Since the mid-1950s, tourism has become one of the most important sectors of the economy. It has created an increasing impact on the natural and cultural environment. In order to react to the evolving impacts - both negative and positive - of tourism since the 1990s, a new approach to sustainable tourism development has been launched more or less worldwide. Together with the newly established international responsible tourism development organisations in destinations, tourists are becoming increasingly aware of sustainable tourism issues, and as a result of this process tourists are becoming more responsible as well as seeking out those destinations that place a particular emphasis on sustainability.
Sustainable tourism is a concept that covers the full tourism experience, including concern for economic, social and environmental issues as well as attention to improving the experiences of tourists and addressing the needs of host communities.
Sustainable tourism is "a highly complex concept with varying definitions due to different interpretations of the concept and the use of the concept". It is rooted in sustainable development, a term that is 'open to wide interpretation'. This can lead to some confusion as to what sustainable tourism means.

Sustainable tourism covers the full tourism experience, including concern for economic, social and environmental issues as well as attention to improving the experience of tourists.

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Win-win-win sustainable tourism development - Theory and Practice: EU INCULTUM project    

Leonidas A. Papakonstantinidis