Vatican message for World Tourism Day: focus on biodiversity

June 30, 2010

The Vatican has released its annual message for World Tourism Day, on the theme of biodiversity.

World Tourism Day will be observed on December 27. The Vatican message, released by the Pontifical Council for Migrants, argues the tourism can aggravate the problems of “climate change, desertification, and the loss of biodiversity.” The problems, the message says, stem from the fact that many tourists are attracted to sites of great natural beauty, with few resources to handle the increased human traffic, thus creating demands and stresses “exceeding the quantities that might be withstood by a determined area.” The Vatican message calls for cooperation among tourists, public authorities, and travel agencies to protect the natural environment and encourage responsible tourism.

 

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Further information:

• Message for World Tourism Day (VIS)