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Message of the President of french Republic Jacques CHIRAC

 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

Europe is the World's leading tourist destination, and moreover the majority of tourists visiting the rest of the World come from Europe. Due to globalisation and the development of the leisure and Internet society, the tourism sector is expanding rapidly, and sustainable tourism is going to become a strategic axis for Europe.

Tourism must be ever more concerned with the environment. With tourists travelling to, and congregating in, certain areas at certain times, they are to some extent contributing to damage being caused to the environment. Transportation, in particular by air, used by holiday passengers is responsible for 7% of the gas emissions causing the greenhouse effect.

Tourism is a consumer of energy and water, as well as being a producer of waste.

It is absolutely essential that we put a stop to the damage that is being done to our coasts and mountains. There is an ever-greater need for us to set a limit over which the development of large resorts cannot cross, particularly in vulnerable areas.

Tourists are increasingly expecting higher standards for their holiday destinations, the welcome they receive, the tranquillity, cleanliness and safety.

The quality of the surroundings, recognised by approved labels, is already an element for competition in the face of the emergence of new tourist destinations. Poor land management, nuisance-generating activities that exist side-by-side, and damage to our natural heritage, can all impede the rapid expansion of tourism. In actual fact the tourist sector is very aware of its image crises and unknown factors.

It is in all our interests to ensure that tourism development is sustainable. This will require cooperation at all levels as there is a wide range of key players who will need motivating.

Firstly on a global scale, as France is applying the code of ethics of the World Tourism Organisation to promote sustainable development, respect human rights and struggle against sex travel.

Similarly we need to have excellent cooperation within the European Union in order to achieve a sustainable balance of mass tourism, and we are becoming increasingly aware of the need for indicators and assessment of the impacts that tourism has on the environment.

In the wider sense of the term sustainable tourism is the concern of the regions, and their diversity and traditions must be respected, just as their initiatives must be encouraged.

Many of you are playing pioneering roles in these changes, and you will want to talk about and share your experiences and projects. I congratulate you.

To all those attending the "Tourism Summits", I send you my warmest words of encouragement and gratitude, and wish you every success in your work.

Jacques CHIRAC