Abstract: Tourism policy is a generic term with many interpretations. For long time tourism policy has been identified with promotion of the public sector. Nowadays the content is much more embracing. The first section of this contribution briefly describes the evolution in this content and deal with the present meaning that is given to tourism policy. In this paper we attend to demonstrate critical importance of tourism policy contribution to the sustainable tourist development of a Mediterranean destination. The crisis of the Ford model (4S model) and its replacement by the post- Ford model (4E model) will be analyzed and will provide a modified framework in order to differentiate tourist policy and access ‘new tourism’. This new form is consisted by values and impacts of sustainable tourism policy by implementing the” 4E model” of tourist development. In conclusion strategies and methods to achieve sustainable tourism development based on tourism policy formulation will be presented. “Tourism policy” and “sustainability” are the two key terms in the modern view, which can equally contribute to sustainable tourist development and growth.