Biological diversity and tourism

The Conference of the Parties,

Recognizing that sustainable tourism, including tourism based on the natural environment (ecotourism), is a vital growing segment of the tourism industry and has a significant potential for realizing benefits in terms of the conservation of biological diversity and the sustainable use of its components,

Recognizing the need to build public awareness and education on the benefits of sustainable tourism and to actively involve the private sector in the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity through sustainable tourism activities and developments;

Recognizing the need to enhance the participation and involvement of indigenous and local communities in the planning and management of sustainable tourism activities and developments,

1. Welcomes the joint efforts of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the United Nations Environment Programme, the Commission on Sustainable Development and the World Tourism Organization with regard to the international work programme on sustainable tourism development;
2. Takes note of the progress made in the development of the guidelines for activities related to sustainable tourism development and biological diversity in vulnerable terrestrial, marine and mountain ecosystems⁽²⁴⁾;
3. Requests the Executive Secretary:
   1. To transmit the draft guidelines on sustainable tourism development in vulnerable areas to the World Ecotourism Summit, which will take place in Quebec City from 19 to 22 May 2002;
   2. To review the current draft guidelines taking into account the results of the electronic consultation on the draft international guidelines for activities related to sustainable tourism development⁽²⁵⁾ and the outcome of the World Ecotourism Summit, and to transmit the reviewed draft to the Subsidiary Body on Scientific Technical and Technological Advice for its consideration at a meeting prior to the seventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties for its consideration;
   3. To gather and compile existing case-studies on the implementation of the guidelines and make them available to the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice for its consideration at a meeting prior to the seventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties.