Sound environmental management of tourism facilities and especially hotels (water and energy saving measures, waste minimization, use of environmentally friendly material, etc.) can decrease the environmental impact of tourism. Planning helps to make choices between the conflicting interests of industry and tourism, in order to find ways to make them compatible. By planning tourism development at an early stage, damages and expensive mistakes can be prevented, thereby avoiding the gradual deterioration of environmental assets significant to tourism.

Alternative employment

Tourism can provide alternative employment to development scenarios that may have greater environmental impacts.

See the Väinameri project - Estonia case study

Example
The coast along the Red Sea is one of the most environmentally vulnerable areas with a multitude of natural attractions such as coral reefs, sandy beaches or turtles. It is considered to have an enormous potential for international and local tourism development. It represents housing and employment opportunities for the increasing population of Egypt.The Red Sea Information System (RSIS) helped to create a sustainable action plan regarding new developments within tourism, infrastructure and industry along the coast. "The RSIS has played a key role in achieving environmental and economical sustainability; changes in the regional development policies and strategies; changes in the allocation of the financial resources; addressing the environmental conservation constraints; better co-ordination between the various investment and environmental organisations; and public participation in the decision making process" (http://bestpractices.org/).