A delicate balance has to be maintained and this is where voluntary initiatives such as the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GTSC) certification scheme play a critical role: there is no confrontation since the industry has voluntarily agreed to follow norms which will not only meet but frequently exceed the requirements of the law. The recommendations are based on a list of 12 principles for sustainable tourism development. Typically the Sustainable Tourism Criteria established by the j Global Sustainable Tourism Council extend to measurable indicators I and an appraisal and certification scheme which is rapaidly gaining j acceptance by the accommodation sector. Laws pertaining to land use, access, waster disposal, I pollution control, minimum wages and the like exist in almost all | countries: occasionally, these are relaxed for the tourism indistury in some developing countries in an effort to attract foreign tourists and i investments in the industry.