By: Aftab Rana
There is steady increase in the awareness around the world for the need to consider environmental and cultural issues in the Travel & Tourism industry and not simply its economic returns. Governments, industry and academia have undertaken research and implemented actions to minimize the impacts of the travel industry on the environment and to develop best practices of sustainable tourism. Sustainable tourism refers to a broad range of tourism ventures that take into account ideas of sustainable development. Importantly, sustainable tourism development is supply driven rather than demand driven with consideration given to social, economic and environmental factors. In 2017, WES Project of Agha Khan Rural Support Program and Sustainable Tourism Foundation Pakistan has jointly developed an action plan for the promotion of Sustainable Ecotourism in the area of Laspur Valley.