Eco friendly tourism and the United Nations Environment Programme's

The UNEP released a publication in 2003 titled - Sustainable Tourism: The Tour Operator's Contribution - that showcases over 30 case studies of companies using green business practices. The publication reviews internal management; supply chain management; product management and development; customer relations; and co-operation with destinations provide an overview of the diverse approaches and tools that tour operators can adopt.

Klaus Toepfer, Executive Director of UNEP, said: "There is every sign that we are seeing a renaissance in the commitment to global environmental issues. This is being driven partly by the soaring demand and price for fossil fuels".

"It is also being fueled by a growing recognition, especially by rapidly developing countries that environmental degradation cannot continue. That it is now the bottleneck to future economic development. That a healthy environment has a lot to do with fighting poverty and delivering a stable and more peaceful world," he added.

The Sustainable Tourism publications reviews educating consumers, providing financial support to developing holiday industries introduction of environmental clauses into contracts, and supporting the use of 'green' checklists in hotels are just a few of the issues the UNEP are supporting.

"The report presents a survey of different actions that tour operators are implementing around the world to protect the environmental and cultural resources upon which their business depends," said Tom Selanniemi Chairman of the United Nations backed Tour Operators' Initiative (TOI).

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