Why this program
Tourism has become one of the world’s most significant sources of employment and GDP, and it is now widely recognized as one of the world’s largest industries. This rapid growth has encouraged many developing nations to view tourism as a key factor in realizing economic growth. If tourism is organized in a sustainable way, it can provide ample opportunities for economic growth, poverty alleviation and biodiversity conservation. It can also be a powerful tool to address other important crosscutting issues such as gender equality, health, education, entrepreneurship and good governance. The STM program provides insights into how tourism can positively contribute to sustainable development by highlighting the main issues at stake, the stakeholders involved and the best practices deployed.