AmCham Macedonia 3/2019 | Page 22

COVER STORY Sustainable Tourism and How to Achieve It Aleksandar Celeski, Executive Director, DUEL Consulting W orld Tourism Day is being celebrated on September 27. The purpose of this day is to raise awareness about the role of tourism and to demonstrate how it affects social, cultural, political and economic values worldwide. In 2019 it was for the first time that World Tourism Day was hosted by India under the theme ‘Tourism and jobs: a better future for all’. The 2030 Agenda - Tourism and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Tourism has the potential to contribute, directly or indirectly, to all of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In particular, it has been included as target in Goals 8, 12 and 14 on inclusive and sustainable use of oceans and marine resources, respectively. Sustainable tourism is firmly positioned in the 2030 Agenda of the United Nations (UN). A clear implementation framework, adequate financing and investment in technology, infrastructure and human resources is required to achieve this agenda. Tourism is one of the driving forces of global economic growth, and currently accounts for 1 in 11 jobs worldwide. By giving access to decent work opportunities in the tourism sector, society - particularly youth and women - can benefit from enhanced skills and professional development. The sector’s contribution to job creation is recognized in target 8.9 “By 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products”. Tourism grows faster than merchandise trade. Tourism is the world’s third largest export category after chemicals and fuels, and ahead of automotive products and food. 22 EMERGING MACEDONIA Adventure Tourism Adventure tourism, according to the Adventure Travel Trade Association, is a tourist activity that includes a physical activity, a cultural exchange, or activities in nature. Adventure travel is a type of niche tourism, involving exploration or travel with a certain degree of risk, and which may require special skills and physical exertion. Adventure tourism is defined as the movement of the people from one to another place outside their comfort zone for exploration or travel to remote areas, exotic and possibly hostile areas. This may include activities such as mountaineering, trekking, bungee jumping, mountain biking, cycling, canoeing, scuba diving, rafting, kayaking, zip-lining, paragliding, hiking, exploring, canyoneering, sand-boarding, caving and rock climbing. Adventure tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors of the tourism sector, attracting high-value customers, supporting local economies, and encouraging sustainable practices. The continued growth of this sector creates net positive impacts not only for tourism, but also for destination economies, their people, and their environment. Some importance and benefits of adventure tourism are as follows: Employment Generation, Foreign Exchange, Economy Development, Support Local Communities, Conservation of Natural Resources, Creating Business Opportunities, Local and Foreign Investment. Macedonia - Emerging Destination on Global Adventure Tourism Market Adventure tourism is one of the fastest growing tourism sectors in the world. In only two years, the sector grew globally by 195%, and emerging markets are attracting more tourists than