Sustainability is an imperative for the competitiveness of tourism destinations worldwide, which is reflected in their sales strategies.
This is considered Umberto Rivas, an expert consultant to the World Tourism Organization, during his speech in the Dominican Tourism Forum (Feature) 2011, on the economic indicators, social and environmental sustainability.
The concept focuses on competitiveness from the tourist ensure a satisfying experience, respect the authenticity of host communities, optimal use of environmental resources and ensure sustainable economic activities in the long term.
Rivas said that the most desirable destinations are those that retain their cultural identity.
The specialist warns of the need to encourage the active participation of local communities in tourism, through the decentralization of planning and management processes and improving the political and administrative conditions, in addition to providing knowledge on tourism.
Rivas argues that the sector is called to reduce leakage and strengthen economic ties with the local economy, besides encouraging voluntary contributions from tourists.
The Mexican exhibitor Ramon Martinez notes that trends of travelers are changing, among other things because they get increasingly more information and the virtual environment brings them to different destinations. This reality allows tourists to choose best quality standards to better cost and demand high levels of legal, health and personal.
In addition, visitors looking for authentic experiences closer to nature, which require environmental quality, as reported by the speaker.
Martinez argues that the trend of world tourism leans toward a new model that suggests creating a participatory planning and empowerment of host communities and promotes a gradual development based on the experiences of bidders and the market requirements, rather than waiting immediate results.
It also proposes the planning of projects through consistent and comprehensive policies, in addition to direct investment to developing activities and the creation of unique experiences, and promotes an architectural scheme in accordance with the cosmogony of the destination.