Tracking Relief and Development Trends
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Sustainable Tourism as a Tool for Poverty Alleviation
By Lelei LeLaulu, President, Counterpart International
Tourism is the largest voluntary transfer of wealth from rich countries to poor countries. In 2005, international tourism generated more than $2 billion per day, making it one of the largest categories of international trade. Many nations, from the islands of the Caribbean and South Pacific to Kyrgyzstan and Zimbabwe, have discovered the possibility of harnessing tourism to reduce poverty.
Tourism is the only major industry where the consumer goes to the producer, allowing destination communities more control over their resources. Managing tourism provides a unique opportunity to meet tourist demands while working toward the concept of ‘sustainable tourism,’ which allows the benefits to be shared between home nations and destinations, rural and urban populations, rich and poor for years to come.
Governments, businesses, civil society organizations, local communities and development organizations are all stakeholders in designing, implementing and managing sustainable tourism strategies through cross-sectoral collaboration. Tourism boosts investments in infrastructure and links businesses around the globe, which creates wealth and improves living conditions for the disadvantaged. Tourism is a highly labor-intensive sector which increases employment for locals and creates opportunities for small businesses that provide products and services to the tourism market. Increasingly, travelers are demanding more adventurous trips, more unique locations, and higher standards – but they are also becoming more discriminating about how their money is being used, spending more on ‘green’ tours and buying hand-made crafts for which profits are reinvested in the local economy. When managed responsibly, such demands can actually revitalize local culture and strengthen communities.
Though the thoughts of luxurious cruises, majestic resorts and picturesque landscapes may be glamorous, the true beauty of tourism lies in the opportunities of alleviating poverty.
