Tour Operators' Initiative for Sustainable Tourism Development

Most tour operators recognize that a clean environment is critical to their success, but few of them have the management tools or experience to arrange and conduct tours that minimize their negative environmental and social impacts while optimizing their benefits.

A group of tour operators from different parts of the world have joined forces to create the Tour Operators' Initiative for Sustainable Tourism Development. With this Initiative, tour operators are moving towards sustainable tourism by committing themselves to the concepts of sustainable development as the core of their business activity and to work together through common activities to promote and disseminate methods and practices compatible with sustainable development.

The Initiative has been developed by and for tour operators with the support of the UNEP, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the World Tourism Organization (WTO/OMT), who are also full members of the Initiative. Under this international umbrella, members of the Initiative will be able to respond to international agendas while developing ideas and projects to address the environmental, social, economic and cultural aspects of sustainable development within the tourism sector.

The Initiative is voluntary, nonprofit, and open to all tour operators, regardless of their size and geographical location.

For more information on the Tour Operators' Initiative please visit: www.toinitiative.org