Destinations are fragile. If managed poorly, we have the capacity to love them to death. In order to ensure the capacity of future generations to enjoy and experience our beloved destinations, as we have, sustainable destination management is crucial. It is up to those who live and work in a destination to come together to share the responsibility of maintaining its future sustainability.
Sustainable destinations work diligently, over time, to create the right balance between the expectations of tourists, the needs of the community, businesses which operate there, and the natural environment.
Sustainable destinations use a holistic approach toward the management of their destination, demonstrating continuous progress around four key pillars of sustainability:
1.Destination management
2.Community involvement and benefits
3.Conservation of natural and cultural heritage
4.Environmental protection
Maintaining balance. Sustainable destinations create balance by engaging stakeholders from government, the private sector and civil society, resulting in a collaborative process of embedding wise policies and practices into all levels of tourism planning, development and management.