The third point that should be stressed in the human resource curriculum is the
importance of cross-cultural exchanges. Sustainable tourism is dependent upon the
avoidance of ethnocentrism and stereotyping. All cultures must be equally respected
within the organziation. Local knowledge and traditional materials should be used in the
construction of the facility so that the facility blends in with local building styles. Indeed,
the 1992 Rio Convention on Biodiversity and the Statement of Forest Principles (United
Nations, 1993) specifically recognize the traditional knowledge held by indigenous
peoples and the generic diversity that they represent as key elements in sustainable
development of the planet (Robinson, 1999).