Introduction

Tourism is very important part of economy for many cities because tourism can bring many economic benefits like further development of the area, employment, new resource of income, etc. Although tourism has positive impact on the destination development, uncontrolled and unplanned development may be responsible for many negative effects on the destination. Rapid expansion of the tourism can create a pressure on the natural, social and economic environments of the destination. It is considered that uncontrolled and unplanned development of tourism can have negative impacts on environment, social and economic of the urban areas. It is believed that possible negative impacts can create a serious threat to tourist activities and further to the development of urban areas. 

From the other hand, Tourism can positively provide alternative resources for urban change. It contains not only an economic resource but it includes a range of cultural, social resources as well as it can bring new driving forces to move toward urban sustainable resource. 

To achieve the sustainable tourism which leads to sustainable urban resource we need to optimize urban space to be a host for domestic and international tourists and make a safe and attractive environment to activate resources. Also we should respect the socio cultural authenticity of the host communities and ensure viable long term economic operations in order to ensure their support. 

Indeed, knowing that tourism has been among the hardest hit of all sectors by the COVID-19 pandemic, It needs more attention in post COVID era to be paid to this sector, no country has been unaffected, particularly in major tourism destination cities, it has led to economic loss and the loss of jobs.

In order to prevent all those possible negative impacts that tourism could create and enhance the positive effects and apply tourism as a tool for sustainable economic, social and environmental resources, we have to develop tourism in accordance with the principles of sustainable development so we can ensure that it moves in line with SDGs. 

As the 17 SDGs and the corresponding 169 SDG targets offer the world a new direction, tourism can and must play a significant role in delivering sustainable solutions for people, the planet, prosperity and peace.

Urban Economy Forum's Mission and Tourism

Since the UEF mission is to develop foundational content regarding sustainable urban economy practices for municipalities and development organizations. It tries to establish reliable and vertically integrated relationships between financial institutions and development organizations on the basis of promoting urban economics and municipal finance. And also it tries to unpack the new resource to provide a sustainable financial support toward implementation of SDG11, tourism industries can create a new capacity and strong network and enhance the capacity of cities to include new financial resources, investments, cultural diversities and social communications and promoting the discourse of sustainable urban economics.

 Urban Economy Forum is meant to embody an active economic entity, which paves the way for the implementation of various measures for development.

On the other side, Tourism as an economic powerhouse is the third highest world category in export earnings in 2015, representing 10% of world GDP, 30% of services exports and 1 out of every 10 jobs in the world. Tourism has the potential to contribute, directly or indirectly to all of the goals. In particular, it has been included as targets in Goals 8, 12 and 14 on inclusive and sustainable economic growth, sustainable consumption and production (SCP) and the sustainable use of oceans and marine resources, respectively and has a potential to be included in Goal 11 sustainable cities and communities.

International Institute for Peace through Tourism

"The International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT) was born in 1986 - International Year of Peace, founded by Louis d'Amore. The mission was and still is today that of making travel and tourism the world’s first global peace industry, where every traveler is potentially an “Ambassador for Peace.” The IIPT is a not for profit organization counting on several Chapters in many countries worldwide, including India, Iran and Australia. Through its chapters and Ambassadors-at-Large, the IIPT fosters travel and tourism initiatives that contribute to international understanding, cooperation among nations, an improved quality of environment, cultural enhancement and the preservation of heritage, poverty reduction, reconciliation and healing wounds of conflicts; and through these initiatives, helping to bring about a peaceful and sustainable world.

The IIPT First Global Conference, Tourism: A Vital Force for Peace, Vancouver 1988, with 800 delegates from 68 countries was a transformative event. At a time that most tourism was ‘mass tourism’, the Conference first introduced the concept of ‘Sustainable Tourism’ as well as a new paradigm for a “Higher Purpose” of tourism that gives emphasis to the key role of tourism in fostering travel and tourism initiatives that contribute to international understanding; cooperation among nations; an improved quality of environment; cultural enhancement and the preservation of heritage; poverty reduction; reconciliation and healing wounds of conflicts; and through these initiatives, helping to bring about a peaceful and sustainable world. IIPT has since organized some 20 international conferences and global summits in different regions of the world with a focus on actual case studies that demonstrate and promote these values of tourism."

IPPT's vision: "Committed to making travel and tourism, the world’s largest industry – the world’s first ‘Global Peace Industry’ and the belief that every traveler is potentially an ‘Ambassador for Peace.’"