MCSTO

Origin of the organization

 In the context of globalization and industrialization, promoting sustainable tourism development has become a global consensus, and finding specific technical methods to monitor sustainable tourism development has become a focus of attention. The "UNWTO International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (INSTO)" project, initiated by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (renamed the United Nations World Tourism Organization in January 2024) and aimed at promoting sustainable tourism development globally, has made positive progress in indicator construction and methodological discussions.

The "International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observation Points (INSTO)" project selects typical tourist destinations worldwide for tourism impact monitoring, covering multiple aspects such as socio-cultural development, economic growth, and environmental protection. It aims to guide the scientific development of tourist destinations through monitoring activities, enhance their exemplary status, and promote international exchanges and cooperation among them. Since 2006, Sun Yat-sen University has successfully completed monitoring reports for Yangshuo, China, based on the indicators and methods of the World Tourism Organization's observation point project, receiving positive feedback from the World Tourism Organization. On July 19, 2010, Sun Yat-sen University and the World Tourism Organization reached a consensus in Madrid, Spain, where the World Tourism Organization designated Sun Yat-sen University as the technical support unit for sustainable tourism monitoring work and established a corresponding technical support institution based on Sun Yat-sen University.

On September 28, 2010, the United Nations World Tourism Organization and Sun Yat-sen University signed a cooperation agreement to establish the "Monitoring Centre for Sustainable Tourism Observatories of UN Tourism" (MCSTO, hereinafter referred to as the "Monitoring Centre"). The Centre is responsible for the management and monitoring of sustainable tourism observatories in China and, in the future, the Asia-Pacific region, ensuring that the monitoring work is conducted continuously, comprehensively, and effectively.

Institutional mission

Provide technical support for the "Global Sustainable Tourism Observation" initiative of the United Nations World Tourism Organization, and facilitate the implementation of the work as well as the refinement of technical methodologies.

Improve the quality of tourism sustainable development monitoring results, and accelerate the promotion of these results internationally and among tourist destinations.

Promote technical exchanges and cooperation between observation points for sustainable tourism development, as well as between other tourist destinations.

Promote the concept of sustainable tourism development, and enhance global awareness and monitoring technology for sustainable tourism development.