Sustainable Tourism Glossary

Tourism involving visits to working farms, vineyards, or ranches that supports rural economies and food heritage.

Funding projects that reduce or remove CO2 to compensate for emissions from travel activities.

The maximum number of tourists a destination can sustain without unacceptable environmental or social deterioration.

Tourism owned and managed by local communities, with benefits distributed locally.

Adapting or performing local cultural practices primarily for tourist consumption, risking loss of authenticity.

Holistic management of a destination's environmental, economic, and social well-being through coordinated planning.

A science-based benchmarking and certification program measuring environmental, social, and economic tourism performance.

Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, benefits locals, and involves education.

Tourism sustaining the geographical character of a place including environment, culture, heritage, and resident well-being.

An international certification program for sustainable tourism aligned with Global Sustainable Tourism Council criteria.

The Global Sustainable Tourism Council, which establishes global baseline standards for sustainable tourism.

Traveling to see threatened sites before they disappear, which paradoxically may accelerate their decline.

The share of tourism revenue that exits the host economy through imports, foreign profits, and expatriate wages.

Seven ethical principles for minimizing human impact on natural environments during outdoor recreation.

Tourism exceeding a destination's physical, ecological, social, or psychological capacity.

Tourism approaches generating net economic benefits specifically for disadvantaged populations.

Tourism that actively improves environmental, social, and cultural conditions rather than merely minimizing harm.

Making conscious choices that minimize negative impacts and maximize positive contributions while traveling.

Traveling to fewer destinations with longer stays, emphasizing cultural immersion and lower-emission transport.

Jet fuel from sustainable feedstocks that reduces lifecycle emissions by up to 80% compared to conventional fuel.

An economy so dependent on tourism that other industries and authentic culture are displaced.

A standardized framework for measuring tourism's economic contribution to GDP and employment.

The United Nations World Tourism Organization, the UN agency responsible for promoting responsible and sustainable tourism.

Combining volunteer work with tourism. Can benefit or harm communities depending on project design and local involvement.

Tourism centered on observing or interacting with wildlife. Sustainable forms prioritize animal welfare and habitat conservation.