Such tourism focuses on eliminating economic and social development impediments whilst not compromising prospects for future development. By carefully managing available resources, it represents a valid alternative from the typically devastating effects of mass tourism, which depletes the environment and disregards the cultural diversity of the host country.
Sustainable tourism structures number 347 in Italy with a total of 55,000 bed spaces. They make up 2% of the national tourist market and have a potential annually growth of 20%. The sector seems destined therefore to conquer ever bigger market share and for this reason it is necessary to widen and reinforce its managerial sector. There is the need to shorten the gap between businesses, traditional tour operators and voluntary agencies, a prime example and important player of which is Lageambiente Turismo.
Hence at the Faculty of Economics has drawn up a degree in the management of sustainable tourism. Moreover masters courses are on offer like the one designed for CTS travel and Associazione Italiana Turismo Responsabile (The Italian Association of Responsible Tourism), which begins on 9 February 2009. The course’s final objective is to train professionals from local development agencies and sector professionals to be able to better produce, distribute, market and communicate the sustainable touristic agenda.
In an era that is increasingly attentive to environmental themes and protecting and recovering host countries’ cultural heritage, responsible tourism today represents a precious resource to defend and develop.