The Global Code of Ethics for Tourism

13 SANTA CLARA JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL LAW 375 2015 380 stands central in this contribution, the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism. For example, the UNWTO has published some interesting publications, e.g., a guidebook on indicators of sustainable development for tourism destinations, 23 a compilation of good practices concerning sustainable development of tourism, 24 a handbook on natural disasters reduction in tourist areas, 25 and recently, Manual on Accessible Tourism for All Public-private Partnerships and Good Practices. 26 Additionally, the UNWTO produced many studies aimed at the promotion of sustainable tourism. 27 We, however, focus on one specific activity of the UNWTO, the creation of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism and the corresponding World Committee on Tourism Ethics.

B. The Global Code of Ethics for Tourism

The Global Code of Ethics for Tourism was adopted at a meeting of the General Assembly of the UNWTO in Santiago, Chile, on October 1, 1999. 28 At the meeting, the UNWTO General Assembly recommended: States Members or non-members of WTO, without being obliged to do so, to accept expressly the principles embodied in the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism and to use them as a basis when establishing their national laws and regulations and to inform accordingly the World Committee on Tourism Ethics . . . . 29 The Global Code of Ethics for Tourism contains the following: 30 Article 1 : Tourisms contribution to mutual understanding and respect between peoples and societies. Article 2 : Tourism as a vehicle for individual and collective fulfillment. 23. W ORLD T OURISM O RGANIZATION , I NDICATORS OF S USTAINABLE D EVELOPMENT FOR T OURISM D ESTINATIONS : A G UIDEBOOK 2004, available at http:www.e- unwto.orgcontentx53g07fulltext?p=2bf9cdc6ce5e478c9262e74caeb665c9pi=0section=8900 49page=1. 24. W ORLD T OURISM O RGANIZATION , S USTAINABLE D EVELOPMENT OF T OURISM : A C OMPILATION OF G OOD P RACTICES 2000. 25. W ORLD T OURISM O RGANIZATION , H ANDBOOK ON N ATURAL D ISASTER R EDUCTION IN T OURIST A REAS 1998. 26. W ORLD T OURISM O RGANIZATION , M ANUAL ON A CCESSIBLE T OURISM FOR A LL – P UBLIC -P RIVATE P ARTNERSHIPS AND G OOD P RACTICES 2015, available at http:dtxtq4w60xqpw. cloudfront.netsitesallfilesdocpdfaamanualturismoaccesibleomt-facseng.pdf. 27. For an overview of the publications, see Sustainable Development of Tourism, U NITED N ATIONS W ORLD T OURISM O RGANIZATION , http:sdt.unwto.orgcontentpublications-1 last visited Apr. 7, 2015. 28. See Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, supra note 3. 29. Id. at 19. 30. Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, U NITED N ATIONS W ORLD T OURISM O RGANIZATION , http:ethics.unwto.orgencontentglobal-code-ethics-tourism last visited Apr. 7, 2015. The Global Code of Ethics for Tourism and the World Committee on Tourism Ethics 381 Article 3 : Tourism, a factor of sustainable development. Article 4 : Tourism, a user of the cultural heritage of mankind and contributor to its enhancement. Article 5 : Tourism, a beneficial activity for host countries and communities. Article 6 : Obligations of stakeholders in tourism development. Article 7 : Right to tourism. Article 8 : Liberty of tourist movements. Article 9 : Rights of the workers and entrepreneurs in the tourism industry. Article 10: Implementation of the principles of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism. The General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization reaffirmed that the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism is aimed at, inter alia, establishing “a synthesis of the various documents, codes and declarations of the same kind or with comparable aspirations published over the years.” 31 The Preamble of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism reflects the intentions of the entities that were involved as its creators. 32 As reflected in the preamble, they firmly believed that tourism represents “a vital force for peace and a factor of friendship and understanding among the peoples of the world.” 33 The Preamble of the Code also stresses the need “to promote a genuine partnership between the public and private stakeholders in tourism development” 34 that is in line with the UNWTO policies. 35 The Global Code of Ethics for Tourism contains nine principles summarized in the ten articles mentioned above. To some extent, the articles have a rather idealistic tone and are clearly addressed at the wide stakeholder community involved in tourism activities. 36 For example, Article 12 suggests that “tourism activities should be conducted in harmony with the attributes and traditions of the host regions and countries and in respect for their laws, practices and customs” 37 31. Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, supra note 3, at 2. 32. Id. at pmbl. ¶ 1 indicating the entities in concern, namely, Members of the World Tourism Organization, representatives of the world tourism industry, delegates of States, territories, enterprises, institutions and bodies that are gathered for the General Assembly at Santiago, Chile on this first day of October 1999. 33. Id. at pmbl. ¶ 3. 34. Id. at pmbl. ¶ 10. 35. See supra Part I.A. 36. Implementation of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, supra note 2, § 50 “The nine principles set forth in the Code provide clear guidelines and recommendations that are both policy-driven and action-oriented for all tourism stakeholders, while the tenth is monitored and administered by the World Committee on Tourism Ethics.”. 37. Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, supra note 3, art. 12. 13 SANTA CLARA JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL LAW 375 2015 382 thus addressing tourists and operators, but Article 14 also provides that “it is the task of the public authorities to provide protection for tourists and visitors and their belongings.” 38 Specific attention is paid to sustainable development in Article 3, broadly suggesting that all “stakeholders in tourism development should save the natural environment with a view to achieving sound, continuous and sustainable economic growth geared to satisfying equitable the needs and aspirations of present and future generations.” 39 Specific obligations are also placed on tourism professionals to provide tourists with objective and honest information on their places of destination and all the conditions of travel, hospitality, and safety. 40 Interestingly, Article 7 even refers to a “universal right to tourism,” which “must be regarded as the corollary of the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay, guaranteed by Article 24 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 7d of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.” 41 These few examples illuminate the nature of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism; it contains rather vague and broad principles of good conduct addressed not only at traditional stakeholders in international law states, but also at operators in the tourism industry and even tourists. Still, to some extent, text used in the Code parallels language found in human rights treaties by referring to a right to rest and leisure, 42 for example. Let us now look more specifically at the legal character of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism.

II. Legal Nature of the Code of Ethics