Released in October 2004, following a meeting of the World Tourism Policy Forum at George Washington University inWashington DC, the focus of the declaration is on the role sustainable tourism can play in the fght to alleviate poverty in the developing world.

Washington Declaration on Tourism as a Sustainable Development Strategy October 20, 2004

The first international forum focusing on tourism development and assistance, theWorldthe World Tourism Policy Forum washeldwas held in Washington DC from October 18-20, 2004.It2004.

It was convened by the World Tourism Organization and The George Washington University, Chair of the WTO Education Council.

The assembly proposes the following declaration:

Whereas, the World Tourism Organization (WTO) has recently become the United Nations Specialized Agency for Tourism, vested with a central role in promoting the development of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism;

Whereas, the purpose of the WTO Tourism Policy Forum (WTO.TPF) is to convene educators and knowledge management experts of the WTO Education Council and other informed professionals, together with representative government policy-makers and business leaders, to focus on critical policy issues facing global tourism and to offer recommendations for future directions;

Whereas, 200 delegates and 200 observers from 52 countries participated in global consensus building activities focused on development assistance issues and strategic recommendations;

Taking into consideration that tourism is the largest industry in the world today with significant economic, environmental and socio-cultural impacts, requiring sustainable, knowledge-based policies;

Taking into consideration that tourism is an increasingly important development strategy to positively address poverty reduction, economic growth, biodiversity conservation, and socio-cultural integrity generally, as well as the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) specifically;

Recognizing that tourism can contribute to equitable redistribution of income and liberalization with a human face;

Recognizing also the active role of other United Nations agencies and their assistance to developing countries.countries;

Acknowledging that sustainable tourism development necessitates private and public sector, donor agency and stakeholder cooperation and input;

Acknowledging that the measurement and monitoring of tourism’s impact with rigorous analytical tools and relevant indicators is crucial;

Acknowledging the importance of the WTO ST-EP programme to bring sustainable tourism development into the service of poverty alleviation.