Considerations on the sustainable tourism assessment process scoping

Abstract

A lot has been discussed about the need for tourism to develop in a sustainable way. However, for it to transcend discourse and be made effective into practice, it is necessary the presence of guidelines that indicate which aspects should be evaluated, for it is only through evaluation that one will find if the expected results were achieved. From that finding, arises an unavoidable question: what to evaluate? That questioning is, although fundamental to the operationalization of the sustainable tourism concept, still little discussed. The following article has the goal of suggesting and discussing a minimal content proposal to be observed in the scope of any tourism sustainability evaluation process. As a conclusion, it is suggested that, for it to achieve it's purposes, a tourism sector sustainability evaluation process shall: i) adopt a vision about sustainable development; ii) establish a effective communication process with the stakeholders; iii) be able to provide relevant information to the decision making process; iv) contemplate public participation; v) be able to adapt to new circumstances.