ABSTRACT
Ever since the f has been a tendency in popular and industry discourse to frame the sector’s raison d’être as being to achieve sustainable development. While academics have increasingly sought to constructively critique the sustainability merits of the sector (e.g., Butcher, 2005; Fletcher, 2009; Vanderheiden & Sisson, 2010), influential groups including the United Nations General Assembly have continued to identify ecotourism as a pathway to sustainable development. As a case in point, it is possible to cite the 2016 consensus resolution (71/240) of the United Nations General Assembly: Promotion of sustainable tourism, including ecotourism, for poverty eradication and environmental protection. The text of the resolution read in part as follows:
Recognising that sustainable tourism, including ecotourism, is a cross-cutting activity that can contribute to the three dimensions of sustainable development and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, including by fostering economic growth, alleviating poverty, creating full and productive employment and decent work for all, accelerating the change to more sustainable consumption and production patterns and promoting the sustainable use of oceans, seas and marine resources, promoting local culture, improving the quality of life and the economic empowerment of women and young people and promoting rural development and better living conditions for rural populations. (United Nations General Assembly, 2016)
