Sustainable Tourism

The Town of Midland is committed to improving the economic, social, cultural, and environmental sustainability of our tourism industry between now and 2030. We have recently signed the Sustainable Tourism 2030 Pledge with a goal to encourage responsible travel and create a positive benefit in our community through tourism. We are committed to measuring and improving our sustainability performance annually to identify opportunities for improvement and development.

The UN World Tourism Organization defines sustainable tourism as “tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities.”

Regional Tourism Organization 7 (RTO7) provides more information about the importance of sustainable tourism and resources for tourism operators to strive for more sustainable business solutions.

Tourism Simcoe County has recently released a Sustainable Festivals and Events Guide, providing valuable resources and best practices to help event organizers reduce environmental impacts, enhance social responsibility, and build long-term sustainability into event planning and operations. This guide will serve as a useful reference as the Town continues to explore opportunities to strengthen sustainable event practices.