According to UNWTO (World Tourism Organization) Sustainable Tourism is defined as: "Tourism that takes full account of current and future impacts, economic, social and environmental factors to meet the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities." The basic principles that define sustainable tourism are:
Sustainable tourism is not just limited to areas of ecological significance, but actively aims to reduce negative impacts in a holistic way, in urban, rural, and wilderness areas. Issues confronted include economic viability, socio-cultural sensitivity, and environmental sustainability, at destinations of natural and cultural significance, in both mass tourism and the various niche tourism segments. Sustainable tourism not only examines and responds to the needs of the present, but how current actions will also reduce negative impacts in the long term.