MUSCAT DECLARATION ON
BUILT ENVIRONMENTS FOR SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

The participants gathered on the occasion of the conference on Built Environments for Sustainable Tourism in Muscat, Oman from 5 to 8 February 2005, upon the invitation of the World Tourism Organization, the Sultanate of Oman and UNESCO, concluded and endorsed the following declaration. DECLARATION We, the participants in the international conference on Built Environments for Sustainable Tourism (BEST), convened in the city of Muscat, from 5 to 8 February 2005, by the Government of the Sultanate of Oman, jointly with the World Tourism Organization (WTO) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognising, acknowledging, and aware of the:

• growing economic importance of tourism, its forecast global growth, geographical spread into newer destinations, and role in the overall development process
• numerous implications of tourism to societies, especially with respect to the sociocultural fabrics of host societies and to their built and natural environments
• key role local and regional authorities increasingly play in the development, marketing and management of tourism within their areas of jurisdiction
• importance of sensitive architectural adaptation and of respect for sense of place for the sustainability of tourism
• significant impact tourism can have upon the built environment, both positive and negative
• responsibilities of both governments and the private sector have in ensuring such impacts are positive
• positive role that tourism can potentially play in the preservation and conservation of natural and cultural heritage
• principles enshrined in the WTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, especially those in Article 3, “Tourism, a factor of sustainable development”, 4, “Tourism, a user of the cultural heritage of mankind and a contributor to its enhancement” and 5, “Tourism, a beneficial activity for host countries and communities”
• ideals of sustainable development encompassing economic viability, social and cultural advancement, and environmental protection that are applicable to all forms of tourism

Hereby agree to call upon central and local governments, tourism authorities and the tourism private sector to:

1. Promote the use of strategic tourism planning procedures for ensuring sustainable tourism development for the built environment;
2. Adopt policies and strategies relating to the development of tourism infrastructure that ensure a better urban environment for both residents and tourists;
3. Implement planning processes that are transparent, equitable, and democratic.
4. Align within tourism development plans and projects the requirements of development objectives, the needs of local communities, and respect for the environment;
5. Ensure that the tourism built environment reflects and respects cultural diversity;
6. Promote and disseminate awareness of best practice in the sphere of the built environment amongst policy makers, developers, employers, employees, and tourists
7. Provide information and guidance that allow visitors and residents to interpret the distinctive built environments of individual destinations
8. Monitor the impact of tourism on the built environment utilizing indicators by the World Tourism Organization in relation to economic, cultural, and environmental sustainability
9. Promote and establish partnerships among tourism stakeholders, public and private, in order to ensure an orderly and sustainable development of tourism infrastructures that respect local cultures and economies;
10. Encourage further research by universities and academic institutions for the advancement of the principles, guidelines and recommended best practices enshrined in this Declaration;

On Adaptive Re-use of Heritage for Tourism Purposes

11. Ensure legislative and regulatory frameworks safeguard and enhance the natural, cultural and built heritage through wherever appropriate encouraging sensitive adaptation of heritage sites to reinforce destination image and generate resources for conservation;
12. Promote constructive dialogue between respectively those authorities responsible for heritage conservation and tourism development;
13. Build on the successful experiences available around the World to foster the adaptive re-use of heritage buildings, monuments and ensembles for tourism purposes in a way that protects, enhances and respects the values carried by this heritage
14. Ensure in doing so that sustainability of the heritage and of its new functions are properly addressed, avoiding thus the transformation of this heritage into objects of visit with limited economic impact on its surroundings;

On Design and Construction of Modern Tourism Facilities

15. Provide appropriate incentives to ensure that the principles of sustainability are central to large scale as well as small scale tourism development;
16. Develop guidelines for the implementation of the principles of sustainability within both large scale and small scale developments;
17.  Promote the use of quality and adapted modern architecture and infrastructure in the development of tourism facilities in a way respectful of the built or natural environment reinforcing positive destination image;
18. Provide due respect to the local traditions of construction and attempt to integratein the process the local materials, expertise, know-how, traditional designs and human resources at all levels.

On Eco-lodges and the Environment
19.  Ensure the highest respectful integration possible of the tourism facilities in the landscape to minimize its impact, while respecting the natural and biological components of its environment
20. Make use of sustainable construction techniques, renewable sources of energy and local materials;

On Urban and Local Regeneration

21.  Integrate the requirements and opportunities offered by the tourism sector within a multi faceted economic development plans, thus ensuring a sustainable development and regeneration process;
22. Create distinctive cultural icons, properly integrated in the urban or local fabric, either through imaginative re-use of historic monuments or the creation of modern facilities;
23. Involve the tourism sector in the overall regeneration of built ensembles, including renovation of the infrastructure;
24. Devise general policies and guidelines that cover regional, urban or local ensembles to properly integrate tourism in the life of these ensembles and to provide specific guidelines for architectural and urban works.

Vote of Thanks

The participants,

Having concluded, their proceedings in the best possible conditions of efficiency and comfort and having been able to witness at first hand the Sultanate's traditional hospitality and achievements in the field of tourism, request H.E. the Minister of Tourism, Dr. Rajha Abdul Ameer Ali to convey to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said the attached message of gratitude to the Government and people of Oman.

Muscat, 8 February 2005