Sustainable Development and Tourism. Ecotourism: A Popular Slogan or a Powerful Tool?

Sustainable development has become a popular catchword in the international development debate. Criticised as ambiguous and open to a wide range of interpretations, the meaning of the term was specified in Agenda 21 of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro and in successive proceedings. Although tourism is hardly mentioned in Agenda 21, it is closely related to sustainable development at least in two ways: first, as one of the most important economic sectors worldwide, and second as a tool to actively support sustainable development by raising public awareness of environmental matters.