Sustainable Tourism Law

482 SUSTAINABLE TOURISM LAW the collaboration of governments and the tourism industry with other stakeholders. This was approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations through Resolution A/RES/56/212 (fifty-sixth period of sessions, December 21, 2001). The Global Code of Ethics for Tourism was established. In 2002, the General Assembly approved the Application Protocol for the Code of Ethics for Tourism, in Seoul, South Korea – Osaka, Japan from September 24-29, 2001. In October 2003, in Beijing, China, a Resolution was adopted by the General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization, A/RES/469(XV), establishing the World Committee on Tourism Ethics. The Global Code of Ethics for Tourism (GCET) is a wider set of principles aimed at guiding stakeholders in the development of tourism: central and local governments, indigenous communities, the tourism sector and their professionals, as well as both national and international visitors. Even though it is not a legally binding document, article ten sets a voluntary mechanism of application, by means of acknowledging the role of the World Committee on Tourism, to which stakeholders may voluntarily transfer any legal conflicts regarding the application and interpretation of the Code. These principles are: “ 1. Tourism’s contribution to mutual understanding and respect between peoples and societies; 2. Tourism as a vehicle for individual and collective fulfilment; 3. Tourism, a factor of sustainable development; 4. Tourism, a user of the cultural heritage of mankind and a contributor to its enhancement; 5. Tourism, a beneficial activity for host countries and communities; 6. Obligations of stakeholders in tourism development; 7. Right to Tourism; 8. Freedom of touristic movement; 9. Rights of workers and entrepreneurs in the tourism industry; 10. Implementation of the principles of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism. ” Finally, in this brief historical overview, in April 9-11, 2003, we find the Djerba Declaration on Climate Change and Tourism, which established the foundations for global warming avoidance through tourism. Recent publications of the World Tourism Organization aim at reducing poverty. They explicitly highlight the importance of tourism activities for the development of host communities.The latter has become “ an essential condition for peace, environmental conservation and sustainable development, besides being an ethical obligation in an affluent world, where the divide between poor and rich nations seems to have increased in recent years . At the same time, while international and domestic tourist movements continue to grow, there is stronger evidence that tourism, if developed and managed in a sustainable manner, can make a significant contribution to alleviate poverty, especially in rural areas, where most of the poor live and where there are very few other development options ”. (WTO, 2004). The WTO insists that there is