Page 78 - BILANCIO DI SOSTENIBILITÀ 2017 RISULTATI E PROSPETTIVE

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BUILDING A GLOBAL MODEL OF SUSTAINABLE TOURISM 8.9 By 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and
promotes local culture and products.
2017 was the United Nations “International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development”. Tourism is a social, cultural 12.b Develop and implement tools to monitor sustainable development impacts for sustainable
and economic phenomenon of enormous importance with direct impacts on the economic system, the natural environment tourism which creates jobs, promotes local culture and products.
and local communities. The concept of sustainable tourism, first coined in 1988, was devised in order to promote a new 14.7 By 2030, increase the economic benefits of SIDS (Small Island Developing States) and LCDs (Least
kind of travel maintaining essential ecological processes, helping to conserve natural heritage and biodiversity, respecting Developed Countries) from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable
host communities and taking into account their needs as well as those of visitors . One of the aims is the fair distribution management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism.
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of socio-economic benefits to all stakeholders, based on respect for human rights, the environment and the social fabric In other words, the United Nations proposes a model of tourism promoting the responsible use of
of the local community. environmental resources, respecting the socio-cultural authenticity of host communities, supporting local
The idea of sustainable tourism stems from the need to regulate the flow of tourists in certain parts of the world and economies, improving local services and contributing directly to the eradication of poverty.
facilitate harmonious growth and development locally with the creation of basic hospitality infrastructure. This type Tourism is also one of the most important growth industries in Italy, accounting for approximately 12%
of approach is especially important in developing countries, where a sudden and uncontrolled increase in the number of GDP. However, development is still patchy and uneven with large numbers of visitors concentrated in a
of visitors can cause imbalances and tensions within communities, as well as possible repercussions on the ecosystem. handful of destinations (around 60% of tourists in just 4 of the country’s regions). Also, the value added
Building a model of sustainable tourism is very challenging and the sometimes conflicting demands of the stakeholders per employee is low compared to other countries with similar characteristics.
involved do not help. The Ministry for Cultural Affairs & Tourism has devised a Strategic Plan for Tourism (2017-2022) aimed
These concerns are recurring issues in the 2030 Agenda, with tourism featuring in three of the SDGs: promotion of at revitalizing the industry based on the guiding principles of sustainability, innovation and accessibility.
sustained economic growth; promotion of local culture and products; respect for and conservation of the oceans, seas and The plan hinges on the integrated management of the country’s cultural and natural assets, creation of
marine resources. competition and employment, and collaboration between stakeholders with the objective of putting the
focus firmly back on the tourist.
GLOBAL TOURISM

TRAVEL AND TOURISM GENERATE 1 IN 10 JOBS IN BY 2030 THE WORLD IS EXPECTED TO ATTRACT ALMOST 2 BILLION
THE GLOBAL ECONOMY INTERNATIONAL TOURIST ARRIVALS A YEAR

TRAVEL AND TOURISM ACCOUNT FOR 10% INTERNATIONAL TOURIST ARRIVALS IN ITALY ALONE SOME 440,000 BUSINESSES (7.3% OF THE
OF GLOBAL GDP IN ITALY HAVE TRIPLED SINCE 1990 GLOBAL TOTAL) OPERATE DIRECTLY IN THE TOURISM INDUSTRY

1 WTO definition: “Tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the
needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities”.