What does sustainable tourism mean for you is one question we frequently ask in our interviews with tourism professionals. Not because we’ve never heard of the concept before – we all have – but because we like to hear it in the words of hoteliers, tour operators, destination developers. In short, those who are dealing with tourism sustainability issues every day, often with no time for academic reading or study.

What does sustainable tourism mean?

Here a few of our favorite answers of the question on the meaning of sustainable tourism, as understood by hoteliers, tour operators and destination makers.

Ángeles, Agroturismo Arkaia, Spain:

Interview

Sustainable tourism is tourism that respects the natural, cultural and social environment, extolling the values of the region and, at the same time, allows you to enjoy the essence and authenticity of a place and its people.

Sustainable tourism also means that the people visiting us do so with an attitude of integration and respect for the environment.

Josu, Lurdeia Casa Rural, Spain:

Interview

To me, sustainable tourism is a tourism that is respectful and non-invasive, where the important thing is to enjoy your surroundings while leaving the smallest footprint possible.

Peter, Lady Elliot Island Resort, Australia:

Interview

Sustainability and sustainable tourism means ensuring that whatever we do today does not have a negative impact on the Island, the reef or the greater planet for tomorrow. It means leaving the world a better place than we found it.

Ekrar, Pakistan:

Interview

Any tourism activity that is not providing and ensuring direct financial benefit to communities from where tourism money is being generated is not sustainable tourism.

We hold sustainable tourism workshops and conferences in mega hotels and tourist resorts, where we talk about poor communities and how sustainable tourism might benefit them. We need to stop this hypocritical behavior to achieve our goal of a sustainable tourism world.