Tourism and Poverty Alleviation

One of the cornerstones of sustainable tourism ecological, social and economic to which UNWTO is committed, is the well being of poor communities and their environment. Tourism can play a significant part in balanced sustainable development and generate benefits for the poor. The World Tourism Organization is convinced that the power of tourism one of the most dynamic economic activities of our time can be more effectively harnessed to address the problems of poverty more directly.This report reflects the World Tourism Organizations (UNWTO) concern that the benefits of tourism should be widely spread in society and that the poor should benefit from tourism development. It reviews current experience of tourism and poverty reduction in order to identify what is known about the contribution, which the tourism industry can make to the elimination of poverty; and makes recommendations for action by government, the industry, development agencies and local communities.