Promotion of sustainable tourism, including ecotourism, for poverty eradication and environment protection A/RES/71/240 13. Underlines the importance of conducting an environmental impact assessment, in accordance with national legislation, for the development of sustainable tourism, including ecotourism opportunities; 14. Also underlines the need to foster resilient tourism development to deal with shocks, taking into account that the tourism sector is vulnerable to emergencies, and invites Member States to develop national strategies for rehabilitation after shocks, including through private-public cooperation and the diversification of activities and products; 15. Stresses that indigenous cultures, traditions and knowledge, in all their aspects, are to be fully considered, respected and promoted in policy development for sustainable tourism, including ecotourism, and underlines the importance of promoting the full and early participation and involvement of indigenous peoples and local communities in decisions that affect them, and where consented to, by integrating their knowledge, heritage and values into sustainable tourism, including ecotourism initiatives, as appropriate; 16. Emphasizes the need for effective measures, in the context of sustainable tourism, including ecotourism initiatives, to ensure the full empowerment of women, including the equal participation of women and men at all levels and in decision-making processes in all areas; 17. Also emphasizes the need for effective measures, in the context of sustainable tourism, including ecotourism initiatives, to help to ensure the equal participation of young people, persons with disabilities and older persons at all levels and in decision-making processes in all areas and to promote the effective economic empowerment, including through international cooperation, of women, young people, persons with disabilities and older persons in sustainable tourism, including ecotourism activities, mainly through decent job and income creation; 18. Calls upon the entities of the United Nations system, in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals, to promote sustainable tourism, including ecotourism, as an instrument that can contribute to achieving those Goals, in particular when it comes to eradicating extreme poverty and ensuring environmental sustainability, and to support the efforts and policies of developing countries in this field; 19. Encourages the regional and international financial institutions to provide adequate support to programmes and projects related to sustainable tourism, including ecotourism, taking into account the economic, social, cultural and environmental benefits of such activities; 20. Invites relevant specialized agencies, in particular the World Tourism Organization, United Nations bodies and other organizations, to provide technical assistance to Governments, upon request, and to assist, as appropriate, in strengthening legislative or policy frameworks for sustainable tourism, including ecotourism, including those for environmental protection and the conservation of natural and cultural heritage; 21. Invites relevant specialized agencies, United Nations bodies, other organizations and multilateral financial institutions to provide technical assistance to Governments, upon request and as appropriate, in identifying needs as well as opportunities to improve the contribution of sustainable tourism, including ecotourism, to poverty eradication, including through securing wider community benefits from sustainable tourism, including ecotourism activities, as a viable and sustainable economic development option; 5/7