Responsible Tourism
Responsible Tourism was defined in Cape Town in 2002 alongside the World Summit on Sustainable Development.
Responsible Tourism is about "making better places for people to live in and better places for people to visit." Responsible Tourism requires that operators, hoteliers, governments, local people and tourists take responsibility, take action to make tourism more sustainable.
​
The Cape Town Declaration recognizes that Responsible Tourism takes a variety of forms, it is characterized by travel and tourism which:
-
minimizes negative economic, environmental and social impacts;
-
generates greater economic benefits for local people and enhances the well-being of host communities, improves working conditions and access to the industry;
-
involves local people in decisions that affect their lives and life changes;
-
makes positive contributions to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage, to the maintenance of the world's diversity;
-
provides more enjoyable experiences for tourists through more meaningful connections with local people, and a greater understanding of local cultural, social and environmental issues;
-
provide access for people with disabilities and the disadvantaged;
-
is culturally sensitive, engenders respect between tourists and hosts, and builds local pride and confidence.
​