Page 269 - Special Topic Session (STS) - Volume 1

STS429 Valentina Stoevska
and 50 per cent estimate that the level of environmental sensitivity of workers
is satisfactory.

4. Tourism sustainability and the issue of measurement
Tourism plays an important role in many countries because of its economic
and employment potential. The tourism industries makes a significant
contribution to the overall level of economic activity and employment, and
contributes greatly to the development of regions. Because of its reliance on
foreign visitors, it proves to be more resilient to the economic crisis and
provide jobs in particular for economically less advantaged socio-
demographic group or regions. According to the World Tourism Organization
(UNWTO) 1 out of 11 jobs are directly or indirectly related to tourism (UNWTO,
2018), and that its share in total employment is increasing.
With the increasing share of tourism in economic activities in most
countries, it is acknowledged that (i) it is contributing more to the use of
environmental resources and its impact on the natural environment was
increasing, (ii) tourism activity might provide a path by which lower income
countries and region might improve their standard of living.
5
The potential of the tourism to make a significant contribution to the
economic, social and environmental development, and to create decent jobs
and generate economic growth, was emphasized by the international
community in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development6 (UN, 2015), in
particular in Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). There are three targets
that relate directly to sustainable tourism, namely:
 Target 8.9: By 2030, devise and implement policies to promote
sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and
products.
 Target 12.b: Develop and implement tools to monitor sustainable
development impacts for sustainable tourism that creates jobs and
promotes local culture and products
 Target 14.7: By 2030, increase the economic benefits to small island
developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable
use of marine resources, including through sustainable management
of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism

5 FRAMING SUSTAINABLE TOURISM October 2016, Carl Obst, UNWTO Consultant and
Director of the Institute for the Development of Environmental- Economic Accounting
http://cf.cdn.unwto.org/sites/all/files/pdf/mst_issue_paper_1.pdf
6 United Nations, 2015. Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development. General Assembly resolution 70/1 (New York).
https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/21252030%20Agenda%20for%20
Sustainable%20Development%20web.pdf

258 | I S I W S C 2 0 1 9