Tourism is at a pivotal turning point. As global challenges like climate change, overtourism, and economic inequality increasingly impact travel and destinations, the need for a new approach is urgent. In response, the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Sustainable Tourism has developed a set of Ten Principles for Sustainable Destinations. These principles aim to guide policymakers, tourism businesses, and destination management organizations (DMOs) in transforming tourism into a force for good—economically, socially, and environmentally.
Launched on World Tourism Day 2022 under the global theme of “Rethinking Tourism”, the principles serve as both a strategic framework and a call to action. They encourage destinations to shift away from short-term growth models and toward long-term, inclusive, and resilient tourism planning.
Purpose and Alignment with the SDGs
Importantly, the Ten Principles are designed to be flexible and integrative. They are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), making them easy to incorporate into existing sustainability frameworks or national tourism strategies. This alignment ensures that tourism development contributes meaningfully to global efforts addressing poverty, climate action, biodiversity, gender equality, and more.
Whether a destination is just beginning its sustainability journey or seeking to improve existing efforts, the principles offer practical guidance, proven best practices, and adaptable tools to support that process.
Designing for the Future
At the heart of this initiative is the idea of deliberate and proactive destination design. The principles encourage stakeholders to reconsider how they manage tourism—from visitor flows and local community engagement to infrastructure development and resource use. This means putting the needs of local people, the integrity of the place, and the quality of tourism products at the center of all planning decisions.
Moreover, the collaborative nature of the principles empowers local and global actors alike to share knowledge, foster innovation, and ensure that tourism becomes more inclusive, regenerative, and future-ready.
For destinations seeking to thrive in a rapidly changing world, the 10 Principles for Sustainable Destinations offer a timely and essential blueprint. Now is the moment to rethink tourism—not only for recovery, but for a more sustainable and resilient future.
https://www.weforum.org/publications/ten-principles-for-sustainable-destinations/