Sustainable Tourism Law

640 SUSTAINABLE TOURISM LAW • The political decisions and actions must consider the best available knowledge and “Information on tourism trends and impacts, and skills and experience, should be shared across Europe”; • The precautionary principle must govern every situation when doubts exist about the social or environmental impacts; • Prices must reflect real costs, namely the energy component (user and polluter pays); • Establish the touristic territory’s carrying capacity whenever it is appropriate; • Monitor the different tourism impacts. Tourism companies have shown a weak receptiveness regarding sustainability. Some of the most important ones accept corporate social responsibility, but only a small percentage tries to be recognized for their environmental and/or social practices. Some tour operators hire service suppliers that follow sustainability criteria. Evolution of the concerns regarding tourism ECONOMY QUALITY SUSTAINABILITY Although consumer awareness regarding environmental matters is increasing, a choice of the voyages that takes into consideration their impacts is still limited. The overall objective of tourism is, while retaining competitiveness, to recognize that, on a long-term basis, competition depends on sustainability, leading to a possible change in the production and consumption of the activity. The goal is keeping or increasing tourism revenues while minimizing environmental impacts and generating more profits for the societies that preserve their characteristics. New tourism paradigm TOURISTIC REVENUE maintaining or improving ENVIRONMENT & CULTURE reduced impacts Eight challenges have been established for the sustainability of European tourism, not including the actions on the general plan of the European Union in each State Member, local authorities, tourism companies and other associations, namely unions, business associations and consumers.