Eight key challenges

Sustainable tourism will soon be official European Policy

Sustainable Tourism

In February 2007 EU published a report on The Sustainability of European Tourism (pdf). The report was presented to the Commission by the Tourism Sustainability Group.  As a follow up the Commission has launched a public consultation for the preparation of an "Agenda for a sustainable and competitive European tourism" foreseen to be adopted in September 2007. In the Report eight key challenges for making European tourism more sustainable are identified:  

1. Reducing the seasonality of demand  

2. Addressing the impact of tourism transport

3. Improving the quality of tourism jobs  

4. Maintaining and enhancing community prosperity and quality of life, in the face of change

5. Minimising resource use and production of waste

6. Conserving and giving value to natural and cultural heritage

7. Making holidays available to all  

8. Using tourism as a tool in global sustainable development

Key actions evolve around education, auditing, branding and supervising. Especially the auditing part makes an interesting read. Sustainability must never be reduced to hot air. We need to know: does it work?