Tourism is one of the constantly growing and economically important sectors at the global and local level. As environmental awareness increases in society, it is of great importance to plan and develop tourism in a conscious and sustainable manner. Sustainable tourism; It meets the needs of tourists at a high level with available resources, provides visitors with important experiences and raises their awareness on sustainability issues. The needs of cultural and environmental tourism are met with existing resources and these resources are transferred to future generations. Ensuring the sustainability of the economy through sustainable tourism, increasing the participation of the local community in tourism, distributing financial and social benefits in a fair and equal manner, ensuring the social welfare of local communities and protecting the historical heritage and culture of these societies, preserving existing riches, protecting biological diversity, ensuring resource efficiency; it is aimed to reduce air, water and soil pollution and to minimize the waste created by tourists and tourism activities. It is important to protect and sustainably use natural, social and cultural resources and reduce excessive consumption and waste through sustainable tourism activities. With this; preserving natural, social and cultural diversity, supporting local economies, ensuring the participation of local communities in the tourism sector, realizing environmental improvements and thus increasing the quality of the tourism experience constitute the basic principles of sustainable tourism. In this context, cooperation between the tourism industry and local communities is supported and tourism personnel are provided with training on sustainable tourism. In this study, detailed information is presented about the concept and development of sustainable tourism, the aims of sustainable tourism, the benefits provided by sustainable tourism and the opportunities it creates, the principles of sustainable tourism and sustainable tourism practices in the world and in Turkey. It is thought that this information will contribute to both the literature and researchers.