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.

Related content
View all
Tourism

Cities, Culture, Creativity: Learning from the Republic of Korea’s Experience

This report describes examples demonstrating the leading role that Korea can play globally and provides practical insights on the importance of cultural and creative industries (CCIs) for economic
Knowledge Product

Learn more
Tourism

Culture in City Reconstruction and Recovery

As urban growth and development continue at a breathtaking pace across the world, cities are increasingly bearing the brunt of conflicts, crises and disasters, which themselves are growing in number
Knowledge Product

Learn more
Tourism

Cities, Culture, Creativity : Leveraging Culture and Creativity for Sustainable Urban Development and Inclusive Growth

Culture and creativity have untapped potential to deliver social, economic, and spatial benefits for cities and communities. Cultural and creative industries are key drivers of the creative economy
Knowledge Product

Learn more