable Development is not only a good purpose to improve the

economy, it is something necessary to protect our planet, and the people who live in
it.