Sustainable Tourism Law

FROM TOURISM TO SUSTAINABLE TOURISM 83 In Italy, Environmental Laws started to be approved in the ’60s. For air pollution, see, for example, the Law of 13 July 1966, no. 615 (Provvedimenti contro l’inquinamento atmosferico). The Law defines fresh air as a public good that needs to be protected through restrictions. The 1966 Law was replaced by Decree no. 203 of May 24, 1988 of the President of the Republic (DPR), meeting four European guidelines on air quality and pollution. Nowadays, Environmental Protection is regulated in Italy by the Codice dell’Ambiente (Environmental Protection Code) approved with the Legislative Decree 152/2006, in the framework of EU Environmental Policy 106 . It was aimed at harmonising the sector laws that until then had been regulating the main environmental issues: waste management, water pollution, air pollution. The Code sets out the legislative framework applicable to all matters concerning environmental protection 107 . X. TOWARD A SUSTAINABLE TOURISM: STAGES AND EVOLUTION Toward a Sustainable Tourism As we have seen, Sustainable Development is a policy, or a philosophy if you prefer, that involves a large part of human economic activities, from heavy industries to city planning. It would be a paradox if it would not concern Tourism, which had been considered for a long time as “green” and the Tourism Industry a “Green Industry”. In fact, Tourism growth was considered, for a long time, a positive element of development. But this approach has long since been disputed. Nowadays, Tourism and Sustainability are strictly interconnected. 106 David LANGLET and Said MAHMOUDI, EU Environmental Law and Policy , Oxford University Press, UK, 2016. 107 The Code is composed of six Parts. Part I (arts. 1-3) defines the application scope and lays down general provisions applicable to all areas covered by the Code. Part II (arts. 4-52) defines and regulates the procedures related to the Strategic Environmental Assessment (VAS), Environmental Impact Assessment (VIA) and Integrated Environmental Authorization (IPPC). Part III (arts. 53-176) is devoted to soil protection (particular regard is given to the need to combat desertification), protection of waters against pollution and management of water resources. As regards water policy and management, the national territory is divided into hydrographical districts upon which basin plans shall be implemented. Part IV (arts. 177-266) deals with waste management and rehabilitation of polluted sites. It provides for the arrangement of the Integrated Waste Management Service. Part V (arts. 267-298) deals with air quality and aims at reducing emissions into the atmosphere. Part VI (arts. 299-318) implements the precautionary principle and lays down the liability regime (http://www.fao.org/faolex/results/details/en/c/LEX- -FAOC064213/).