Sustainable Tourism Law

CULTURAL HERITAGE AND SUSTAINABLE TOURISM LAW 805 Both the inter-governmental UNWTO/OMT and the private sector WTTC considers the travel and tourism sector to be one of the largest – if not THE largest – in the world, particularly in terms of its contribution to the world economy. According to WTTC estimates, travel and tourism achieved the following economic impact directly and indirectly in 2001: • USD3.3 trillion contribution to global GDP, almost 11% of total GDP; • 207 million jobs worldwide, over 8% of all jobs; • USD630 billion in capital investment, • Almost 9% of all capital investment 9 II.5. Travel and Tourism as a Force for Poverty Reduction The UNWTO has also demonstrated the significant benefits tourism brings to host countries including: Export Earnings, Employment, Rural Opportunities, Infrastructure Investment, Tax Revenues, and Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The tourism industry places many demands on the host country and greatly influences its society, economy, and environment. Both state policy and domestic promotion of tourism must reflect the concerns of sustainable growth and development for present and future generations, as responsible tourism is also arguably the key to economic growth in the least developed countries. Sustainable development can be achieved through tourism by increasing employment opportunities, developing infrastructure, and by creating standards for individual, corporate and social activities related to tourism. The elimination of poverty through tourism requires the understanding and cooperation of state, corporate, and individual tourists. Tourism as the means to alleviate poverty was one of the major issues discussed at the 2003 International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT) Summit . At the Summit , The Pacific Asian Travel Association’s (PATA) President De Jong noted that the four aspects needed by governments for supporting tourismare: power of tourismgovernment, transportation, tax reduction, and health insurance 10 . With every tourist(s) destination and activity, a great deal of money is invested to maintain the destination and many jobs are created to cater to the traveler. I want to emphasize that the significance of maintaining cultural heritage is important both for the common heritage of humanity but also for the daily lives of people that make a living from the income created by tourism. 9 WTTC, May 2001:TourismSatellite Accounting Research,WorldTravel &Tourism, Council, London&NewYork. 10 Travel and Tourism as Force for Poverty Reduction, IIPT Newsletter, Vol.1 No.5, October 2002, www.iipt. org/newsletter/October2002.html