The WTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism has been translated into 35 different languages and has already been adopted by several countries…
The WTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism has been translated into 35 different languages and has already been adopted by several countries as part of its tourism legislation or regulations, WTO Deputy Secretary-General Dawid de Villiers told the Second Committee of the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York on 2 November.
In the five years since its adoption the Code has been recognised and welcomed by more and more stakeholders in the tourism industry as a valuable tool to guide the development of sustainable tourism, he said.
The strength of the Code lies in its simplicity. Together the ten articles constitute a powerful set of guidelines that provides clear direction for the development of a tourism industry that is socially responsible, culturally sensitive, environmentally sound and economically fair.
The introduction of the voluntary Code, after being approved by the WTO General Assembly held in Santiago, Chile, in 1999, demonstrates that not all kinds of tourism are acceptable, he said. “Opportunistic and unguided tourist development can have a profound negative impact on the natural and cultural environment as well as on the social lives of people in receiving destinations – particularly in developing countries.
In the absence of sound development policies tourism can contribute to pollution and environmental degradation; lead to the exploitation of people and local communities – particularly women and children – offend traditional cultural values and customs and provide a cover for criminal activities.
The challenge is to maximise the positive impacts of tourism, and to achieve this the World Committee on Tourism Ethics was set up in 2003 to promote, evaluate and monitor the implementation of the Code as well as acting as conciliators in settling any disputes involving the application or interpretation of the Code. A number of cases have already been referred to the Committee, he added.
One of the issues that have emerged from the Code is the drafting of travel advisories. WTO has set up a working group to draw up a guide of good practices on advisories, recommendations for which will be presented to the General Assembly in Dakar at the end of November.
Dr de Villiers concluded his address to the Second Committee by urging other governments to take steps to disseminate and implement a Code that he described as a living document, guiding tourism development to be responsible, fair, sensitive and sustainable.
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