How can scientific insights be translated into practice so that tourism truly becomes more sustainable? This question lies at the heart of a 2025 publication by Anna Scuttari et al. Despite numerous standards for sustainable tourism, there remains a persistent implementation gap between research and policy.
The UNWTO International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (INSTO) addresses precisely this challenge. It links research with practical destination governance and enables evidence-based decision-making. Case studies from Mexico, Indonesia, and Portugal show that these observatories not only collect data but also reflect on it together with local stakeholders and translate it into concrete action strategies.
In doing so, they help align tourism policy more closely with ecological and social sustainability goals. At the same time, the study makes clear that, for such observatories to reach their full potential, greater exchange, resources, and political support are needed.
