As recommended
by the Economic
and Social Council, the United Nations
General Assembly proclaimed 2002 the International Year of Ecotourism.
The Assembly stated that the Year would encourage cooperation among governments,
international and regional organizations and NGOs to achieve the aims of
Agenda
21 in promoting development and the protection of the environment.
It stressed the need to integrate sustainable development in the tourist
industry, and invited States, intergovernmental and governmental organizations
to exert all possible efforts on behalf of the success of the Year, in
particular regarding ecotourism in developing countries.