Sustainable Destination Management
Strategies in the OIC Member Countries
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designation. UNESCO’s World Heritage & Sustainable Tourism Program also provides support
and guidance to heritage site managers on planning and implementation of sustainability
practices.110 The United Nations Environment Program has partnered with the global financial
sector to provide specific funding programs for sustainable tourism. 111 Regional, national, and
international organizations also play an important role in raising awareness of sustainability
issues and conservation strategies. In Europe, several regional initiatives were launched to
increase awareness of sustainable tourism and promote the implementation of sustainable
tourism management standards for protected areas.112 The European Federation of Protected
Areas (Europarc), a federation representing over 400 organizations managing protected areas
across the continent, launched the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas
to promote the implementation of sustainable tourism practices in protected areas. This was
achieved by providing certification to protected areas management entities who have developed
a sustainable tourism action plan with the participation of stakeholders.113
Local non-governmental organizations engage and represent the interests of various tourism
stakeholders and are in many instances involved in supporting the implementation of
sustainable tourism strategies as well as providing training or consultation on sustainability
issues.114 NGOs have been particularly instrumental in increasing awareness of key stakeholders
about the importance of sustainable tourism and presenting a solid business case for tourism
companies to adopt such practices. This includes providing access to international expertise and
technology.115 In Indonesia, the Indonesian NGO Indecon, in collaboration with international
donor organizations, engages a multitude of stakeholders to promote ecotourism and
sustainable tourism in Indonesia.116
Education and training bodies, including universities and research institutions, play a pivotal
role in the collection and dissemination of information, while also raising awareness about
sustainable issues. In addition, universities and research institutions provide training and
consultation in areas related to sustainable tourism. Tourism industry players, including the
various tourism service providers, have an important role in terms of product development,
creation of employment opportunities, and integrating sustainability practices in their
operations.117
In many instances, the tourism industry has played a proactive role in sustainable tourism by
making voluntary commitments to conservation. Large hotel chains, such as Accor Hotels Group,
Marriott International, and Intercontinental Hotels Group, have reportedly improved their
environmental performance by reducing greenhouse gas emissions as well as energy and water
consumption at their establishments around the globe. Even though some may argue that since
110 The Economist Intelligence Unit. (2017). The sustainable tourism index: Enhancing the global travel environment .
Retrieved from
111 OECD. (2018). OECD Tourism Trends and Policies 2018 . Paris: OECD Publishing.
112 UNWTO. (2012). Destination wetlands supporting sustainable tourism. Retrieved from
113 The Economist Intelligence Unit. (2017). The sustainable tourism index: Enhancing the global travel environment .
Retrieved from
114 UNWTO. (2013). Sustainable tourism for development guidebook. UNWTO.
115 The Economist Intelligence Unit. (2017). The sustainable tourism index: Enhancing the global travel environment .
Retrieved from
116 OECD. (2018). OECD Tourism Trends and Policies 2018 . Paris: OECD Publishing.
117 UNWTO. (2013). Sustainable tourism for development guidebook. UNWTO.