Sustainable Tourism Development

Tourism in Alberta has grown at dramatic rates over the last few decades with considerable growth predicted to continue. While the province recognizes the economic importance of tourism, this increase in development can put significant pressures on local communities and cultures, the environment, and public land and natural resources, which the tourism industry relies upon to maintain its success.

In addition to the traditional economic assessments of your business, it is important to evaluate the impacts of your tourism development and operations on the surrounding environment and communities. Similar to determining the financial costs and benefits associated with your project, the following process will provide you with an outline of what environmental and social impacts your business is likely to have and how you can create efficiencies and minimize those impacts.

Tourism operators are encouraged to address and minimize the environmental and social/cultural impacts throughout the development of the business. Starting from the original idea to design, planning, construction, implementation, and the operational stage, operators are encouraged to consider the environmental and social/cultural impacts at each stage in the development process. For example:

  • Were the buildings and other facilities designed and situated to minimize site impacts and respect the natural environment?
  • Have your building designs considered feasible "green building" technologies to achieve maximum efficiencies of resources and reducing your operating costs?
  • During site development, was there a program in place to preserve and protect the sensitive features of the environment including vegetation, views and wildlife habitat?
  • Have you made efforts to consult with the local Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities regarding your business proposal?

In addition, activities that help return the environment back to its natural state, such as the replanting of native trees and professional habitat restoration, are also beneficial.

After the business has been developed, care for the environment must be maintained in all aspects of the operation. For more information, visit:

Tourism Industry Association of Canada:

Other Resources:

  • Business Enterprises for Sustainable Travel

    Provides information on how to meet the interests of the travel industry, community, business, and travelers while enhancing the economic, social and environmental sustainability of host destination communities.

  • Steps to Sustainable Tourism

    This document is a tool for tourism managers and stakeholders to assist in developing tourism products or destinations that achieve a range of sustainable benefits for communities and the environment.

  • Making Tourism More Sustainable: A Guide for Policy Makers

    This guide provides a comprehensive set of instruments for governments to help ensure tourism ventures are economically, socially, and environmentally successful over the long-term. Some of the tools include planning regulations, economic instruments and the application of certification and indicators to measure progress towards specified goals. It also sets out 12 key objectives for achieving sustainable tourism.

  • Tour Operators' Initiative for Sustainable Tourism Development

    This site provides practical management tools for tourism operators to assist in developing tourism products or services that optimize benefits while minimizing adverse environmental, social and economic impacts.

  • Pacific Northwest Pollution Prevention Resource Center - Green Building Resources

    This resource can be used as a guide for "green building" for tourism project developers to help achieve maximum efficiencies of resources while reducing operating costs.