Sustainable Destination Management
Strategies in the OIC Member Countries
139
Concluding Remarks
Sustainable tourism is fundamentally separate from destination development. Sustainable
tourism is a process based on a set of interlocking principles … and one that the world has yet
to get right across all spheres, all processes and in all countries…whilst the latter is place-
specific Thus, the former is essentially strategic, the latter tactical
At one level, producing sustainable tourism policies for the OIC countries is very
straightforward. Indeed, the vast majority of countries around the world have them. The key
requirement is to affect the means by which these high-level policies can be implemented on
the ground. And this requires each country to sign up and do its part.
This also means that such policies need to be embraced not just at the destination and
government levels, but internationally. This requires political will and determination. It also
demands that the governments involved will be around to implement their policies – hence,
stability is key: stability in purpose, in will and in delivery.
In all this the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation can take the lead. No other world
organisation is doing so. Embracing – and implementing – sustainable tourism across the OIC
would be a first and would set challenges for others to follow.