TOURISM AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
We are living in a period in which we must focus our efforts on finding a balance between economic growth and development. We must promote economic activities through the conscious consumption of the planet’s natural resources and their conservation for future generations, harmonizing these efforts with improving the quality of life of human beings.
In 2013 I wrote a dissertation entitled “Tourism as a Strategic Tool for Local Development in the Favelas of Complexo do Alemão”. During my master’s degree in Local Development, I argued that tourism, due to its interdisciplinarity (e.g., private sector, government and civil society), represents an instrument for transforming the community, city or country where it takes place, whether in the social, economic or environmental sense.
Visit to the Morro Dois Irmãos` trail during the Vidigal Favela Tour.
Unlike countless economic activities where the product is delivered to the customer outside its place of origin tourism promotes the movement of people to the place of origin where it is developed. Thus we can say that tourism is one of the greatest supporters of promoting its activities in a sustainable way. After all, tourism is not only about traveling by different types of transportation, visiting tourist attractions, taste local cuisine or staying in different types of accommodation. As a tourism professional and Master in Local Development with an emphasis on tourism I believe that the main objective of tourism is to promote unforgettable experiences and this will only be possible by sharing the benefits of tourism with society, that is, contributing to the eradication of poverty, reduction of social and economic inequalities, protection of the environment and development of sustainable communities.
Sunrise in the Favela do Vidigal
Tourism must be promoted in a sustainable manner, that is, it cannot justify acculturation processes, environmental degradation, depletion of natural resources, economic dependence, increased cost of living (inflationary effect), seasonality and overcrowding, displacement of populations from the local communities, social conflicts against the foreigners, among other negative impacts, only aiming the entry of foreign currency.
Tourism can or rather should contribute to generate a more just and harmonious future for all.
We must remember that tourism, if developed in a way that meets the region’s strategic planning, can meet numerous short, medium and long-term objectives, such as:
- Fostering the generation of jobs and income.
- Stimulating the creative economy.
- Encouraging investment in tourism infrastructure and basic infrastructure in the region.
- Encouraging the application of resources for education.
- Investing in professional training.
- Recovering, valuing and disseminating the local culture and encouraging the preservation of the customs, traditions and historical monuments.
- Protecting local flora and fauna.
- Encouraging environmental awareness among all those involved, including tourists, and implementing practices to minimize the impacts of the activity, such as: saving energy and water, managing waste among others.
- Providing local communities with the opportunity to participate in the planning and management of the tourism activities in the region, in order to promote the activity in a fairer manner.
With the superficial examples developed in the previous paragraph we can get a idea about the magnitude of tourism in relation to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a set of 17 global goals adopted by the United Nations (UN) in 2015. In this text we will mention some of the goals that can be achieved through tourism, such as:
- Goal 1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere.
- Goal 8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.
- Goal 9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.
- Goal 11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
- Goal 12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.
- Goal 13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
- Goal 14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.
In the following texts, we will present examples of how tourism can help achieve these objectives and how Xperiencer Tour Brazil develops its work with clients and partners in sustainable tourism. At this point, if you want to know some incredible destinations in Brazil that promote sustainable tourism, offered by our agency I suggest you to read the following texts, presented on our blog:
- Favela Tour.
- Bonito the capital of ecotourism in Brazil.
- Lençóis Maranhenses National Park.
- Conceição de Ibitipoca.
- Whale watching on the coast of the wonderfull city of Rio de Janeiro.
- Horseback riding in the wordefull city of Rio de Janeiro.
- Pink River Dolphin.
- Golden Lion Tamarin.
If you wish to know more about the itineraries we have developed please contact our team.
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