Proceedings of the 12th Meeting of
The COMCEC Tourism Working Group
10
Furthermore, Mr. Shikoh expressed that destinations can be segmented in a matrix by their
dependence on tourism and their sustainability risk, and the policy recommendations can be
tailored based on where each country falls within this matrix.
He then shared a policy recommendations framework, which mapped each of the sustainable
tourism strategies against UNWTO’s sustainable tourism goals and the UN’s SDGs, as well as
mapping them to the five sustainable destination management parameters.
In terms of the first of the five parameters, which is a supportive regulatory environment,
governments can establish and enforce policies that promote the adoption of sustainable
tourism practices, as well as impose sanctions and incentives conducive to sustainable tourism
practices.
Regarding the stakeholder engagement parameter, the OIC member countries need to have an
umbrella organization that encompasses government sectors, DMOs, tourism businesses to
streamline sustainable tourism efforts, as well as form strategic alliances with airlines and
other entities.
Concerning the access to financing tools parameter, the member countries may benefit from
international funding for sustainable tourism projects, regional organizations to support
sustainable tourism efforts and provide funding, and encourage private sector financing and
investment in sustainable tourism.
In terms of the monitoring of destination sustainability parameter, the OIC member countries
can monitor performance, translate and implement Agenda 2030 in a sustainable tourism
context, align science, policy, and capital in pursuit of sustainable tourism, develop key
performance indicators (KPIs) for sustainability, develop an OIC-level sustainable tourism
monitoring system, and DMOs should play a role in monitoring performance.
Mr. Shikoh then provided policy recommendations for each of the sustainable tourism
strategies. For increasing awareness, the OIC member countries may conduct local media
campaigns to increase local community as well as tourist awareness of tourism sustainability
issues.
In terms of the protection of natural and cultural heritage, the member countries can seek to
list natural and historical heritage sites on UNESCO’S World Heritage List, assign adequate
resources to sustainable development efforts, issue regulation to protect cultural and natural
heritage assets, benefit from multilateral organizations charged with the protection of shared
natural or cultural heritage sites, and protect biodiversity.