The significance of responsible tourism was highlighted by the Committee on Ethics and on Statistics at their recent meeting in UNWTO Headquarters.

The Members of the World Committee on Tourism Ethics highlighted the necessary promotion of values to develop sustainable tourism.

While considering the measurement of the economic impact of the tourism sector, the members emphasised the necessity of avoiding the forthcoming harm of “opportunistic and unguided forms of tourism.”

The meeting of the 13th and 14th of March stressed that “The Global Code of Ethics for Tourism is designed to help the industry achieve the Millennium Development Goals.”

David de Villiers, the former UNWTO Deputy Secretary-General and newly elected President of the World Committee on Tourism Ethics, continued “It is a practical framework to maximise the positive cultural, economic and humanising potential of tourism.”

The ninth meeting of the Committee on Statistics and the Tourism Satellite Account was held over the same days, approving the Presidency of Mr Eduardo Pereira Nunes, President of the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics.

This meeting focussed on the exact measurement of tourism’s involvement in economic growth and employment, in order to fortify the position of the industry as a catalyst for change.

Through a more accurate understanding of tourism’s contribution, it is hoped to become a catalyst for innovation, sustainable development and poverty reduction.