Author: Jacques Samoury

Tourism is one of the world's largest industries and one of its fastest growing economic sectors. In Lebanon, tourism is seen as a main instrument for local development because it stimulates new economic activities. However, it may also have negative impact on the environmental conservation and sustainable development. The article provides a theoretical framework for sustainable tourism when addressing the relationship between environmental conservation, green tourism, and sustainable development as a multidimensional phenomenon. Also, it refers to the management structures that are needed to achieve this end. The article concludes that green tourism is a responsible and low-impact environmentally-led form of sustainable tourism development. It is, however, employed as a vehicle for conserving and sustaining natural and cultural environments as well as their resources.

Keywords: Environmental conservation, green tourism, ecotourism, sustainable development.

Jacques Samoury, PhD. International Travel and Tourism Development, Assistant Professor, Dean, Faculty of Tourist Sciences, IUL University of Lebanon, Beirut, Lebanon. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.