Sustainable Destination Management
Strategies in the OIC Member Countries
8
ensuring the support of stakeholders and their implementation of sustainable tourism strategies
and practices.29 In Denmark, the Danish National Tourism Forum receives continuous feedback
and advice from the Danish Tourism Advisory Board, which has members from a wide range of
stakeholders representing different interests.30
Funding Sustainable Tourism: In recognition of the importance of sustainable tourism, both
public and private sector entities have committed funds to conservation and sustainability
efforts. In many instances, governments use the revenue generated from tourism to fund
sustainability activities.31 Governments also support sustainable tourism indirectly by
encouraging private sector financing and investment in sustainability through subsidies, green
loans and insurance for green assets. Public institutions can play an important role in linking
tourism projects with green and other financing instruments such as group lending by
microfinance institutions. However, governments also promote sustainable tourism directly
through financing or co-financing sustainable tourism projects.32 Most destinations have sought
to diversify the funding sources with the use of innovative financing strategies in light of tight
public budgets. Green financing has expanded recently in the tourism sector with the growing
interest in sustainable tourism. There are a number of initiatives and funds on national, regional,
and international levels. These provide financing for tourismbusinesses interested in taking into
account environmental and social issues in all of their operations.33
Funding sources for sustainable tourism can be classified as being of either domestic or foreign
origin. Domestic sources include public and private sources. Public sources including national
and local governmental bodies and public financial institutions while private sources include
private financial institutions and domestic conservation organizations whose funding comes
from private sources such as individuals, companies or foundations. Foreign sources of funding
include bilateral investors, regional and international financial institutions, and development
organizations.34 It is important to note that while domestic and regional financial institutions
are typically well positioned to overcome investment barriers in certain locations, international
institutions are better able to reduce investment risks by linking projects in several countries.35
29 UNWTO. (2016). Innovative catalysts boosting sustainability in the tourism sector based on cases and initiatives from Germany.
Retrieved from
nche_bf.pdf.
30 Please refer to Denmark’s case study for more information and sources.
31 UNWTO. (2012). Destination wetlands supporting sustainable tourism. Retrieved from
32 OECD. (2018). OECD Tourism Trends and Policies 2018. Paris: OECD Publishing.
33 OECD. (2018). OECD Tourism Trends and Policies 2018. Paris: OECD Publishing.
34 USAID. (2011). Tourism investment and finance: Accessing sustainable funding and social impact capital. Retrieved from
35 OECD. (2018). OECD Tourism Trends and Policies 2018 . Paris: OECD Publishing.