About ESDT

The Ethics and Social Dimensions of Tourism Programme (ESDT) of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), a specialised agency of the United Nations, is tasked with the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism.

Guided by the provisions of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, the programme focuses on issues of child protection, gender equality, accessible tourism, intangible cultural heritage, migrations,  travel facilitation - particularly for persons with HIV/AIDS, consumer and enterprise protection, and the promotion of human rights and non-discrimination.

The Programme further coordinates the activities of both the World Committee on Tourism Ethics and the World Tourism Network on Child Protection.

Areas of Work

• GLOBAL CODE OF ETHICS FOR TOURISM
  • Promotes and disseminates the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism and monitors its implementation
  • Coordinates the activities of the World Committee on Tourism Ethics
• PROTECTION OF CHILDREN IN TOURISM
  • Works to prevent all forms of exploitation of minors in tourism (sexual exploitation, child labour, trafficking in children, etc.)
  • Coordinates the activities of the World Tourism Network on Child Protection
• GENDER AND TOURISM
  • Promotes gender equality and the empowerment of women in tourism
• ACCESSIBLE TOURISM
  • Advocates for the accessibility of tourism facilities and services, to facilitate the travel of all persons, including those  with disabilities
• TOURISM & INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE
  • Promotes the inclusion of the intangible cultural heritage component into destinations’ tourism development and management