Tourism talks

Participants at the seventh session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD), held in New York from April 19-30, this year expressed concern over the growing use of land, traditionally used by indigenous people and local communities, as tourist destinations. They called upon the industry to contribute to public services and infrastructure development related to tourism, ensuring appropriate and adequate resources for local, as well as the tourist population.

This year's CSD focused on tourism, consumption and production, and Ocean and Seas. The two-week event was attended by members from the Industry, Trade Unions, Non-governmental organisations and selected local governments. "Capacity-building work needs to be undertaken with local communities and indigenous people in order to facilitate their active participation, at all levels of the tourism development process, including transparent decision-making and sharing of benefits, and to create awareness of the social, economic and environmental costs and benefits that they are bearing.