The Oslo Statement on Ecotourism

In 2002 the United Nations declared the International Year of Ecotourism, whose peak event was the World Ecotourism Summit, held in Quebec, Canada in May of that year.
The Global Ecotourism Conference held in Oslo In May 2007, marked the fifth anniversary of the Quebec Summit. Its purpose was to assess the achievements and challenges in the field of ecotourism since 2002, to bring together national and regional ecotourism associations and professionals and practitioners from around the world, and to build commitment to policies and actions to strengthen the unique contribution of ecotourism to conservation and sustainable development.
Organised by The International Ecotourism Society (TIES), Ecotourism Norway and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the conference was attended by some 450 delegates from 73 countries.
In 2002 the Quebec Declaration on Ecotourism spelt out the potential and challenges of ecotourism in contributing to sustainable development. It made recommendations to governments, the private sector, NGOs, international agencies and local and indigenous communities. They remain valid today and this Oslo Statement reaffirms the Quebec Declaration.
Since 2002:

• Many of the world’s natural areas remain under threat; there has been a further loss of biodiversity and resources for conservation remain inadequate.
• World tourism arrivals have grown by 23% and are forecast to double by 2020.
• There is much greater awareness of the extent and consequences of climate change, including the contribution of current and future travel to this.
• The role of tourism in supporting sustainable development and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, notably the alleviation of poverty, has been more strongly recognized.

In the light of these pressures and opportunities, The World Tourism Organization, UNEP and other international agencies have been pursuing and continue to support policies to make all tourism more sustainable. This approach is fully endorsed.
Ecotourism must continue to play a leading and innovative role in this quest, setting an example for the whole industry. To do so is inherent in its definition, as a form of tourism that entails responsible travel to natural areas and which conserves the environment and sustains the well-being of local people1.
Ecotourism has achieved a great deal in the last five years, and yet many challenges remain:

• Interest in visiting natural areas and observing wildlife has continued to grow, bringing opportunities but also pressures and the need for good management.
• The term ecotourism is more widely recognised and used, but it is also abused – it is not sufficiently anchored to the definition.
• More governments have developed ecotourism strategies – they need to be well integrated into mainstream tourism and environmental policies and supported by action.
• Increasing numbers of projects around the world have striven to establish ecotourism enterprises, often within local communities, as a means of enhancing sustainable livelihoods and contributing to conservation, yet many remain economically fragile and need to relate better to markets.
• Many countries now have ecotourism societies – they need to be strengthened and supported in their work.
• The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) has made connections with members in over 100 countries and affiliations with over 40 national and regional ecotourism associations. The challenge remains to unite conservation, communities and sustainable travel through education and advocacy.

In recognition of these global and sector-specific challenges and reflecting the four themes of The Global Ecotourism Conference 2007, international agencies, governments, and all those engaged in the planning and delivery of ecotourism are called upon to:
1- Recognise the valuable role that ecotourism can play in local sustainable development
Ecotourism occurs in rural and often remote areas where alternative sources of livelihood are scarce and levels of poverty are frequently high. It can provide a much needed addition to local income from an activity that values and supports conservation.
However, local communities should be involved in its planning and in the benefits it brings and attention must be paid to sound business planning and market access if it is to be economically sustainable. Action should include:

• Establishing stronger partnerships between local communities, knowledgeable private sector tourism businesses, NGOs and government.
• Delivering more benefits to poor people, through employment policies, the local supply chain, assistance with enterprise formation and support for local services and infrastructure.
• Stimulating sustainable farming practices and mutual economic advantage through creative links between ecotourism and agriculture.
• Encouraging innovative product development and fair trade through strengthening links with the arts, handicrafts and local heritage.
• Making the most of conservation designations to benefit local communities.

2- Maximise the potential of well managed ecotourism as a key economic force for the conservation of nature
Ecotourism depends on fine landscapes and abundant wildlife. Therefore, ecotourism development and the revenues it can bring should be seen as a strong ally and tool in their conservation. Indeed, the definition of ecotourism requires that positive conservation benefits should result from it. Clearly, this requires that all ecotourism activity should be well designed and managed to minimise any adverse impacts on the environment where it occurs. Action should include:

• Strengthening the knowledge, skills and resources of protected area authorities in developing and managing ecotourism, and gaining support from it.
• Recognising the special needs of coastal areas and oceans, owing to their sensitive habitats, scarce resources, and popularity for tourism and to the changing pressures on their communities.
• Developing innovative ways of using ecotourism to support and finance conservation.
• Designing ecotourism facilities in total harmony with their surroundings, leaving a minimal footprint and combining the forces of inspiration and new technology.
• Addressing sensitively the direct interaction between visitors and wildlife, to prevent loss of biodiversity and seek a net gain to conservation.

3- Support the viability and performance of ecotourism enterprises and activities through effective marketing, education and training
The business of ecotourism can be as fragile and sensitive as some of the environments in which it occurs. Owing to its nature, many of the people involved in it are not necessarily skilled in finance or knowledgeable about markets and handling visitors. Many ecotourism products are provided by micro or small enterprises. People in the sector should be encouraged and helped to work together to develop skills, market penetration and economies of scale. Action should include:

• Ensuring that all parts of the world have access to practical and high quality education and training programmes in ecotourism, whether delivered locally or remotely.
• Making up to date information available about ecotourism markets and strengthening access to them through the most effective channels, including new technology
• Improving local skills in guiding and interpretation, as a fundamental component of a high quality, authentic ecotourism experience
• Working with the media to encourage accurate, informative reporting of ecotourism, raise the profile of the sector and encourage adherence to its principles
• Strengthening local, national and regional ecotourism associations and their links to The International Ecotourism Society, creating a really strong network of networks.

4- Address some of the critical issues facing ecotourism in strengthening its sustainability
The definition of ecotourism makes a high claim for its positive impact on society and the environment. It is important that it lives up to this and continues to show the way for others. Various issues need to be addressed, reflecting current trends and external circumstances, including new opportunities to strengthen the benefits from ecotourism and new challenges to meet. Action should include:

• Continuing to set standards for the quality of ecotourism and its impact, and ensure and promote adherence to them, through recognised and linked certification schemes
• Harnessing new trends in business towards corporate social and environmental responsibility and supporting conservation and local communities
• Facing up to the effects of climate change and the impacts of ecotourism on this, through addressing travel patterns, promoting improved and alternative transport options, and encouraging participating in reliable carbon offsetting schemes
• Working with other parts of the tourism industry to promote adherence to sustainability principles and practice
• Respecting the rights of indigenous communities to control and participate in ecotourism development and operation, gain maximum benefit from it, and contribute to the authenticity and quality of the visitor experience.