La European Charter for Sustainable Tourism (CEDT) was developed from 1995 by the European Federation of Protected Areas (EUROPARC). It is a tool for implementing sustainable tourism in protected areas, enabling the establishment of sustainable management of tourist activities.

The three main objectives :

– To increase interest and support for protected areas as a fundamental part of our heritage which must be preserved and appreciated by present and future generations,
– Locally lead a network of actors across the territory of these protected areas and share a common vision for the development of a new form of tourism,
– Develop and manage tourism in protected areas in a sustainable way, taking into account the needs of the environment, inhabitants, local businesses and tourists.

The approach of the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism relates to three different areas of intervention:

Part 1 is interested in the protected area and its sustainable tourism strategy. The Charter allows the construction of a territorial project for quality tourism that meets the needs of space and the expectations of visitors.

Part 2 is dedicated to organizing relations between the protected area and the territory's tourist service providers. For companies, it is a 3-year commitment to adopt management methods that respect the environment, to improve their offers, to support heritage conservation. The protected area issues a “CETD partner” company approval.

Part 3 concerns tour operators and travel agencies that develop their activities in protected areas.