Sustainable tourism and sustainable development in Central America A/RES/70/196 Noting in this regard the role of the Central American Integration System, which includes Belize, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama, in the promotion of sustainable tourism in the region, Stressing that poverty eradication through tourism, with a focus on ecotourism, community-based tourism and micro- and small businesses in the tourism supply chain, is a key objective in the strategic planning of the Central American countries, Noting the outcomes of the Forum on Tourism, Sustainability and Climate Change in Central America, held from 11 to 13 April 2013 in La Ceiba, Honduras, the outcomes adopted at the 96th meeting of the Central American Tourism Council, held in San Salvador on 14 July 2015, and the declaration of the 15th forum on the development of tourism and on the harmonization of efforts to promote tourism in Central America and the Dominican Republic, held in Guatemala City on 27 August 2014, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General; 14 2. Notes the ongoing efforts of the Governments of the Central American countries, in coordination with the Central American Commission for Environment and Development, in the implementation of existing and new programmes designed to launch and promote sustainable tourism throughout the re gion; 3. Welcomes the adoption of the principles of sustainable tourism by the Central American Tourism Integration Secretariat, conceptualized by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council of the World Tourism Organization through its Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria, to serve as the framework for tourism development, which are expressed in the strategic plan for sustainable development, 2014 –2018, developed by the Central American Tourism Integration Secretariat, capturing the region’s vision of itself as an integrated, sustainable, multi-location destination of high quality and emphasizing its action plan for tourism and climate change as a component of the regional strategy on climate change; 4. Notes the valuable role of international cooperation with relevant partners in the implementation of various projects aimed at promoting sustainable tourism in the region, including by strengthening ecotourism, rural tourism and colonial cities tourism; 5. Also notes the existing joint initiatives designed and implemented to stimulate regional tourism integration, such as the Mayan World regional brand; 6. Welcomes the progress made by the Central American countries in converging on a regional tourism strategy based on conserving the region’s biodiversity and natural and cultural attractions, reducing poverty through employment and entrepreneurial tourism development that emphasizes the micro and medium-sized enterprises that dominate the industry, addressing climate change and using tourism as a tool to improve the quality of li fe of the region’s inhabitants; 7. Also welcomes the actions taken with the aim of establishing the Global Observatory of Sustainable Tourism network in the Americas, which may well serve _______________ 14 A/70/215 and Add.1. 3/5