Editorial (Evaluation Journal of Australasia, Volume 17, Issue 1)

With 2016 done and dusted, we welcome you to 2017—the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, which acknowledges the importance of international tourism, and sustainable tourism for development. The declaration by the United Nations (UN) prioritises the importance of ‘fostering better understanding among peoples everywhere, in leading to a greater awareness of the rich heritage of various civilizations and in bringing about a better appreciation of the inherent values of different cultures, thereby contributing to the strengthening of peace in the world’ (World Tourism Organization, 2015). This resolution synergises with the ‘doing’, the nuts and bolts of evaluation frameworks, and these values are evident in the papers selected for this edition. Guiding the UN’s resolution to achieve best practice is the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism (World Tourism Organization, n.d.) a comprehensive set of principles designed to guide key-players in tourism development. As we commence a fresh new year, the focus for this first editorial pivots around ethical guidelines; ethical considerations for editors, reviewers and authors; and ethics in practice today. Ethical dynamics and considerations are a recurring theme embedded within this edition. This is partially in response to excellent queries raised around publishing for evaluators at the 2016 Australasian Evaluation Society (AES) International Conference in Perth