The Tourism Strategy for England’s Northwest makes a strong and clear commitment to the concept of sustainable tourism principles.

'Sustainable tourism’ is simply sustainable development achieved through tourism. Sustainable development is economic development that takes a long-term view. It balances the benefits of economic development against environmental and social costs. Just as sustainable development assumes continued economic growth, so sustainable tourism assumes continued tourism growth.

Developing sustainable tourism practices and policies involves finding ways to reduce environmental impacts, increasing benefits for host communities, safeguarding the future livelihood of local people, and ensuring the protection of destinations for future generations.

The Northwest Regional Development Agency has produced a framework for sustainable tourism and further work is ongoing.