EqEL and its view on Sustainable (or Responsible) Tourism

EqEL shares the principles of sustainable (or responsible) tourism as formulated by the World Tourism Organisation (WTO, October 1999; see , the Principles of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism - see Principles of Sustainable Tourism).

EqEL in particular believes that:

• promoting and developing tourism contributes to economic development, international understanding, peace, prosperity and universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion.
  

• tourism represents a vital force for peace and a factor of friendship and understanding among the peoples of the world.
  

• tourism can be soundly developed in keeping with the rationale of reconciling environmental protection, economic development and the fight against poverty in a sustainable manner.
  

• the powerful effects of tourism and its swift and continued growth, both past and foreseeable, whether for leisure, business, culture, religious or health purposes, both positive and negative, on the environment, the economy and the society of both generating and receiving countries, on local communities and indigenous peoples, as well as on international relations and trade.
  

• responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism has a vital role in the framework of the right of all persons to use their free time for leisure pursuits or travel with respect for the choices of society of all peoples.
  

• the world tourism industry as a whole has much to gain by operating in an environment that favours the market economy, private enterprise and free trade and that serves to optimize its beneficial effects on the creation of wealth and employment. 
  

• provided a number of principles and a certain number of rules are observed, responsible and sustainable tourism is by no means incompatible with the growing liberalization of the conditions governing trade in services and under whose aegis the enterprises of this sector operate and that it is possible to reconcile in this sector economy and ecology, environment and development, openness to international trade and protection of social and cultural identities.