Sustainable Tourism Law

WORLD CHARTER FOR SUSTAINABLE TOURISM +20 497 serving as references for national, regional or local policies and standards to be used by other stakeholders 21 . The first action is to integrate sustainability in national and international tourism policies, strategic plans and operations to connect national sustainable development objectives with a focus in the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Based on this aspect, government initiatives are indicated to put into effect the idea of sustainable development in public and private sectors. The strengthening of legislative and policy frameworks for sustainable tourism is a broad policy which can serve as the base for other programmes. In the European Union, as examples of sustainable trade policies we have the Agenda for a sustainable and competitive European tourism 22 , Europe, the world’s No. 1 tourist destination: a new political framework for tourism in Europe 23 , Europe 2020: a European Strategy for Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive Growth 24 and the Programme for the Competitiveness of Enterprises and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (COSME Programme) 2014-2020 25 . These policies plan for the future of tourism with smart, sustainable and inclusive growth measures based on innovation, knowledge and a greener, social, efficient and more competitive economy 26 . Related to tourism, the European Strategy indicates that it is necessary “ to enhance the competitiveness of the European tourism sector ” and also “ to review regulations to support the transition of service and manufacturing sectors to greater resource efficiency, including more effective recycling; to improve the way in which European standard setting works to leverage European and international standards for the long-term competitiveness of European industry ” 27 . In the same mindset, the COSME Programme has as one of the specific objectives “ to improve framework conditions for the competitiveness and sustainability of Union enterprises, particularly SMEs, including in the tourism sector ” 28 . 21 On the federal, state and local level for sustainability, see: COHEN, Steven; EIMICKE, William; MILLER, Alison. Sustainability policy: hastening the transition to a cleaner economy . Hoboken: Jossey-Bass, 2015, chap. 3, 4 and 5. 22 COM (2007) 621 final. 23 COM (2010) 352 final. 24 COM (2010) 2020 final. 25 Regulation (EU) n. 1287/2013. 26 Tourism and eco-innovation are two of the lines of action. GRANIERI, Massimiliano; RENDA, Andrea. Innovation law and politics in the European Union: towards horizon 2020 . Milan: Springer, 2012. p. 111-114. 27 COM (2010) 2020 final. 28 Art. 4, 1, c.