Sustainable Development of Tourism 
            Destinations 
             
             
             
         
            Name  of  Working  Group:  Tourism  Working  Group 
            (TWG) 
            Project Number: TWG 03 11A 
             
             
             
             
             
             
                                                                
                                                       20 August 2013 
                                                                        
                             
          
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                 Table of Contents 
                 1    Framework .................................................................................................................................................. 5 
                   1.1     Definitions ........................................................................................................................................... 5 
                      1.1.1   Sustainable Tourism ....................................................................................................................... 5 
                      1.1.2   Dimension and element .................................................................................................................. 7 
                      1.1.3   Indicator .......................................................................................................................................... 7 
                      1.1.4   Sustainability guidelines ................................................................................................................. 8 
                      1.1.5   Certification / Award ....................................................................................................................... 8 
                   1.2     Sustainable Tourism Scope ................................................................................................................ 9 
                      1.2.1   Project phase .................................................................................................................................. 9 
                      1.2.2   Geographical context of tourism and sustainable development ................................................... 10 
                      1.2.3   Tourism Value Chain .................................................................................................................... 11 
                      1.2.4   Destination maturity level ............................................................................................................. 11 
                   1.3     Guidelines ......................................................................................................................................... 12 
                      1.3.1   Measurement Guidelines .............................................................................................................. 12 
                      1.3.2   Command and Control Guidelines ............................................................................................... 12 
                      1.3.3   Tax and Financial Guidelines ....................................................................................................... 14 
                      1.3.4   Voluntary Guidelines .................................................................................................................... 15 
                      1.3.5   Supporting Guidelines .................................................................................................................. 16 
                   1.4     Sustainable Tourism Indicators ........................................................................................................ 17 
                      1.4.1   Framework for tourism sustainability ............................................................................................ 17 
                      1.4.2   Economic Pillar ............................................................................................................................. 17 
                      1.4.3   Socio-Cultural Pillar ...................................................................................................................... 18 
                      1.4.4   Environmental Pillar ...................................................................................................................... 19 
                      1.4.5   Transversal Pillar .......................................................................................................................... 19 
                   1.5     Sustainable Tourism Certifications and Awards ............................................................................... 20 
                 2    APEC Economies Survey ......................................................................................................................... 21 
                   2.1     Top of mind reference economies on sustainable tourism ............................................................... 21 
                   2.2     Assessment of the level of regulations related to tourism sustainability indifferent economies. ...... 22 
                   2.3     Assessment of the degree of implementation of sustainable practices in the economies ............... 23 
                   2.4     Which destinations would the economy prioritize if they had sustainability guidelines? .................. 23 
                   2.5     How far is the extension of sustainability practices? ........................................................................ 24 
                   2.6     Which tourist sectors have achieved a greater level of sustainability? ............................................ 24 
                   2.7     How much of a priority is the development of the following items?.................................................. 25 
                   2.8     How would you rate the current development status of the following criteria? ................................ 26 
                   2.9     How would you rate the current evolution of the following criteria? ................................................. 27 
                 3    Reference economies benchmark ............................................................................................................ 28 
                   3.1     Costa Rica ........................................................................................................................................ 29 
                      3.1.1   Profile ............................................................................................................................................ 29 
                  
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                      3.1.2    Tourism Products.......................................................................................................................... 29 
                      3.1.3    Sustainable Tourism ..................................................................................................................... 30 
                    3.2     Australia .......................................................................................................................................... 36 
                      3.2.1    Country profile ............................................................................................................................ 36 
                      3.2.2    Tourism Products ....................................................................................................................... 36 
                      3.2.3    Sustainable Tourism .................................................................................................................. 37 
                    3.3     New Zealand .................................................................................................................................... 45 
                      3.3.1    Country profile ............................................................................................................................ 45 
                      3.3.2    Tourism Products ....................................................................................................................... 45 
                      3.3.3    Sustainable tourism ................................................................................................................... 46 
                    3.4     Republic of Seychelles ..................................................................................................................... 53 
                      3.4.1    Profile ............................................................................................................................................ 53 
                      3.4.2    Tourism Products.......................................................................................................................... 53 
                      3.4.3    Sustainable tourism ...................................................................................................................... 54 
                    3.5     Republic of Maldives ........................................................................................................................ 58 
                      3.5.1    Profile ............................................................................................................................................ 58 
                      3.5.2    Tourism Products.......................................................................................................................... 58 
                      3.5.3    Sustainable tourism ...................................................................................................................... 59 
                    3.6     United States of America .................................................................................................................. 63 
                      3.6.1    Apec Member’s profile .................................................................................................................. 63 
                      3.6.2    Tourism Products:......................................................................................................................... 63 
                      3.6.3    Sustainable tourism: ..................................................................................................................... 64 
                    3.7     Botswana .......................................................................................................................................... 68 
                      3.7.1    Profile ............................................................................................................................................ 68 
                      3.7.2    Tourism Products.......................................................................................................................... 68 
                      3.7.3    Sustainable Tourism ..................................................................................................................... 68 
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                    43.9    Tourism Indicators User Manual and Tourism Sustainability Assessment Tool .............................. 74 
                  
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