Tourism and development
The Cape Town Declaration
Guiding principles for responsible tourism
Authors:
; Responsible Tourism Partnership
Publisher:
Responsible Tourism Partnership, 2002
This declaration lays out a number of guiding principles for Responsible Tourism, as identified by tour operators, emerging entrepreneurs in the tourism industry, national parks, provincial conservation authorities, all spheres of government, tourism professionals, tourism authorities, NGOs and hotel groups and other tourism stakeholders.
It lays out a number of characteristics which sustainable tourism should have. According to the declaration responsible tourism should, for example:
- minimise negative economic, environmental, and social impacts
- generate greater economic benefits for local people and enhances the well-being of host communities, improves working conditions and access to the industry
- involve local people in decisions that affect their lives and life chances
- make positive contributions to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage, to the maintenance of the world's diversity.
The declaration also highlights a number of guiding principles for economic responsibility and social responsibility.
