tourism global code of ethics

UN Tourism | Bringing the world closer

Ethics, culture and social responsibility, global code of ethics for tourism.

Accessible Tourism
Tourism and Culture
Women’s Empowerment and Tourism

share this content

Share this article on facebook
Share this article on twitter
Share this article on linkedin

" Tourism is a genuine driver of solidarity and development. Let us all fully harness its power to bring people and communities together, abiding by the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism. This way tourism can keep delivering better opportunities and sustainable development for millions across the globe. "

Zurab pololikashvili, un tourism secretary-general, august 2020.

As a fundamental frame of reference for responsible and sustainable tourism, the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism (GCET) is a comprehensive set of principles designed to guide key-players in tourism development. Addressed to governments, the travel industry, communities and tourists alike, it aims to help maximise the sector’s benefits while minimising its potentially negative impact on the environment, cultural heritage and societies across the globe. Adopted in 1999 by the General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization, its acknowledgement by the United Nations two years later expressly encouraged UN Tourism to promote the effective follow-up of its provisions. Although not legally binding, the Code features a voluntary implementation mechanism through its recognition of the role of the World Committee on Tourism Ethics (WCTE), to which stakeholders may refer matters concerning the application and interpretation of the document.

The Code’s 10 articles amply cover the economic, social, cultural and environmental components of travel and tourism:

Tourism's contribution to mutual understanding and respect between peoples and societies

3. The host communities, on the one hand, and local professionals, on the other, should acquaint themselves with and respect the tourists who visit them and find out about their lifestyles, tastes and expectations; the education and training imparted to professionals contribute to a hospitable welcome; 4. It is the task of the public authorities to provide protection for tourists and visitors and their belongings; they must pay particular attention to the safety of foreign tourists owing to the particular vulnerability they may have; they should facilitate the introduction of specific means of information, prevention, security, insurance and assistance consistent with their needs; any attacks, assaults, kidnappings or threats against tourists or workers in the tourism industry, as well as the wilful destruction of tourism facilities or of elements of cultural or natural heritage should be severely condemned and punished in accordance with their respective national laws; 5. When travelling, tourists and visitors should not commit any criminal act or any act considered criminal by the laws of the country visited and abstain from any conduct felt to be offensive or injurious by the local populations, or likely to damage the local environment; they should refrain from all trafficking in illicit drugs, arms, antiques, protected species and products and substances that are dangerous or prohibited by national regulations; 6. Tourists and visitors have the responsibility to acquaint themselves, even before their departure, with the characteristics of the countries they are preparing to visit; they must be aware of the health and security risks inherent in any travel outside their usual environment and behave in such a way as to minimize those risks.

Tourism as a vehicle for individual and collective fulfilment

Tourism, a factor of sustainable development

Tourism, a user of the cultural heritage of mankind and contributor to its enhancement

Tourism, a beneficial activity for host countries and communities

Obligations of stakeholders in tourism development

Right to tourism

Liberty of tourist movements

Rights of the workers and entrepreneurs in the tourism industry

Implementation of the principles of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism

Full Text of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism

ENGLISH (brochure)
ENGLISH (passport size)
FRENCH (brochure)
FRENCH (passport size)
SPANISH (brochure)
SPANISH (passport size)
RUSSIAN (brochure)
RUSSIAN (passport size)
ARABIC (brochure)
ARABIC (passport size)

The versions of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism in non-official languages of the World Tourism Organization have been endorsed by official National Tourism Administrations of the countries and regions listed below. UN Tourism does not guarantee the accuracy of these translations with regard to those in the official languages of the Organization.

This site shall constitute the main source for the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism. Other sites onto which the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism has been uploaded are not under the control of UN Tourism. UN Tourism shall not be responsible for the content of any of these sites or any link contained therein.

The Global Code of Ethics for Tourism in non-official languages

ALBANIA (Albanian)
ANDORRA (Catalán)
AZERBAIJAN (Azerbaijani)
BANGLADESH (Bangladeshi)
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA ( Bosnian ) ( Serbian ) ( Croatian )
BRAZIL (Portuguese)
BULGARIA (Bulgarian)
CHINA (Chinese)
CROATIA (Croatian)
CZECH REPUBLIC (Czech)
EGYPT (Arabic)
FLEMISH COMMUNITY OF BELGIUM (Dutch )
GEORGIA (Georgian)
GERMANY (German)
GREECE (Greek)
HUNGARY (Hungarian)
ICELAND (Icelandic)
INDONESIA (Bahasa)
ISRAEL (Hebrew)
ITALY (Italian)
JAPAN (Japanese)
JORDAN (Arabic)
LATVIA (Latvian)
LITHUANA (Lithuanian)
NIGERIA ( Hausa ) ( Yoruba )
PALESTINE (Arabic)
PHILIPPINES (Filipino)
POLAND (Polish)
PORTUGAL (Portuguese)
REPUBLIC OF KOREA (Korean)
ROMANIA (Romanian)
SAN MARINO (Italian)
SERBIA (Serbian)
SLOVAKIA (Slovak)
SLOVENIA (Slovenian)
THAILAND (Thai)
TURKEY (Turkish)
UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA (Swahili)

Private Sector Signatories of the Commitment

In 2011, UN Tourism formulated a Private Sector Commitment to the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, for the signature of private enterprises worldwide. In signing the commitment, companies pledge to uphold, promote and implement the values of responsible and sustainable tourism development championed by the Code. They further undertake to report on their implementation of the Code's principles in their corporate governance to the World Committee on Tourism Ethics.

Ethics convention

The UN Tourism Convention on Tourism Ethics, the first convention of the Organization, was approved by A/RES/722(XXIII) during the 23rd General Assembly which took place in San Petersburg, Russian Federation in September 2019.

World Committee on Tourism Ethics (WCTE)

Established in 2003, the World Committee on Tourism Ethics is the impartial body responsible for interpreting, applying and evaluating the provisions of the UN Tourism Global Code of Ethics for Tourism. For further information, please see UN Tourism General Assembly Resolution A/RES/607(XIX) of October 2011.

The Responsible Tourist

To facilitate the understanding of the principles of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism by tourists, the World Committee on Tourism Ethics prepared the " Tips for a Responsible Traveller " (2020 version) to highlight those principles of the Code directly related to tourists, in order to help guide travellers in making their behaviour ever more responsible.

Background of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism

The Global Code of Ethics for Tourism sets a frame of reference for the responsible and sustainable development of world tourism. It draws inspiration from many similar declarations and industry codes that have come before and it adds new thinking that reflects our changing society at the beginning of the 21st century.