Tourism

Tourism shapes how cities grow and connect to their natural and economic systems. Integrating sustainable tourism into urban planning can help protect ecosystems, activate public spaces, and support local economies while promoting low-impact, resource-efficient development.

Tourism is a key driver of urban economies and a strategic lever for advancing nature-positive, low-carbon, and circular urban development. It influences how cities manage natural assets, infrastructure, and resource flows, creating opportunities to align visitor economies with sustainability goals. When embedded in integrated urban planning, sustainable tourism can support the conservation of biodiversity, promote low-carbon mobility and infrastructure, and encourage circular practices in sectors such as hospitality, food systems, and waste management. By prioritizing responsible and regenerative tourism models, cities can attract investment, strengthen local livelihoods, and enhance resilience, ensuring that tourism contributes to long-term environmental sustainability, economic diversification, and inclusive urban development.

 

Explore more resources in the GPSC Knowledge Products, featuring case studies, toolkits, and technical guidance from cities around the world. Use the filters and categories to navigate by theme or topic and find content tailored to your city’s priorities.

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Tourism

Seoul's Experience in Cultural Heritage Sustainable Tourism and Urban Regeneration

This report details the evolution of Seoul’s efforts since the 1960s to balance all three elements of this critical equation: cultural heritage, sustainable tourism, and urban regeneration. The five
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Tourism

Orange is the new colour of city competitiveness: The role of local governments in promoting cultural and creative industries

Cities have the power to stimulate and harness culture, creativity and innovation for local development. Culture and creativity are invaluable assets with untapped potential to deliver spatial
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Tourism

Promoting Disaster Resilient Cultural Heritage

Cultural heritage is vulnerable to the adverse impacts of natural disasters, and climate change is adding to the urgency of addressing this challenge. Countries around the world are employing a
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