In its standard definition, Sustainability is a characteristic or condition of a process or system that allows it to remain, at a certain level, for a certain period of time.
But in reality, the concept of sustainability first appeared in the Brundtland Report, published in 1987, also known as "Our Common Future". It was written and prepared by the United Nations with the aim of offering solutions to the problems resulting from industrialization and population growth and at the same time to give the alert regarding the negative environmental consequences of economic development and globalization.
Today, sustainability is an increasingly present theme, but often only wrongly associated with environmental sustainability. When in fact, sustainable development that tries to meet present needs without compromising future generations is based on three essential pillars: environmental protection, social development, and economic growth. These pillars, as well as all processes, effects, and causes and actions, are themselves based on a circular system.
In a summary of the report:
_ There is an interrelationship between the three dimensions of the environment, the economy and society. Any action by any of the actors cannot be considered in isolated and one-dimensional aspects
_ Although environmental protection is of enormous importance, to satisfy our material and immaterial needs we need economic well-being and a society based on solidarity.
_ There must be an inter-generational aspect to all actions, i.e. the effects must consider the satisfaction of the needs of future generations
_ Sustainable development requires long-term structural change, but it must be implemented now, in our economic and social system, with the aim of reducing environmental and resource consumption to a sustainable level while maintaining economic performance and social cohesion.
Considering the above, the principle of sustainability can be applied to an activity, company, country, or even to our behavior and attitudes as individuals. It can be applied to Tourism in all its latitude. But for any Tourism company to implement a sustainable strategy, all actions, and decisions, need to take these points into consideration:
Be ecologically correct.
Be economically viable.
They must be socially just and culturally diverse.
It may seem a difficult process, especially given the current challenges, but we keep repeating that this is the only path to follow for the success: