Tourism Expansion: Increasing Threats, or Conservation Opportunities? - Environment Alert Bulletin 6

Tourism generates 11% of global GDP, employs 200 million people but produces 4.8 million tones of waste yearly and consumes as much energy as a country the size and development level of Japan. The number of tourists is expected, at least, to double to 1.6 billion by the year 2020. Sustainable management of natural resources and wastes is essential for the well-being of this economic sector and natural ecosystems.