Pro poor tourism strategies making tourism work for the
‘Pro-poor tourism strategies: making tourism work for the poor’ “The global industries and global companies must shoulder responsibility… Responsibility for providing equal opportunity and fighting poverty, because the consequences of inequality and poverty are among the greatest threats to the social environment” (Director of Environment, Touristik Union International cited by DFID 1999 p 1). Pro-poor tourism (PPT) interventions aim to increase the net benefits for the poor from tourism, and ensure that tourism growth contributes to poverty reduction (Ashley et al 2001 p 8, Goodwin 2000, DFID 1999 p 1). PPT is not a specific product or niche sector, but an approach to tourism development and management. Rather than aiming to expand the size of the sector, PPT strategies aim to unlock opportunities at all levels and scales for economic gain, other livelihood benefits, or engaging in decision making for the poor (Ashley et al 2001 p 8; DFID 1999 p 1; Goodwin 2000). Poverty is the main core for pro-poor tourism rather than one element of (mainly environmental) sustainability. Poverty is not usually at the heart of the tourism agenda. Yet tourism which is one of the largest industries is growing or significant in most poor countries and is already affecting the livelihoods of millions of poor people, both positive and negative. Poverty reduction requires pro-poor growth. Concerted effort is needed to maximise the contribution of tourism to this (Ashley et al 2001 p 8; DFID 1999 p 1). ... A growing number of development agents including the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID), have been engaged with the private sector from a pro-poor or fair trade perspective. In general, they develop partnerships with businesses that do not aim for boosting philanthropic donations to development charities, but aim to adapt core business practice to develop product trade that contributes more to the livelihood of the poor (Ashley & Roe 2002 p 4; Ashley et al 2000; Goodwin 2000; DFID 1999 p 1). CAN TOURISM REALLY BE PRO-POOR? In the tourism sector, national governments and donors have generally aimed to promote private sector investment, macro-economic growth and foreign exchange earnings, without specifically taking the needs and opportunities of the poor into account in tourism development (i. ... what we term here ‘pro-poor tourism’). Donor-supported tourism master plans focus on creating infrastructure, stimulating private investment and attracting international tourists. ... Tourism is a complex industry driven by the private sector, and often by large international companies’ Governments have relatively few instruments to influence this sector, particularly in developing countries where fiscal and planning instruments for capturing non-commercial benefits are generally weak. Nevertheless, as a sector for pro-poor economic growth, tourism has several advantages: • The consumer comes to the destination, thereby providing opportunities for selling additional goods and services. • Tourism is an important opportunity to diversify local economies. It can develop in poor and marginal areas with few other export and diversification options. ... • It offers labour-intensive and small-scale opportunities compared with other non-agricultural activities (Deloitte and Touche, 1999), employs a high proportion of women (UNED, 1999), and values natural resources and culture, which may feature among the few assets belonging to the poor (cited Ashley et al 2000; Goodwin 2000; DFID 1999 p 1). Since the mid-1980s, interest in ‘green’ tourism, eco-tourism and community tourism has grown rapidly among decision-makers, practitioners and advocates. All of these focuses on the need to ensure that tourism does not erode the environmental and cultural base on which it depends.