| This article will provide a brief overview about the | | | | effects. It was argued that Mediterranean tourism is |
| historical background, importance, concepts, principles | | | | the main source of economic gain for the reason |
| and general debates about sustainable tourism. | | | | however short term growth was overlooked with long |
| Sustainable tourism is one of the pre-requisites of | | | | term adverse effect and deterioration of their |
| achieving sustainable development. the concept of | | | | ecosystem and resources (Farsari, 2000) |
| tourism with sustainability and development gets its | | | | Effects of ignorant tourism on its sustainability include: |
| historical inclusion from mass tourism that got flourished | | | | 'over consumption of natural resources ,environmental |
| in 1960s due to advent of jet aircraft and the passions | | | | degradation, exploitation of cultures and labour, |
| for tourism got tremendous following and it also | | | | displacement of people from their land, lack of |
| reached Third World countries (Dann, 2002). It was | | | | consultation with local communities, poorly thought out |
| also argued that this boost pushed organizations like | | | | tourism planning and high foreign exchange leakage |
| World Bank and UN to examine the cost benefit | | | | which reduces local economic benefits' in long run |
| analysis of tourism and it was acknowledged that | | | | (World's Summit on Sustainable Development, 2002), |
| potential costs of tourism are far lower than financial | | | | Where such effects are there to pose a threat on |
| benefits in shape of balance pf payment surpluses, | | | | sustainable tourism there are guiding principles that can |
| infrastructure development, and employment and | | | | lead to ensure sustainability (Papers4you.com, 2006). |
| foreign exchange gains. So that gave rise to the | | | | Those principles include sustainable use of resources, |
| concept of sustainable tourism as one of the source | | | | waste and over-consumption reduction, diversity |
| of bringing sustainable development. According to the | | | | maintenance, tourism-planning integration, local |
| World's Summit on Sustainable Development (2002), it | | | | economy support as well as local community |
| is claimed that Tourism is the world's largest industry | | | | involvement, consultation, training, research and |
| where in 2000, 698 million people travelled | | | | responsible marketing (Farsari, 2000) |
| internationally which 7.3 % more than 1999. Similarly the | | | | So the discussion suggest that tourism industry has |
| economic worth of international tourism was US$477.9 | | | | potential to be a prerequisite for sustainable |
| billion in 2000 (Papers4you.com, 2006). | | | | development, however it is imperative to realize that |
| In terms of one concrete definition, literature suggests | | | | focus on mass tourism only can pose danger to |
| that it is not fixed and is ever evolving. However | | | | environment so in order to ensure sustainability in |
| Coccossis (1996) asserts that sustainable tourism can | | | | tourism, guiding principles should be followed |
| be taken in four different interpretations that include" | | | | References |
| economic sustainability of tourism", the "ecologically | | | | Coccossis, H. (1996) 'Tourism and Sustainability: |
| sustainable tourism"," sustainable tourism development" | | | | Perspectives and Implications' in Priestley, G. et al. (eds), |
| with both focus of environment as well as long term | | | | Sustainable Tourism? European Experiences, U.K.: Cab |
| feasibility of the industry and finally "tourism as a part | | | | International |
| of a strategy for sustainable development". | | | | Dann, G, M, S, (2002), "Tourism & Development", in |
| As mentioned above, sustainable tourism should be | | | | Desai V and Potter, R. |
| taken in consideration to environmental and resources | | | | |