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The Importance of Tourism on Economies and Businesses

Published: 3/26/2019 12:21:08 PM

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Tourism is vital for the success of many economies around the world. There are several benefits of tourism on host destinations.  Tourism boosts the revenue of the economy, creates thousands of jobs, develops the infrastructures of a country, and plants a sense of cultural exchange between foreigners and citizens.

The number of jobs created by tourism in many different areas is significant. These jobs are not only a part of the tourism sector but may also include the agricultural sector, communication sector, health sector, and the educational sector. Many tourists travel to experience the hosting destination’s culture, different traditions, and gastronomy. This is very profitable to local restaurants, shopping centers, and stores. Melbourne, Australia ’s population is greatly affected by tourism. It has a population of around 4 million people and around 22,000 citizens are employed by the tourism sector only.

Governments that rely on tourism for a big percentage of their revenue invest a lot in the infrastructure of the country . They want more and more tourists to visit their country which means that safe and advanced facilities are necessary. This leads to new roads and highways, developed parks, improved public spaces, new airports, and possibly better schools and hospitals. Safe and innovative infrastructures allow for a smooth flow of goods and services. Moreover, local people experience an opportunity for economic and educational growth.

Tourism creates a cultural exchange between tourists and local citizens. Exhibitions, conferences, and events usually attract foreigners. Organizing authorities usually gain profits from registration fees, gift sales, exhibition spaces, and sales of media copyright. Furthermore, foreign tourists bring diversity and cultural enrichment to the hosting country.

Tourism is a great opportunity for foreigners to learn about a new culture, but it also creates many opportunities for local citizens . It allows young entrepreneurs to establish new products and services that would not be sustainable on the local population of residents alone. Moreover, residents experience the benefits that come with tourism occurring in their own country.

To learn about the countries earning the most from international tourist arrivals, click on the link below!

Countries Earning the Most from International Tourism

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Why Is Tourism Important? Everything You Need To Know

By: Author Mitch Glass

Posted on Last updated: March 22, 2023

Without seeing any facts or statistics, most everyone agrees that tourism is important for one reason or another. 

But if asked to explain why, you might be at a loss for words. 

So, why is tourism important anyway?

In this guide, we cover the importance of tourism — including all the pros and cons.

Is tourism a good thing? Is it harmful?

Let’s take a look.

Table of Contents

Why is tourism important?

What are the positive effects of tourism, the economic impact of tourism in developing countries, what are the social benefits of tourism, how does tourism improve the quality of life, why is domestic tourism important, what are the positive effects of tourism on culture, how does tourism benefit the environment, what are the negative effects of tourism, why is sustainable tourism important, the importance of tourism: is tourism good or bad.

Tourism is important to local economies around the world and the people living in them. 

In 2019, the tourism industry was worth more than 1.1 trillion dollars in the U.S. alone. Over 15.8 million jobs rely on it. In many other countries, including the Maldives, Aruba, and Seychelles, tourism accounts for over 40% of GDP.

Tourism provides jobs and generates income. A lot of the money tourists spend — especially when spent with local businesses — benefits communities across the globe. 

In some developing countries, tourism is a financial lifeline.

But tourism isn’t just about money. It’s also important to people’s well-being.

Tourists benefit from traveling too (for more than just a bit of sun). Exploring the world provides a break from the repetition of everyday life — it can make you happier, healthier, and more productive. It also promotes biodiversity and allows people to fall in love with other cultures and ways of living.

First and foremost — people love to travel. 

Humans are curious creatures by nature. We’re always looking for new places to explore. Tourism provides an escape and a way of experiencing the world. Some people see tourism and travel as a hobby , but others actually consider it a lifestyle.

It creates millions of jobs and boosts the global economy — especially in popular countries. Before COVID-19, there were 4.5 million tourism jobs in Thailand. Since the pandemic ground travel to a halt, a whopping 1.45 million of those jobs have been lost. 

So, in some senses, tourism is vital.

Travel also spreads cultural understanding, acceptance, and education. 

When people visit places like Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, the 9/11 Memorial, or the Holocaust Museum in Berlin, they develop more empathy for those who suffered history’s atrocities than they would from simply reading about it online.

Plus, research concludes that people who travel are 7% happier than those who don’t. 

A travel hobby allows you to get out of a routine. It allows you to try new things. And when you travel, you don’t have all the day-to-day stresses of work-life hanging over you. In fact, many love tourism so much, they ditch their day jobs and trade them for travel jobs that can earn from anywhere .

Why is tourism so important to the economy?

The economic benefits of tourism are vast. 

To give you a better understanding, here are a few statistics:

• In China, travel and tourism more than doubled in the last decade, approaching a $1.6 trillion annual spend.
• In Thailand, tourists spend $62.3 billion annually.
• Many Caribbean islands including Aruba, St Lucia, Antigua, Barbuda, and the Bahamas rely on tourism for over 50% of their country’s employment
• The Philippines’ thriving tourism industry employs over 41.2 million Filipinos. 8.3 million tourists visited the Philippines in 2019.

If we eliminated tourism, those countries would lose billions of dollars needed to support their population. There would be higher unemployment and less access to infrastructures like hospitals and schools that governments fund with tourism spending.

The economic impact is even larger in developing countries. Places like Mexico and Thailand have seen a dramatic increase in unemployment since the pandemic began and the tourism industry fell. 

In Mexico, between February and April 2020 (just after the global lockdowns were introduced), around 70,000 tourism jobs in Quintana Roo disappeared. Behind each of those jobs lost is a family struggling to make ends meet.

From January to November 2020, 60% fewer tourists visited Mexico than in the same period in 2019. If this were to continue, it’d push a staggering 10 million people into extreme poverty.

Thailand is another country fueled by tourism. 

Of the predicted 40 million tourists that were expected to arrive in 2020, just over 6 million were actually welcomed in. Between March and August, Thai borders were shut completely. This halt on international travel left the streets deserted, the beaches empty, and tens of thousands of people out of work.

Of course, it’s not all about money. Tourism has many social benefits too, such as improving social inclusion and fostering intercultural understanding. 

The more we experience other ways of life, the less threatened we feel by difference. Travel helps create new relationships between communities which broadens horizons, encourages tolerance, and can even help prevent violence .

It affects our mental health too.

Evidence suggests that experiencing different cultures can have mood-boosting effects. Tourism can improve self-esteem, increase awareness of nature, refresh the body, and renew the mind.

Tourism improves the qualify of life for workers of all ages and experience levels. Hospitality is key for tourism and opens doors for people from all walks of life. It can provide jobs to teenagers who just finished school or the older generation who are passionate about helping. 

Many create lifelong careers through tourism by becoming a pilot, a chef, or even running travel blogs that make money . 

Plus, countless local businesses started thanks to tourism — from the dainty store selling handmade soaps in Italy, to the family-owned Indonesian street-food cart, to the tour guide in Peru who loves telling stories about local legends. 

All these businesses rely on humans globetrotting around our little planet.

And the smile that spreads across your face when you get home and unpack that little bar of soap that smells like Limoncello — that will remind you just how much tourism improves the quality of life.

It’s not just about traveling abroad. Domestic tourism is also important. 

As we’ve seen throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, it can be just as exciting to explore your own country as it is to venture to another. 

So, why is tourism important domestically? 

For one thing, it’s another major driver of the economy. It can also create seasonal work like at Christmas Markets in the winter months or fêtes, carnivals, or festivals in summer.

The money spent is recycled back into the country to fund things like schools, hospitals, or other public services.

Plus, domestic tourism is more accessible to many people. When you travel domestically, you don’t have to worry about visas, the stress of flying, or the potential travel restrictions that come with leaving the country.

So, why is tourism important when it comes to culture? 

Well, culture is an evolving thing. Each year is riddled with new historical events. 

By inviting tourists into the country, you’re opening up your heritage to people from all over the world. They then go back home with a better understanding of your country’s history, and your culture grows, spreads, and evolves. 

Think back to the Peruvian tour guide. If he tells one of his legends to a European tourist, then that person tells someone else, and so on. Before you know it, the story is everywhere.

And it’s not just fabled legends that can start through tourism. The first beer was actually brewed in Iran before it slowly spread throughout the world. The birthplace of pizza is Italy, but now there are states in the U.S. with their own version of the cheese-topped classic. 

Numerous arts, crafts, traditions, and food are developed simply by people exploring one another’s cultures. Cultural interaction and understanding are some of the reasons tourism is important.

Many will tell you that tourism doesn’t benefit the environment at all. However, in some ways, it can be good for our planet. 

People often visit less developed places and bring new ideas and information with them. This can lead to countries adopting more sustainable practices. Sometimes, tourism is not just about traveling, but also helping others where we can.

Tourism is also credited for protecting natural resources and preserving endangered species. By supporting eco-tourism businesses like forest protection schemes, tourists help locals and landowners protect their trees and crops. 

Another example would be the ethical elephant sanctuaries popping up around Thailand. Thanks to tourists who don’t want to support companies who abuse animals, more “ethical” sanctuaries are popping up. 

Without this demand and awareness, positive wouldn’t change as quickly (if at all).

While tourism has many benefits, it also has negative impacts. We must be mindful not to cause too much environmental pollution or take more than a fair share of a country’s natural resources. 

This also includes economic pollution, like taking jobs or creating income inequality where profits go primarily to foreign investors rather than benefiting the country.

When traveling, respect for the local culture and customs is crucial. A lack of it is often why tourists get a bad reputation. Some travelers think they’re free to do whatever they want when visiting another country, but this can be disrespectful.

Foreigners shouldn’t visit a place to gawk at its inhabitants, steal resources, or carry home a superficial understanding of the country they visited. Instead, they should visit to appreciate differences and learn.

These negative effects of tourism are the reason traveling sustainably is so important.

Tourism has many benefits when done sustainably. It can help an area’s environment, people, and economy. 

But what is “ sustainable tourism ” anyway?

Well, sustainable tourism includes a few key elements:

• Minimizing negative environmental impacts (such as pollution) 
• Respecting cultural heritage sites
• Protecting natural habitats

Sustainable tourism helps communities protect their resources and land. It reduces the environmental impact and prevents illegal activities like poaching or smuggling wildlife or endangered species.

To travel sustainably, it’s also important to respect the cultural preservation sites and local traditions. That means not climbing the Egyptian pyramids, taking off your shoes before entering a Thai temple, and not stealing a coin from Rome’s Trevi fountain as your souvenir. 

Sure, one climber or one coin probably won’t make a difference. But millions of tourists visit these places. If people don’t travel sustainably, the attractions will crumble.

Lastly, sustainable tourism means being aware of your energy consumption and carbon footprint. Try to use eco-friendly transport, don’t be wasteful, and bring a reusable water bottle.

A few do’s and dont’s for sustainable travel:

✅ Do try to minimize your carbon footprint as much as possible.  ✅ Do respect local customs that might seem strange or unusual to you ✅ Do consider how tourism impacts sensitive areas, such as scuba diving on fragile coral reefs where carelessness can cause damage.

❌ Don’t litter or damage natural environments. ❌ Don’t buy souvenirs made from endangered wildlife and plants. These are BAD examples of souvenirs . ❌ Don’t leave a trace — Leave a destination in the same condition as you found it (or better).

As you can see, tourism has its flaws. It’s not perfect. 

But the benefits of tourism far outweigh the negative effects, especially as sustainable travel grows in popularity.

Tourism is good — both for travelers exploring new cultures and for locals who can support their families — and if we’re lucky, it’ll rebound soon. 

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The Importance of Tourism on Economies and Businesses

Have you ever wondered why tourism is such a big deal for many countries and businesses? Why do they invest so much in promoting tourism?

Tourism is one of the world’s largest industries, generating trillions of dollars in revenue each year. It has a significant impact on economies and businesses, creating jobs, generating income, and boosting local economies.

The importance of tourism cannot be overstated. It affects not only the tourism industry but also other sectors such as transportation, hospitality, and retail. In this article, we will explore the economic and business benefits of tourism and why countries must invest in this industry.

Tourism is a social, cultural and economic phenomenon which entails the movement of people to countries or places outside their usual environment for personal or business/professional purposes.

Importance of Tourism to Local Economies

Tourism is a crucial contributor to the growth of local economies. A thriving local economy creates opportunities for residents to lead happier, more comfortable lives.

However, every region requires some assistance to achieve its full potential. Communities depend on neighbouring cities, counties, and other areas for economic growth, and tourism plays a vital role in this process, particularly for smaller communities.

Tourism provides several benefits to local economies. It generates new revenue streams by attracting visitors and increasing the amount of money spent in the area. As visitors explore local attractions, they purchase goods and services from local businesses, such as restaurants, hotels, and souvenir shops. This, in turn, creates employment opportunities, which can benefit the residents of the area.

Additionally, tourism can stimulate the development of infrastructure in the area, such as the construction of new hotels, transportation systems, and other amenities. This not only creates jobs but also attracts new businesses, investors, and entrepreneurs, contributing to the economic growth of the region.

Tourism is especially significant for small communities that may have limited resources to grow their local economies.

By attracting visitors, small towns can generate new revenue streams and create new job opportunities. Tourism can also help to promote and preserve local culture, traditions, and heritage, encouraging residents to take pride in their community.

What are the impacts of tourism?

The advantages of tourism extend beyond the creation of billions of dollars and hundreds of millions of jobs and business opportunities. A thriving tourism industry also helps to build infrastructure such as roads, parks, hospitals, schools, and community areas.

Additionally, it assists in the preservation of heritage sites, natural wonders, and precious cultures, creating a platform for people to showcase their cultural traditions and safeguard sacred areas.

By choosing to stay in locally-owned accommodations, shop in artisan markets, take part in traditional festivals and tour with local guides, travellers can have a direct positive impact.

The tourism industry also contributes to protecting the environment and its wildlife, with many tourism businesses offering eco-friendly services and encouraging tourists to respect the lands and communities they visit.

There are many inspiring cases of change, such as former poachers turning into safari guides or gamekeepers, as the income from tourists wanting to see wildlife means that protecting the animals is a far more valuable venture. Tourists can also contribute to the preservation of natural areas by paying entry fees for national parks and making sure to leave only footprints and take only photos.

These positive impacts of the tourism industry are all part of a move towards responsible tourism, where the focus is on having a beneficial effect on the communities visited, protecting wildlife, and caring for the planet.

Reasons Why Tourism Is Important 

Tourism is a vital industry that has a significant impact on economies, cultures, and individuals around the world. From boosting local economies to promoting cultural exchange and preserving heritage sites, the benefits of tourism are numerous and far-reaching. 

Here are ten reasons why tourism is important:

Tourism is a significant source of revenue for communities around the world. Visitors who come to explore new places and experience unique activities bring in money that can boost the local economy. This spending occurs in a variety of ways, including dining at restaurants, shopping at local stores, and participating in tours or events.

As a result, businesses of all types and sizes have the potential to earn more income when their community attracts tourists. This influx of money can benefit not only business owners but also employees, who will have more resources to spend within the local economy.

Moreover, the increase in sales tax revenue generated by tourism can fund important infrastructural and environmental projects in the community.

2. Job Creation

Tourism is also an important source of employment for residents. The growth of the tourism industry means more job opportunities for people in various fields, such as hospitality, transportation, and entertainment.

When businesses see an increase in demand for their products and services, they may need to hire more staff to meet the needs of their customers. This job creation can result in lower unemployment rates and a boost in the standard of living for people in the community.

3. Cultural Preservation

Tourism plays a crucial role in preserving culture. This is evident in a few ways. Firstly, tourism provides support to artisans who sell their crafts to visitors. Markets and shops are a significant draw for many tourists interested in purchasing souvenirs for people back home or as a way to remember their trip.

Secondly, tourists often visit cultural sites and attend local music, dance, theatre, and other performances. These activities help sustain intangible culture, which gives regions their unique identity and protects the multiculturalism of our world.

Cultural tourism has been known to help preserve heritage sites and landmarks that might otherwise have been lost. For example, the UNESCO World Heritage List identifies and protects cultural and natural heritage sites of universal significance.

These sites, which include ancient ruins, religious sites, and architectural wonders, draw millions of visitors each year. The income generated by tourism provides resources for maintaining and protecting these sites, ensuring their preservation for future generations.

In addition to preserving tangible cultural heritage, tourism also promotes the continuation of traditional practices and customs. When communities realize that tourists are interested in their culture, they are often more motivated to preserve and celebrate it. This can help prevent cultural practices from being lost to time and modernization.

Furthermore, tourism encourages the development of cultural events and festivals that celebrate the customs and traditions of a community. These events create a sense of pride and community identity, and can also provide opportunities for economic growth.

4. Infrastructure Development

Tourism can also lead to infrastructure development in a community. As more visitors come to an area, the need for amenities like roads, public transportation, and accommodations increases. This demand can spur the construction of new hotels, restaurants, and other tourism-related businesses.

Furthermore, the local government may invest in improving the infrastructure to make the community more attractive to tourists. Such improvements can include the construction of new highways, parks, and public facilities, which can benefit not only tourists but also residents.

5. Improved Quality of Life

Tourism can improve the quality of life for residents. When a community’s economy is bolstered by tourism, residents may enjoy a higher standard of living, with better access to services and amenities.

For example, new businesses may offer more job opportunities and contribute to a more diverse economy. This can lead to better public services, improved educational opportunities, and a stronger sense of community pride.

Additionally, tourists may bring in new ideas, perspectives, and cultures that can enrich the local community.

6. Job Opportunities

Tourism is not only beneficial for businesses and the economy but also for the people who live in the community. One of the significant advantages is the job opportunities that arise from a thriving tourism industry.

As more tourists visit a community, new businesses and service offerings emerge, creating job openings. Industries such as hospitality, food service, and travel produce a lot of new job opportunities. For example, hotels, restaurants, and tour companies hire staff to accommodate and entertain visitors.

Moreover, tourism enables locals to create new businesses or expand existing ones, which opens up new entrepreneurial opportunities. Services like Airbnb empower residents to earn revenue by renting out their homes or apartments to tourists seeking comfortable and authentic local experiences.

7. Tourism impacts GDP growth (and decline)

Tourism has a significant impact on a country’s GDP. In 2019, the direct contribution of travel and tourism accounted for 3.3% of the world’s total GDP , representing a small rise since 2018.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 resulted in a significant decline in tourism’s contribution to the GDP, dropping by almost 50% according to the World Travel and Tourism Council Report .

Tourism’s contribution to a country’s GDP is closely linked to the number of jobs it creates. When tourism flourishes, businesses thrive, which leads to more employment opportunities. As a result, more people have money to spend within their local economy. This increase in sales tax revenue funds important infrastructural and environmental endeavours in the community.

On the other hand, a decline in tourism can result in a decrease in revenue, which can negatively impact the GDP. The decline can also result in fewer employment opportunities, making it harder for residents to make a living.

The pandemic highlighted the significant impact that tourism has on GDP growth (and decline) and the importance of supporting the industry during difficult times.

8. Tourism supports low-income countries

Tourism is a crucial source of revenue for many of the world’s lowest-income countries. In 2015, 48 of the lower-income and lower-middle-income countries experienced an increase in tourist arrivals , resulting in approximately $21 billion (USD) in revenue.

For Small Island Developing States (SIDS) across the globe, tourism accounts for 30% of their export earnings . In the Pacific island nation of Palau, tourism is responsible for a staggering 38% of GDP .

For these countries, tourism plays a vital role in their economic growth and development. The revenue generated from tourism can be used to fund important initiatives such as infrastructure improvements, healthcare, education, and conservation efforts.

Furthermore, tourism creates employment opportunities for residents, providing them with a means to support their families and contribute to their communities.

9. Tourism is good for rural areas

The concept of “rural tourism” has gained popularity as urban tourists crave a break from busy city life and seek out more natural environments. They look for unique experiences such as staying on a farm, going for days-long hikes with guides, rock climbing, and more.

These visits create job opportunities for people residing in rural areas. Moreover, they highlight the value of preserving and investing in these regions.

Tourism in rural areas also offers tourists an opportunity to learn more about an area in its natural state and form a deeper connection with the local community. It encourages people to explore local cultural and historical attractions while supporting small businesses and community development.

The development of rural tourism can also bring a sense of pride and identity to local communities by showcasing the unique aspects of their region.

10. Tourism encourages conservation

Tourism can encourage conservation efforts in various ways. First, nature-based tourism, such as scuba diving, hiking, camping, and wildlife watching, is popular and motivates authorities to protect natural areas like old-growth forests, lakes, coastlines, state parks, and gardens.

A case in point is Costa Rica, which recognized the potential of conservation in attracting tourists. The country reversed deforestation trends and doubled its forest cover in just three decades. This boosted tourism, which generated approximately $6.14 billion in 2019 .

Tourism also creates awareness of the importance of conservation among tourists, business owners, and communities. Visitors learn about the natural environment and ecosystems, and how they can contribute to preserving them. This education can inspire individuals to become conservationists or support conservation efforts.

Moreover, tourism can provide financial support for conservation initiatives. For instance, visitors pay entry fees to national parks, which generate revenue that authorities can use for conservation programs. Some businesses in the tourism industry also donate a portion of their profits to conservation organizations or support local community conservation projects.

Lastly, tourism can promote sustainable practices that reduce environmental impact. Many tourism businesses now offer eco-friendly services and encourage tourists to respect local cultures and the environment. Such initiatives can help conserve resources and preserve the natural environment for future generations.

Tumisang Bogwasi

2X Award-Winning Entrepreneur | Empowering Brands to Generate Leads, Grow Revenue with Business Strategy and Digital Marketing | Founder, CEO of Fine Group

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Tourism Can Help Lead the World to Recovery

About the author, zurab pololikashvili.

Zurab Pololikashvili is Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization.

26 September 2020 T he COVID-19 pandemic has hit global tourism harder than any other major economic sector. In an effort to contain the spread of the virus and keep their citizens safe, countries around the world introduced restrictions on international travel, bringing tourism to a standstill almost overnight. Indeed, at the peak of this lockdown, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) found that 100 per cent of global destinations had either closed their borders to tourists completely or introduced strict measures such as compulsory quarantine for new arrivals.

The sudden and unexpected fall in tourist arrivals also placed on hold the many social and economic benefits that tourism delivers. Globally, tourism supports one in ten jobs, and 80 per cent of the sector is made up of small businesses, including family operations. At the start of the crisis, UNWTO set out three possible scenarios for tourism in 2020, depending on when and how widely travel restrictions would be lifted. While it looks like we will avoid the worst-case scenario, we nevertheless expect global tourist arrivals to be down by as much as 70 per cent this year compared to 2019.

The knock-on effect will be significant. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) estimates that tourism’s woes will cause global GDP to decline by as much as 1.5 per cent to 2.8 per cent . Furthermore, the fall in tourist numbers will likely translate into as many as 120 million lost jobs. And, as always, the most vulnerable will suffer the most, including women and youth, for whom tourism is a leading source of opportunity, as well as those working in the informal economy.

Developing countries at greatest risk

No country has been left unscathed by the pandemic, including with regard to tourism. The effects, however, will be most profoundly felt in those destinations that are most reliant on tourism for livelihoods and economic well-being. For the majority of the world’s Small Island Developing States (SIDS), as well as the least developed countries, most notably within Africa, tourism is a lifeline. On average, tourism accounts for 30 per cent of export revenues for SIDS , and in some cases this is much higher. Indeed, in Palau—the newest UNWTO member State, having officially joined in 2019— tourism generates 90 per cent of all exports .

As the United Nations Secretary-General’s Policy Brief on “ COVID-19 and Transforming Tourism ” makes clear, the true cost of the pandemic’s impact on tourism cannot be measured in GDP or employment figures alone. Due to its unique cross-cutting nature, touching upon nearly every part of modern society, tourism is an essential contributor to the wider mission of the United Nations, including achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Again, as a leading employer of women, tourism leads the way in the journey towards gender equality. At the same time, tourism is a leading contributor to the promotion and protection of cultural and natural heritage, which is in jeopardy, including the ecosystems and wildlife that draw visitors to developing countries.

Building cooperation and a united response

Before the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared COVID-19 to be a pandemic, UNWTO recognized both the unique vulnerability of tourism and also the sector’s unique potential to drive wider societal recovery once the health crisis had been tackled. The visit of a UNWTO delegation to WHO headquarters in Geneva laid the foundations for the international, multi-organizational cooperation that has defined tourism’s response to an unprecedented challenge.

This, in turn, came on the back of heightened advocacy for tourism at the very highest political level, most notably at the European Commission at the start of the year, to make sure the sector is at the centre of the planned European New Green Deal, as well as at the most recent meetings of the G20 nations. This has allowed UNWTO to become an increasingly prominent voice within the United Nations. When the crisis hit, we were able to make sure that tourism was part of the conversation at both the governmental and United Nations levels.

The Global Tourism Crisis Committee, convened virtually in March and then meeting five times as the crisis evolved, brought together leading voices from member States and from the private sector. Only UNWTO was in a position to unite such a diverse sector. This Crisis Committee channelled these diverse voices and concerns into a clear plan of action, the UNWTO Recommendations for Recovery . These Recommendations have been embraced across the public and private sectors and now inform recovery plans in every global region.

Sustainability takes centre stage

Central to the Recommendations is the principle that sustainability and inclusivity are at the heart of both the recovery process and the tourism sector that emerges out of this crisis. The pause in global tourism presents the global community with a chance to reassess its priorities. It also allows us to put the principles that are central to the work of UNWTO—namely that tourism works for people and planet, and should be open to all and benefit all—front and centre of everything we do.

The number one priority, however, is to build trust and confidence. Only by making people feel safe and encouraging them to travel again will the benefits that tourism offers start to return. UNWTO, as the specialized United Nations agency for tourism, must lead by example. To this end, as soon as it was safely possible, in-person visits to member States resumed: to the Canary Islands and Ibiza in Spain, to Italy, and to Saudi Arabia. The decision was also made to hold a hybrid Executive Council meeting, the first in-person meeting of the tourism sector and the United Nations to be held since the start of the pandemic. This brought together 170 delegates from 24 countries, sending a clear message that safe international travel is now possible in many parts of the world, thus providing a vital confidence boost for the sector.

As tourism restarts in many parts of the world, with growing numbers of countries easing travel restrictions, the sector’s position within the work of the United Nations has never been more relevant. UNWTO leads the restart guided by the principles of the Tbilisi Declaration , signed by our member States in Georgia at the close of the UNWTO Executive Council (15–17 September 2020). The Declaration recognizes the importance of tourism to livelihoods, to economic prosperity and opportunity, and to preserving our shared and unique culture. Signatories also committed to building back better, prioritizing sustainability and equality, and ensuring that, as tourism builds a brighter future, nobody is left behind.

The UN Chronicle  is not an official record. It is privileged to host senior United Nations officials as well as distinguished contributors from outside the United Nations system whose views are not necessarily those of the United Nations. Similarly, the boundaries and names shown, and the designations used, in maps or articles do not necessarily imply endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.

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The impact of tourism: How can we all do this better?

John perrottet, beril benli.

Tourism is growing, and growing fast. After surpassing 1 billion international visitors in 2012, we are expecting 1.8 billion by 2030. Tourism is growing faster than the global economy and, for the first time, the statistics for 2015 are expected to show that there were more trips taken to the developing world than to the developed world. But what does this actually mean? Growth, on its own, is not enough. Destinations and their stakeholders are responsible for ensuring that growth is well-managed; that benefits are maximized; and that any negative externalities are minimized. This requires a continuous process of planning and management that evolves and that can be measured over time. For the World Bank Group, our clients and our development partners, this process of planning and management is a central interest. How can we help these processes to deliver more and better development impact? What kinds of interventions or types of assistance will deliver the best results? How do you define the best results – for whom? – and how do we measure them? Being able to demonstrate how the tourism sector contributes to the Bank Group’s twin goals of eliminating extreme poverty and promoting shared prosperity is an imperative for all stakeholders. It’s relevant for national governments, sub-national state agencies, businesses (both multinationals and SMEs), multilateral development banks, NGOs, academics and think tanks. Moreover, it’s vital in helping guide future planning and development, gaining access to and applying for funding, and demonstrating progress to constituents at all levels.

Despite the great breadth and depth of existing impact information, however, serious concerns remain about the accuracy, complexity, gaps, comparability and sustainability of the types of the impact analyses that have been carried out. The Bank Group’s Sustainable Tourism Global Solutions Group recently convened a thought-leadership event in Washington to begin a preliminary discussion about how all stakeholders can come together to try and address some of the current shortcomings. During the “ Measuring for Impact in Touris m” event, we heard about a wide range of challenges for those working in this area and we began to map out the greatest gaps and issues. As Anabel Gonzalez, the Senior Director of the Trade and Competitiveness Global Practice, said at that conference: “We want to be better at monitoring and evaluating our impact, we want to learn from others, and we want to contribute more effectively to tourism development.  I believe these are goals most of you will share. We invite you to join this discussion – and be frank, open and provocative.”The findings can be found in our report, “ Towards More Effective Impact Measurement in the Tourism Sector: Observations and Key Issues ,” which highlights a number of priorities. Some of those challenges concern the availability, quality and consistency of data; the high cost of impact measurement for SMEs; the proliferation of different systems; issues of attribution; quantifying notions of “value”; and the ability to communicate effectively to a wide range of audiences. Some key areas for immediate follow-up and further analysis were also identified. They include:

• Exploring the theory of change by examining more closely the proposition  that, when tourism growth occurs, those living in extreme poverty benefit and by digging deeper into what tourism growth really means for the poor, especially in terms of employment. 
• Assessing the impact value of different types of tourism.
• Assessing and developing the role of technology for data collection, impact measurement and communication.
• Evaluating the use of training for better communication – including assessing what has been tried and what has worked and considering how it could be scaled up. 
• Analyzing the necessity and practicality of improving collaboration among various actors, and assessing the alignment of frameworks along with proposals for greater alignment.
• Developing ideas and proposals for the enhanced sharing and pooling of impact data.
• Developing ideas and proposals for greater inclusion of SMEs.
• Competitiveness
• Digital Development
• Urban Development

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Why Tourism is Important to a Country

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Tourism plays a vital role in the growth and prosperity of a country, providing numerous benefits to its economy and society. From boosting revenue and creating jobs to promoting cultural exchange and environmental preservation, tourism has a multifaceted impact that extends beyond mere leisure and travel.

• Tourism contributes to the revenue and economic growth of a country.
• It creates employment opportunities in various sectors.
• Tourism promotes cultural exchange and enrichment.
• It enhances the quality of life and provides educational value.
• Tourism contributes to environmental conservation and preservation.

So Why Is Tourism Important to a Country?

Economic benefits of tourism.

Tourism contributes significantly to job creation, promoting employment opportunities in various sectors such as hospitality, transportation, and retail. By attracting tourists, countries can stimulate demand for goods and services, thus driving economic growth and development. This not only benefits large businesses but also supports local industries, including small and medium-sized enterprises, which play a crucial role in job creation and economic stability.

According to data from the World Travel & Tourism Council, the tourism sector is responsible for approximately 10% of global employment, highlighting its significant role in generating jobs. For instance, in the hospitality industry alone, hotels and resorts hire a wide range of professionals, from housekeeping staff to chefs, receptionists, and event planners. Additionally, transportation companies, restaurants, souvenir shops, and tour operators all contribute to the employment opportunities provided by the tourism sector.

The revenue generated from tourism activities also has a positive impact on the local economy. As tourists spend money on accommodations, meals, transportation, and entertainment, local businesses benefit from increased sales and profits. This, in turn, encourages entrepreneurial growth and stimulates further investment in the community, fostering economic prosperity and development.

Moreover, the revenue generated from tourism activities contributes to the government’s revenue, allowing for investment in public services and infrastructure development. This increased funding can improve transportation networks, healthcare facilities, educational institutions, and recreational parks, enhancing the overall quality of life for both residents and visitors.

In summary, tourism plays a vital role in the economic development of a country. Through job creation, revenue generation, and infrastructure development, it has a positive impact on various sectors of the economy. By promoting local industries and enhancing the overall quality of life, tourism contributes to both economic growth and the well-being of communities.

Infrastructure Development and Economic Growth

Tourism acts as a catalyst for infrastructure development, as countries invest in transportation networks, accommodation facilities, and tourist attractions to attract more visitors. These investments not only enhance the tourism experience but also have a positive impact on the overall economic growth of the country.

One of the key areas of infrastructure development through tourism is the improvement of transportation networks. Upgraded airports, highways, and railways not only facilitate the movement of tourists but also benefit local residents and businesses. Improved connectivity opens up new markets, encourages trade, and stimulates economic activity. It also allows for better access to remote and rural areas, promoting regional development and inclusivity.

Accommodation facilities play a vital role in infrastructure development as well. Hotels, resorts, and guesthouses provide employment opportunities, generate revenue, and contribute to the local economy. When tourists choose to stay in local accommodations, it promotes local industries, encourages entrepreneurship, and supports community development.

Lastly, the development of tourist attractions further boosts infrastructure growth. Countries invest in the preservation and restoration of historical sites, natural parks, and cultural landmarks to attract tourists. These attractions not only generate revenue but also provide educational and cultural experiences for both tourists and locals. By showcasing the unique heritage and natural beauty of a country, tourism helps preserve cultural identity and promote sustainable development.

Infrastructure development through tourism plays a vital role in the economic growth and social development of a country. By investing in transportation networks, accommodation facilities, and tourist attractions, countries create employment opportunities, stimulate local industries, and generate revenue. Furthermore, enhanced accessibility and improved social services benefit local communities, fostering social well-being and cohesion. With its multifaceted impact on infrastructure and society, tourism contributes to the overall growth and development of a country.

Cultural Exchange and Enrichment

Tourism facilitates cultural exchange, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the traditions, customs, and values of the host country while sharing their own cultural experiences. It provides a platform for cultural understanding and appreciation, fostering mutual respect and global harmony. Through interacting with locals, tourists gain insights into different cultures and broaden their perspectives, promoting tolerance and acceptance.

One of the most significant benefits of cultural exchange through tourism is the preservation of local traditions and heritage. By showcasing their cultural practices, countries can protect and promote their unique identity, passing down traditions from one generation to another. This preservation is essential for maintaining cultural diversity and enriching the cultural tapestry of the world.

Tourism also plays a vital role in the preservation of natural resources and the protection of the environment. By promoting sustainable practices and responsible tourism, travelers can experience the beauty of nature while contributing to its conservation. This includes respecting local ecosystems, supporting eco-friendly initiatives, and engaging in activities that promote environmental awareness.

“Tourism is a vehicle for cultural exchange, allowing people from different backgrounds to come together, share their traditions, and learn from one another.” – John Smith, Travel Enthusiast

In conclusion, cultural exchange through tourism enables visitors to immerse themselves in the traditions and customs of their host country while sharing their own cultural experiences. It promotes understanding, tolerance, and appreciation of diverse cultures, contributing to the preservation of local traditions and heritage. Additionally, tourism plays a significant role in environmental conservation, encouraging responsible travel practices and fostering a sense of environmental stewardship. By embracing cultural exchange, both visitors and hosts can form meaningful connections, creating a more interconnected and harmonious world.

Social and Community Development

Tourism plays a crucial role in social and community development, empowering local communities, preserving cultural practices, and enhancing social services. It serves as a catalyst for community engagement and sustainable development, fostering a sense of pride and identity among local residents. Through tourism, communities have the opportunity to showcase their cultural heritage, traditions, and craftsmanship, preserving and promoting practices that might otherwise be forgotten or underappreciated.

One of the key ways in which tourism supports social and community development is through the creation of employment opportunities. Tourism-related businesses, such as hotels, restaurants, and tour operators, provide jobs for local residents, boosting economic growth and reducing unemployment rates. This leads to improved living standards, increased income levels, and enhanced access to social services.

Furthermore, tourism encourages the development of social services in local communities. As the number of visitors increases, there is a greater demand for healthcare, education, transportation, and other essential services. This prompts local authorities to invest in the improvement of infrastructure, including the construction of hospitals, schools, roads, and public transportation systems, benefitting both tourists and locals alike.

Tourism also fosters cultural exchange and understanding. Visitors from different parts of the world have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the local culture, interact with the community, and gain a deeper appreciation for its traditions and customs. This cultural exchange promotes mutual respect, tolerance, and a broader worldview, contributing to global harmony and peace.

“Tourism creates a platform for cultural understanding and appreciation, allowing communities to showcase their traditions and customs to a global audience.” – John Smith, Community Leader

Tourism’s impact on social and community development is far-reaching. It empowers local communities, preserves cultural practices, enhances social services, and promotes cultural exchange. By embracing tourism as a tool for sustainable development, countries can harness its social benefits to create inclusive and resilient communities.

Individual Benefits of Tourism

Tourism provides individuals with a range of benefits, including personal growth, educational experiences, and a chance to rejuvenate and unwind from the stresses of everyday life. One of the key benefits of tourism is the opportunity for personal growth. Exploring new destinations and immersing oneself in different cultures can expand one’s horizons, broaden perspectives, and foster a sense of empathy and understanding towards others.

Traveling also offers educational value, allowing individuals to learn about history, art, cuisine, and traditions of different regions. It provides opportunities to visit museums, historical sites, and engage in cultural activities, all of which contribute to personal enrichment and knowledge acquisition.

Moreover, tourism provides an escape from the routine and pressures of daily life. It offers the chance to unwind, relax, and rejuvenate in beautiful surroundings. Whether it’s lounging on a sunny beach, hiking in a picturesque landscape, or indulging in spa treatments, tourism allows individuals to take a break from their responsibilities and focus on their well-being.

Overall, tourism contributes to personal growth, knowledge acquisition, and well-being. It allows individuals to step outside their comfort zones, explore the world, and return home with new experiences and memories that will last a lifetime.

Illustrative Quote:

Tourism is a transformative experience that not only exposes individuals to new destinations but also fosters personal growth, broadens horizons, and provides an escape from the daily grind. It allows us to learn, relax, and connect with different cultures, ultimately enriching our lives in countless ways.

Environmental Conservation and Preservation

Tourism can be a driving force behind environmental conservation efforts, as countries recognize the importance of safeguarding their natural resources for future generations. When managed responsibly, tourism can contribute to the preservation of ecosystems, biodiversity, and cultural heritage. It encourages sustainable practices, promotes environmental education, and raises awareness about the value of nature.

One of the ways tourism aids in environmental conservation is through the establishment of protected areas and national parks. These areas act as sanctuaries for wildlife and plant species, preserving delicate ecosystems and providing opportunities for scientific research. They also offer visitors the chance to appreciate the wonders of nature and experience firsthand the importance of conservation.

In addition, responsible tourism practices focus on minimizing negative environmental impacts. By implementing sustainable waste management systems, reducing energy consumption, and promoting eco-friendly activities, destinations can ensure that their natural resources are protected. Local communities are often involved in these efforts, fostering a sense of responsibility and stewardship for their environment.

Preserving Natural Resources for Future Generations

The preservation of natural resources through tourism is vital in ensuring that future generations can also benefit from the immense beauty and ecological diversity of our planet. By embracing sustainable practices, protecting wildlife habitats, and educating visitors about the importance of environmental conservation, countries can pave the way for a greener and more sustainable future.

Economic Impact on Government Revenues

Tourism generates substantial revenue for governments through taxes, fees, and permits, providing funding for public services such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure development. The economic impact of tourism on government revenues cannot be underestimated, as it contributes to the overall growth and development of a country.

One of the main sources of government revenue from tourism is taxation. Governments levy taxes on tourists, including sales tax, accommodation tax, and airport departure taxes. These taxes contribute to the government’s coffers, enabling them to fund public services and invest in the country’s infrastructure.

In addition to taxes, governments also generate revenue through permits and licensing fees. Tourists often require permits or visas to enter a country, and these fees contribute to government revenues. Similarly, national parks and heritage sites charge entrance fees, which further boost government income.

State-owned enterprises, such as airports and seaports, also play a significant role in generating revenue for the government. These entities, often managed by the government or through public-private partnerships, provide essential infrastructure for the tourism industry and generate income through various fees and charges.

The economic impact of tourism on government revenues is crucial for funding public services and investment in a country. It enables governments to provide healthcare facilities, improve educational systems, and develop vital infrastructure, all of which contribute to the overall well-being and progress of a nation.

Tourism acts as a powerful tool for diplomacy, strengthening international relations, promoting cultural understanding, and fostering a positive image of the country on the global stage. By welcoming tourists from around the world, countries can showcase their unique heritage, traditions, and values, establishing connections and building bridges across borders.

Through tourism, local industries are promoted and supported, boosting economic growth and employment opportunities. Visitors have the chance to experience the country’s local products, arts and crafts, cuisine, and traditions, creating a ripple effect that benefits the entire community. The promotion of local industries through tourism strengthens the country’s economy and contributes to its overall development.

Moreover, tourism serves as a platform for cultural exchange, allowing tourists to learn about new cultures, traditions, and customs. Interacting with locals and immersing in their way of life not only broadens the horizons of tourists but also fosters mutual respect and understanding between different nations. This cultural exchange helps to bridge gaps and promote peace and harmony on a global scale.

In addition to promoting cultural understanding, tourism also has a significant impact on a nation’s political image. By showcasing its natural beauty, historical landmarks, and vibrant culture, a country can create a positive impression on the world stage. This positive image contributes to the country’s soft power, influencing international perceptions, attracting investment, and strengthening diplomatic ties.

In conclusion, tourism plays a crucial role in the growth and development of a country, offering numerous benefits to the economy, society, and the individual, while also preserving cultural heritage and protecting natural resources.

From an economic perspective, tourism contributes significantly to the revenue of the economy. It creates employment opportunities in various sectors, stimulating local industries and promoting economic and educational growth. The revenue generated from tourism also contributes to government revenues, providing funding for essential public services and investment in the country.

Tourism has social benefits as well. It preserves local culture, strengthens communities, and supports social initiatives. Moreover, it promotes cultural exchange and enrichment, allowing tourists to learn about new cultures and broadening their perspectives.

On an individual level, tourism enhances the quality of life, provides educational value, and offers an escape from daily life. It promotes rest, relaxation, and overall well-being, allowing individuals to recharge and rejuvenate.

In addition to these economic and social gains, tourism also has environmental and political benefits. It contributes to the preservation of natural resources, protects the environment, and empowers communities to take part in sustainable practices.

Overall, tourism plays a crucial role in the growth and development of a country, benefiting the economy, society, and individuals. It allows for the preservation of cultural heritage, protection of natural resources, and promotion of international relations, making it an important industry that should be nurtured and supported.

I know what it's like to go from being a crazy backpacker without a care in the world, via being a vaguely sensible parent to being an adventurer once more. In other words, evolving into a Grown-up Traveller.

Like everyone else, I love to travel, have visited a lot of countries and all that but my big thing is Africa.

I also own and run The Grown-up Travel Company as a travel designer creating personalised African itineraries for experienced adventurers

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Sustainable tourism

Related sdgs, promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable ....

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Publications.

Tourism is one of the world's fastest growing industries and an important source of foreign exchange and employment, while being closely linked to the social, economic, and environmental well-being of many countries, especially developing countries. Maritime or ocean-related tourism, as well as coastal tourism, are for example vital sectors of the economy in small island developing States (SIDS) and coastal least developed countries (LDCs) (see also: The Potential of the Blue Economy report as well as the Community of Ocean Action on sustainable blue economy).

The World Tourism Organization defines sustainable tourism as “tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities".

Based on General assembly resolution 70/193, 2017 was declared as the  International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development.

In the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development SDG target 8.9, aims to “by 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products”. The importance of sustainable tourism is also highlighted in SDG target 12.b. which aims to “develop and implement tools to monitor sustainable development impacts for sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products”.

Tourism is also identified as one of the tools to “by 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries” as comprised in SDG target 14.7.

In the Rio+20 outcome document The Future We want, sustainable tourism is defined by paragraph 130 as a significant contributor “to the three dimensions of sustainable development” thanks to its close linkages to other sectors and its ability to create decent jobs and generate trade opportunities. Therefore, Member States recognize “the need to support sustainable tourism activities and relevant capacity-building that promote environmental awareness, conserve and protect the environment, respect wildlife, flora, biodiversity, ecosystems and cultural diversity, and improve the welfare and livelihoods of local communities by supporting their local economies and the human and natural environment as a whole. ” In paragraph 130, Member States also “call for enhanced support for sustainable tourism activities and relevant capacity-building in developing countries in order to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development”.

In paragraph 131, Member States “encourage the promotion of investment in sustainable tourism, including eco-tourism and cultural tourism, which may include creating small- and medium-sized enterprises and facilitating access to finance, including through microcredit initiatives for the poor, indigenous peoples and local communities in areas with high eco-tourism potential”. In this regard, Member States also “underline the importance of establishing, where necessary, appropriate guidelines and regulations in accordance with national priorities and legislation for promoting and supporting sustainable tourism”.

In 2002, the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg called for the promotion of sustainable tourism development, including non-consumptive and eco-tourism, in Chapter IV, paragraph 43 of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation.

At the Johannesburg Summit, the launch of the “Sustainable Tourism – Eliminating Poverty (ST-EP) initiative was announced. The initiative was inaugurated by the World Tourism Organization, in collaboration with UNCTAD, in order to develop sustainable tourism as a force for poverty alleviation.

The UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) last reviewed the issue of sustainable tourism in 2001, when it was acting as the Preparatory Committee for the Johannesburg Summit.

The importance of sustainable tourism was also mentioned in Agenda 21.

For more information and documents on this topic,  please visit this link

UNWTO Annual Report 2015

2015 was a landmark year for the global community. In September, the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a universal agenda for planet and people. Among the 17 SDGs and 169 associated targets, tourism is explicitly featured in Goa...

UNWTO Annual Report 2016

In December 2015, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development. This is a unique opportunity to devote a year to activities that promote the transformational power of tourism to help us reach a better future. This important cele...

Emerging Issues for Small Island Developing States

The 2012 UNEP Foresight Process on Emerging Global Environmental Issues primarily identified emerging environmental issues and possible solutions on a global scale and perspective. In 2013, UNEP carried out a similar exercise to identify priority emerging environmental issues that are of concern to ...

Transforming our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

This Agenda is a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity. It also seeks to strengthen universal peace in larger freedom, We recognize that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for su...

15 Years of the UNWTO World Tourism Network on Child Protection: A Compilation of Good Practices

Although it is widely recognized that tourism is not the cause of child exploitation, it can aggravate the problem when parts of its infrastructure, such as transport networks and accommodation facilities, are exploited by child abusers for nefarious ends. Additionally, many other factors that contr...

Towards Measuring the Economic Value of Wildlife Watching Tourism in Africa

Set against the backdrop of the ongoing poaching crisis driven by a dramatic increase in the illicit trade in wildlife products, this briefing paper intends to support the ongoing efforts of African governments and the broader international community in the fight against poaching. Specifically, this...

Status and Trends of Caribbean Coral Reefs: 1970-2012

Previous Caribbean assessments lumped data together into a single database regardless of geographic location, reef environment, depth, oceanographic conditions, etc. Data from shallow lagoons and back reef environments were combined with data from deep fore-reef environments and atolls. Geographic c...

Natural Resources Forum: Special Issue Tourism

The journal considers papers on all topics relevant to sustainable development. In addition, it dedicates series, issues and special sections to specific themes that are relevant to the current discussions of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD)....

Thailand: Supporting Sustainable Development in Thailand: A Geographic Clusters Approach

Market forces and government policies, including the Tenth National Development Plan (2007-2012), are moving Thailand toward a more geographically specialized economy. There is a growing consensus that Thailand’s comparative and competitive advantages lie in amenity services that have high reliance...

Road Map on Building a Green Economy for Sustainable Development in Carriacou and Petite Martinique, Grenada

This publication is the product of an international study led by the Division for Sustainable Development (DSD) of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) in cooperation with the Ministry of Carriacou and Petite Martinique Affairs and the Ministry of Environment, Foreig...

Natural Resources Forum, a United Nations Sustainable Development Journal (NRF)

  Natural Resources Forum, a United Nations Sustainable Development Journal, seeks to address gaps in current knowledge and stimulate relevant policy discussions, leading to the implementation of the sustainable development agenda and the achievement of the Sustainable...

UN Ocean Conference 2025

Our Ocean, Our Future, Our Responsibility “The ocean is fundamental to life on our planet and to our future. The ocean is an important source of the planet’s biodiversity and plays a vital role in the climate system and water cycle. The ocean provides a range of ecosystem services, supplies us with

UN Ocean Conference 2022

The UN Ocean Conference 2022, co-hosted by the Governments of Kenya and Portugal, came at a critical time as the world was strengthening its efforts to mobilize, create and drive solutions to realize the 17 Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

58th Session of the Commission for Social Development – CSocD58

22nd general assembly of the united nations world tourism organization, world tourism day 2017 official celebration.

This year’s World Tourism Day, held on 27 September, will be focused on Sustainable Tourism – a Tool for Development. Celebrated in line with the 2017 International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, the Day will be dedicated to exploring the contribution of tourism to the Sustainable Deve

World Tourism Day 2016 Official Celebration

Accessible Tourism for all is about the creation of environments that can cater for the needs of all of us, whether we are traveling or staying at home. May that be due to a disability, even temporary, families with small children, or the ageing population, at some point in our lives, sooner or late

4th Global Summit on City Tourism

The World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and the Regional Council for Tourism of Marrakesh with support of the Government of Morroco are organizing the 4th Global Summit on City Tourism in Marrakesh, Morroco (9-10 December 2015). International experts in city tourism, representatives of city DMOs, of

2nd Euro-Asian Mountain Resorts Conference

The World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and Ulsan Metropolitan City with support of the Government of the Republic of Korea are organizing the 2nd Euro-Asian Mountain Resorts Conference, in Ulsan, Republic of Korea (14 - 16 October 2015). Under the title “Paving the Way for a Bright Future for Mounta

21st General Assembly of the United Nations World Tourism Organization

Unwto regional conference enhancing brand africa - fostering tourism development.

Tourism is one of the Africa’s most promising sectors in terms of development, and represents a major opportunity to foster inclusive development, increase the region’s participation in the global economy and generate revenues for investment in other activities, including environmental preservation.

• January 2017 International Year of Tourism In the context of the universal 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the International Year aims to support a change in policies, business practices and consumer behavior towards a more sustainable tourism sector that can contribute to the SDGs.
• January 2015 Targets 8.9, 12 b,14.7 The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development commits Member States, through Sustainable Development Goal Target 8.9 to “devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products”. The importance of sustainable tourism, as a driver for jobs creation and the promotion of local culture and products, is also highlighted in Sustainable Development Goal target 12.b. Tourism is also identified as one of the tools to “increase [by 2030] the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries”, through Sustainable Development Goals Target 14.7.
• January 2012 Future We Want (Para 130-131) Sustainable tourism is defined as a significant contributor “to the three dimensions of sustainable development” thanks to its close linkages to other sectors and its ability to create decent jobs and generate trade opportunities. Therefore, Member States recognize “the need to support sustainable tourism activities and relevant capacity-building that promote environmental awareness, conserve and protect the environment, respect wildlife, flora, biodiversity, ecosystems and cultural diversity, and improve the welfare and livelihoods of local communities” as well as to “encourage the promotion of investment in sustainable tourism, including eco-tourism and cultural tourism, which may include creating small and medium sized enterprises and facilitating access to finance, including through microcredit initiatives for the poor, indigenous peoples and local communities in areas with high eco-tourism potential”.
• January 2009 Roadmap for Recovery UNWTO announced in March 2009 the elaboration of a Roadmap for Recovery to be finalized by UNWTO’s General Assembly, based on seven action points. The Roadmap includes a set of 15 recommendations based on three interlocking action areas: resilience, stimulus, green economy aimed at supporting the tourism sector and the global economy.
• January 2008 Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria The Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria represent the minimum requirements any tourism business should observe in order to ensure preservation and respect of the natural and cultural resources and make sure at the same time that tourism potential as tool for poverty alleviation is enforced. The Criteria are 41 and distributed into four different categories: 1) sustainability management, 2) social and economic 3) cultural 4) environmental.
• January 2003 WTO becomes a UN specialized body By Resolution 453 (XV), the Assembly agreed on the transformation of the WTO into a United Nations specialized body. Such transformation was later ratified by the United Nations General Assembly with the adoption of Resolution A/RES/58/232.
• January 2003 1st Int. Conf. on Climate Change and Tourism The conference was organized in order to gather tourism authorities, organizations, businesses and scientists to discuss on the impact that climate change can have on the tourist sector. The event took place from 9 till 11 April 2003 in Djerba, Tunisia.
• January 2002 World Ecotourism Summit Held in May 2002, in Quebec City, Canada, the Summit represented the most important event in the framework of the International Year of Ecosystem. The Summit identified as main themes: ecotourism policy and planning, regulation of ecotourism, product development, marketing and promotion of ecotourism and monitoring costs and benefits of ecotourism.
• January 1985 Tourism Bill of Rights and Tourist Code At the World Tourism Organization Sixth Assembly held in Sofia in 1985, the Tourism Bill of Rights and Tourist Code were adopted, setting out the rights and duties of tourists and host populations and formulating policies and action for implementation by states and the tourist industry.
• January 1982 Acapulco Document Adopted in 1982, the Acapulco Document acknowledges the new dimension and role of tourism as a positive instrument towards the improvement of the quality of life for all peoples, as well as a significant force for peace and international understanding. The Acapulco Document also urges Member States to elaborate their policies, plans and programmes on tourism, in accordance with their national priorities and within the framework of the programme of work of the World Tourism Organization.

How global tourism can become more sustainable, inclusive and resilient

A sanitary mask lies on the ground at Frankfurt Airport Image:  Reuters/Ralph Orlowski

.chakra .wef-1c7l3mo{-webkit-transition:all 0.15s ease-out;transition:all 0.15s ease-out;cursor:pointer;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;outline:none;color:inherit;}.chakra .wef-1c7l3mo:hover,.chakra .wef-1c7l3mo[data-hover]{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.chakra .wef-1c7l3mo:focus,.chakra .wef-1c7l3mo[data-focus]{box-shadow:0 0 0 3px rgba(168,203,251,0.5);} Ahmed Al-Khateeb

.chakra .wef-9dduvl{margin-top:16px;margin-bottom:16px;line-height:1.388;font-size:1.25rem;}@media screen and (min-width:56.5rem){.chakra .wef-9dduvl{font-size:1.125rem;}} Explore and monitor how .chakra .wef-15eoq1r{margin-top:16px;margin-bottom:16px;line-height:1.388;font-size:1.25rem;color:#F7DB5E;}@media screen and (min-width:56.5rem){.chakra .wef-15eoq1r{font-size:1.125rem;}} The Great Reset is affecting economies, industries and global issues

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Stay up to date:, the great reset.

• Tourism rose to the forefront of the global agenda in 2020, due to the devastating impact of COVID-19
• Recovery will be driven by technology and innovation – specifically seamless travel solutions, but it will be long, uneven and slow
• Success hinges on international coordination and collaboration across the public and private sectors

Tourism was one of the sectors hit hardest by the global pandemic. 2020 was the worst year on record for international travel due to the global pandemic, with countries taking decisive action to protect their citizens, closing borders and halting international travel.

The result was a 74% decline in international visitor arrivals, equivalent to over $1 trillion revenue losses , and an estimated 62 million fewer jobs . The impact on international air travel has been even more severe with a 90% drop on 2019 , resulting in a potential $1.8 trillion loss. And while the economic impact is dire in itself, nearly 2.9 million lives have been lost in the pandemic.

The path to recovery will be long and slow

Countries now face the challenge of reopening borders to resume travel and commerce, while protecting their populations’ health. At its peak, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) reported in April 2020 that every country on earth had implemented some travel restriction , signalling the magnitude of the operation to restart travel.

Have you read?

Tourism industry experts fear long road to recovery, how we can prioritize sustainability in rebuilding tourism, covid-19 could set the global tourism industry back 20 years.

Consequently, the path to recovery will be long and slow. The resurgence of cases following the discovery of new variants towards the end of last year delivered another disappointing blow to the travel industry. Any pickup over the summer months was quashed following a second wave of lockdowns and border closures . Coupled with mixed progress in the roll-out of vaccination programs, I predict that we will not see a significant rebound in international travel until the middle of this year at best.

Others echo my fears. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) forecasts a 50.4% improvement on 2020 air travel demand, which would bring the industry to 50.6% of 2019 levels . However, a more pessimistic outlook based on the persistence of travel restrictions suggests that demand may only pick up by 13% this year, leaving the industry at 38% of 2019 levels. McKinsey & Company similarly predict that tourism expenditure may not return to pre-COVID-19 levels until 2024 .

How to enhance sustainability, inclusivity and resilience

Given its economic might – employing 330 million people, contributing 10% to global GDP before the pandemic, and predicted to create 100 million new jobs – restoring the travel and tourism sector to a position of strength is the utmost priority.

The Great Reset provides an opportunity to rethink how tourism is delivered and to enhance sustainability, inclusivity and resilience. We must also address the challenges – from climate change and “ overtourism ” to capacity constraints – that we faced before the pandemic, while embracing traveller preferences, as we rebuild.

A 2018 study found that global tourism accounted for 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions from 2009 to 2013 ; four times higher than previous estimates. Even more worryingly, this puts progress towards the Paris Agreement at risk – recovery efforts must centre around environmental sustainability.

Furthermore, according to a study on managing overcrowding, the top 20 most popular global destinations were predicted to add more international arrivals than the rest of the world combined by 2020 . While COVID-19 will have disrupted this trend, it is well known that consumers want to travel again, and we must address the issues associated with overcrowding, especially in nascent destinations, like Saudi Arabia.

The Great Reset is a chance to make sure that as we rebuild, we do it better.

Seamless solutions lie at the heart of travel recovery

Tourism has the potential to be an engine of economic recovery provided we work collaboratively to adopt a common approach to a safe and secure reopening process – and conversations on this are already underway.

Through the G20, which Saudi Arabia hosted in 2020, our discussions focused on how to leverage technology and innovation in response to the crisis, as well as how to restore traveller confidence and improve the passenger experience in the future .

At the global level, across the public and private sectors, the World Economic Forum is working with the Commons Project on the CommonPass framework , which will allow individuals to access lab results and vaccination records, and consent to having that information used to validate their COVID status. IATA is trialling the Travel Pass with airlines and governments , which seeks to be a global and standardized solution to validate and authenticate all country regulations regarding COVID-19 travel requirements.

The provision of solutions that minimize person-to-person contact responds to consumer wants, with IATA finding that 85% of travellers would feel safer with touchless processing . Furthermore, 44% said they would share personal data to enable this, up from 30% months prior , showing a growing trend for contactless travel processes.

Such solutions will be critical in coordinating the opening of international borders in a way that is safe, seamless and secure, while giving tourists the confidence to travel again.

Collaboration at the international level is critical

The availability of vaccines will make this easier, and we have commenced our vaccination programme in Saudi Arabia . But we need to ensure processes and protocols are aligned globally, and that we support countries with limited access to vaccinations to eliminate the threat of another resurgence. It is only when businesses and travellers have confidence in the systems that the sector will flourish again.

In an era of unprecedented data and ubiquitous intelligence, it is essential that organizations reimagine how they manage personal data and digital identities. By empowering individuals and offering them ways to control their own data, user-centric digital identities enable trusted physical and digital interactions – from government services or e-payments to health credentials, safe mobility or employment.

The World Economic Forum curates the Platform for Good Digital Identity to advance global digital identity activities that are collaborative and put the user interest at the center.

The Forum convenes public-private digital identity collaborations from travel, health, financial services in a global action and learning network – to understand common challenges and capture solutions useful to support current and future coalitions. Additionally, industry-specific models such as Known Traveller Digital Identity or decentralized identity models show that digital identity solutions respecting the individual are possible.

The approach taken by Saudi Arabia and its partners to establish consensus and build collaborative relationships internationally and between the public and private sectors, should serve as a model to be replicated so that we can maximize the tourism sector’s contribution to the global economic recovery, while ensuring that it becomes a driver of prosperity and social progress again.

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The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not the World Economic Forum.

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What Is Sustainable Tourism and Why Is It Important?

Sustainable management and socioeconomic, cultural, and environmental impacts are the four pillars of sustainable tourism

• Chapman University

• Harvard University Extension School
• Sustainable Fashion
• Art & Media

What Makes Tourism Sustainable?

The role of tourists, types of sustainable tourism.

Sustainable tourism considers its current and future economic, social, and environmental impacts by addressing the needs of its ecological surroundings and the local communities. This is achieved by protecting natural environments and wildlife when developing and managing tourism activities, providing only authentic experiences for tourists that don’t appropriate or misrepresent local heritage and culture, or creating direct socioeconomic benefits for local communities through training and employment.

As people begin to pay more attention to sustainability and the direct and indirect effects of their actions, travel destinations and organizations are following suit. For example, the New Zealand Tourism Sustainability Commitment is aiming to see every New Zealand tourism business committed to sustainability by 2025, while the island country of Palau has required visitors to sign an eco pledge upon entry since 2017.

Tourism industries are considered successfully sustainable when they can meet the needs of travelers while having a low impact on natural resources and generating long-term employment for locals. By creating positive experiences for local people, travelers, and the industry itself, properly managed sustainable tourism can meet the needs of the present without compromising the future.

What Is Sustainability?

At its core, sustainability focuses on balance — maintaining our environmental, social, and economic benefits without using up the resources that future generations will need to thrive. In the past, sustainability ideals tended to lean towards business, though more modern definitions of sustainability highlight finding ways to avoid depleting natural resources in order to keep an ecological balance and maintain the quality of environmental and human societies.

Since tourism impacts and is impacted by a wide range of different activities and industries, all sectors and stakeholders (tourists, governments, host communities, tourism businesses) need to collaborate on sustainable tourism in order for it to be successful.

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) , which is the United Nations agency responsible for the promotion of sustainable tourism, and the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) , the global standard for sustainable travel and tourism, have similar opinions on what makes tourism sustainable. By their account, sustainable tourism should make the best use of environmental resources while helping to conserve natural heritage and biodiversity, respect the socio-culture of local host communities, and contribute to intercultural understanding. Economically, it should also ensure viable long-term operations that will provide benefits to all stakeholders, whether that includes stable employment to locals, social services, or contributions to poverty alleviation.

The GSTC has developed a series of criteria to create a common language about sustainable travel and tourism. These criteria are used to distinguish sustainable destinations and organizations, but can also help create sustainable policies for businesses and government agencies. Arranged in four pillars, the global baseline standards include sustainable management, socioeconomic impact, cultural impacts, and environmental impacts.

Travel Tip:

The GSTC is an excellent resource for travelers who want to find sustainably managed destinations and accommodations and learn how to become a more sustainable traveler in general.

Environment 

Protecting natural environments is the bedrock of sustainable tourism. Data released by the World Tourism Organization estimates that tourism-based CO2 emissions are forecast to increase 25% by 2030. In 2016, tourism transport-related emissions contributed to 5% of all man-made emissions, while transport-related emissions from long-haul international travel were expected to grow 45% by 2030.

The environmental ramifications of tourism don’t end with carbon emissions, either. Unsustainably managed tourism can create waste problems, lead to land loss or soil erosion, increase natural habitat loss, and put pressure on endangered species . More often than not, the resources in these places are already scarce, and sadly, the negative effects can contribute to the destruction of the very environment on which the industry depends.

Industries and destinations that want to be sustainable must do their part to conserve resources, reduce pollution, and conserve biodiversity and important ecosystems. In order to achieve this, proper resource management and management of waste and emissions is important. In Bali, for example, tourism consumes 65% of local water resources, while in Zanzibar, tourists use 15 times as much water per night as local residents.

Another factor to environmentally focused sustainable tourism comes in the form of purchasing: Does the tour operator, hotel, or restaurant favor locally sourced suppliers and products? How do they manage their food waste and dispose of goods? Something as simple as offering paper straws instead of plastic ones can make a huge dent in an organization’s harmful pollutant footprint.

Recently, there has been an uptick in companies that promote carbon offsetting . The idea behind carbon offsetting is to compensate for generated greenhouse gas emissions by canceling out emissions somewhere else. Much like the idea that reducing or reusing should be considered first before recycling , carbon offsetting shouldn’t be the primary goal. Sustainable tourism industries always work towards reducing emissions first and offset what they can’t.

Properly managed sustainable tourism also has the power to provide alternatives to need-based professions and behaviors like poaching . Often, and especially in underdeveloped countries, residents turn to environmentally harmful practices due to poverty and other social issues. At Periyar Tiger Reserve in India, for example, an unregulated increase in tourists made it more difficult to control poaching in the area. In response, an eco development program aimed at providing employment for locals turned 85 former poachers into reserve gamekeepers. Under supervision of the reserve’s management staff, the group of gamekeepers have developed a series of tourism packages and are now protecting land instead of exploiting it. They’ve found that jobs in responsible wildlife tourism are more rewarding and lucrative than illegal work.

Flying nonstop and spending more time in a single destination can help save CO2, since planes use more fuel the more times they take off.

Local Culture and Residents

One of the most important and overlooked aspects of sustainable tourism is contributing to protecting, preserving, and enhancing local sites and traditions. These include areas of historical, archaeological, or cultural significance, but also "intangible heritage," such as ceremonial dance or traditional art techniques.

In cases where a site is being used as a tourist attraction, it is important that the tourism doesn’t impede access to local residents. For example, some tourist organizations create local programs that offer residents the chance to visit tourism sites with cultural value in their own countries. A program called “Children in the Wilderness” run by Wilderness Safaris educates children in rural Africa about the importance of wildlife conservation and valuable leadership development tools. Vacations booked through travel site Responsible Travel contribute to the company’s “Trip for a Trip” program, which organizes day trips for disadvantaged youth who live near popular tourist destinations but have never had the opportunity to visit.

Sustainable tourism bodies work alongside communities to incorporate various local cultural expressions as part of a traveler’s experiences and ensure that they are appropriately represented. They collaborate with locals and seek their input on culturally appropriate interpretation of sites, and train guides to give visitors a valuable (and correct) impression of the site. The key is to inspire travelers to want to protect the area because they understand its significance.

Bhutan, a small landlocked country in South Asia, has enforced a system of all-inclusive tax for international visitors since 1997 ($200 per day in the off season and $250 per day in the high season). This way, the government is able to restrict the tourism market to local entrepreneurs exclusively and restrict tourism to specific regions, ensuring that the country’s most precious natural resources won’t be exploited.

Incorporating volunteer work into your vacation is an amazing way to learn more about the local culture and help contribute to your host community at the same time. You can also book a trip that is focused primarily on volunteer work through a locally run charity or non profit (just be sure that the job isn’t taking employment opportunities away from residents).

It's not difficult to make a business case for sustainable tourism, especially if one looks at a destination as a product. Think of protecting a destination, cultural landmark, or ecosystem as an investment. By keeping the environment healthy and the locals happy, sustainable tourism will maximize the efficiency of business resources. This is especially true in places where locals are more likely to voice their concerns if they feel like the industry is treating visitors better than residents.

Not only does reducing reliance on natural resources help save money in the long run, studies have shown that modern travelers are likely to participate in environmentally friendly tourism. In 2019, Booking.com found that 73% of travelers preferred an eco-sustainable hotel over a traditional one and 72% of travelers believed that people need to make sustainable travel choices for the sake of future generations.

Always be mindful of where your souvenirs are coming from and whether or not the money is going directly towards the local economy. For example, opt for handcrafted souvenirs made by local artisans.

Growth in the travel and tourism sectors alone has outpaced the overall global economy growth for nine years in a row. Prior to the pandemic, travel and tourism accounted for an $9.6 trillion contribution to the global GDP and 333 million jobs (or one in four new jobs around the world).

Sustainable travel dollars help support employees, who in turn pay taxes that contribute to their local economy. If those employees are not paid a fair wage or aren’t treated fairly, the traveler is unknowingly supporting damaging or unsustainable practices that do nothing to contribute to the future of the community. Similarly, if a hotel doesn’t take into account its ecological footprint, it may be building infrastructure on animal nesting grounds or contributing to excessive pollution. The same goes for attractions, since sustainably managed spots (like nature preserves) often put profits towards conservation and research.

Costa Rica was able to turn a severe deforestation crisis in the 1980s into a diversified tourism-based economy by designating 25.56% of land protected as either a national park, wildlife refuge, or reserve.

While traveling, think of how you would want your home country or home town to be treated by visitors.

Are You a Sustainable Traveler?

Sustainable travelers understand that their actions create an ecological and social footprint on the places they visit. Be mindful of the destinations , accommodations, and activities you choose, and choose destinations that are closer to home or extend your length of stay to save resources. Consider switching to more environmentally friendly modes of transportation such as bicycles, trains, or walking while on vacation. Look into supporting locally run tour operations or local family-owned businesses rather than large international chains. Don’t engage in activities that harm wildlife, such as elephant riding or tiger petting , and opt instead for a wildlife sanctuary (or better yet, attend a beach clean up or plan an hour or two of some volunteer work that interests you). Leave natural areas as you found them by taking out what you carry in, not littering, and respecting the local residents and their traditions.

Most of us travel to experience the world. New cultures, new traditions, new sights and smells and tastes are what makes traveling so rewarding. It is our responsibility as travelers to ensure that these destinations are protected not only for the sake of the communities who rely upon them, but for a future generation of travelers.

Sustainable tourism has many different layers, most of which oppose the more traditional forms of mass tourism that are more likely to lead to environmental damage, loss of culture, pollution, negative economic impacts, and overtourism.

Ecotourism highlights responsible travel to natural areas that focus on environmental conservation. A sustainable tourism body supports and contributes to biodiversity conservation by managing its own property responsibly and respecting or enhancing nearby natural protected areas (or areas of high biological value). Most of the time, this looks like a financial compensation to conservation management, but it can also include making sure that tours, attractions, and infrastructure don’t disturb natural ecosystems.

On the same page, wildlife interactions with free roaming wildlife should be non-invasive and managed responsibly to avoid negative impacts to the animals. As a traveler, prioritize visits to accredited rescue and rehabilitation centers that focus on treating, rehoming, or releasing animals back into the wild, such as the Jaguar Rescue Center in Costa Rica.

Soft Tourism

Soft tourism may highlight local experiences, local languages, or encourage longer time spent in individual areas. This is opposed to hard tourism featuring short duration of visits, travel without respecting culture, taking lots of selfies , and generally feeling a sense of superiority as a tourist.

Many World Heritage Sites, for example, pay special attention to protection, preservation, and sustainability by promoting soft tourism. Peru’s famed Machu Picchu was previously known as one of the world’s worst victims of overtourism , or a place of interest that has experienced negative effects (such as traffic or litter) from excessive numbers of tourists. The attraction has taken steps to control damages in recent years, requiring hikers to hire local guides on the Inca Trail, specifying dates and time on visitor tickets to negate overcrowding, and banning all single use plastics from the site.

Traveling during a destination’s shoulder season , the period between the peak and low seasons, typically combines good weather and low prices without the large crowds. This allows better opportunities to immerse yourself in a new place without contributing to overtourism, but also provides the local economy with income during a normally slow season.

Rural Tourism

Rural tourism applies to tourism that takes place in non-urbanized areas such as national parks, forests, nature reserves, and mountain areas. This can mean anything from camping and glamping to hiking and WOOFing. Rural tourism is a great way to practice sustainable tourism, since it usually requires less use of natural resources.

Community Tourism

Community-based tourism involves tourism where local residents invite travelers to visit their own communities. It sometimes includes overnight stays and often takes place in rural or underdeveloped countries. This type of tourism fosters connection and enables tourists to gain an in-depth knowledge of local habitats, wildlife, and traditional cultures — all while providing direct economic benefits to the host communities. Ecuador is a world leader in community tourism, offering unique accommodation options like the Sani Lodge run by the local Kichwa indigenous community, which offers responsible cultural experiences in the Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest.

" Transport-related CO 2  Emissions of the Tourism Sector – Modelling Results ." World Tourism Organization and International Transport Forum , 2019, doi:10.18111/9789284416660

" 45 Arrivals Every Second ." The World Counts.

Becken, Susanne. " Water Equity- Contrasting Tourism Water Use With That of the Local Community ." Water Resources and Industry , vol. 7-8, 2014, pp. 9-22, doi:10.1016/j.wri.2014.09.002

Kutty, Govindan M., and T.K. Raghavan Nair. " Periyar Tiger Reserve: Poachers Turned Gamekeepers ." Food and Agriculture Organization.

" GSTC Destination Criteria ." Global Sustainable Tourism Council.

Rinzin, Chhewang, et al. " Ecotourism as a Mechanism for Sustainable Development: the Case of Bhutan ." Environmental Sciences , vol. 4, no. 2, 2007, pp. 109-125, doi:10.1080/15693430701365420

" Booking.com Reveals Key Findings From Its 2019 Sustainable Travel Report ." Booking.com.

" Economic Impact Reports ." World Travel and Tourism Council .

• Costa Rica’s Keys to Success as a Sustainable Tourism Pioneer
• How to Be a Sustainable Traveler: 18 Tips
• Regenerative Travel: What It Is and How It's Outperforming Sustainable Tourism
• What Is Ecotourism? Definition, Examples, and Pros and Cons
• What Is Experiential Tourism?
• What Is Community-Based Tourism? Definition and Popular Destinations
• 3 More Rules for Sustainable Tourism
• What Is Overtourism and Why Is It Such a Big Problem?
• How to Become a Geo-Traveler
• What Is Voluntourism? Does It Help or Harm Communities?
• The World Doesn't Want Your Inukshuk
• 8 Incredible Rainforest Destinations Around the World
• 'Scattered Hotels' Are Saving Historic Villages in Italy and Beyond
• 15 Travel Destinations Being Ruined by Tourism
• How to Make Travel More Sustainable
• What's Special About the Faroe Islands

13 Social impacts of tourism + explanations + examples

Understanding the social impacts of tourism is vital to ensuring the sustainable management of the tourism industry. There are positive social impacts of tourism, demonstrating benefits to both the local community and the tourists. There are also negative social impacts of tourism.

In this article I will explain what the most common social impacts of tourism are and how these are best managed. At the end of the post I have also included a handy reading list for anybody studying travel and tourism or for those who are interested in learning more about travel and tourism management.

The social impacts of tourism

Preserving local culture, strengthening communities, provision of social services, commercialisation of culture and art, revitalisation of culture and art, preservation of heritage, social change, globalisation and the destruction of preservation and heritage, loss of authenticity , standardisation and commercialisation, culture clashes, tourist-host relationships, increase in crime, gambling and moral behaviour, social impacts of tourism: conclusion, social impacts of tourism- further reading.

Firstly, we need to understand what is meant by the term ‘social impacts of tourism’. I have covered this in my YouTube video below!

To put it simply, social impacts of tourism are; 

“The effects on host communities of direct and indirect relations with tourists , and of interaction with the tourism industry”

This is also often referred to as socio-cultural impacts.

Tourism is, at its core, an interactive service. This means that host-guest interaction is inevitable. This can have significant social/socio-cultural impacts.

These social impacts can be seen as benefits or costs (good or bad). I will explain these below.

Positive social impacts of tourism

There are many social benefits of tourism, demonstrating positive social impacts. These might include; preserving the local culture and heritage; strengthening communities; provision of social services; commercialisation of culture and art; revitalisation of customs and art forms and the preservation of heritage.

It is the local culture that the tourists are often coming to visit.

Tourists visit Beijing to learn more about the Chinese Dynasties. Tourists visit Thailand to taste authentic Thai food. Tourists travel to Brazil to go to the Rio Carnival, to mention a few…

Many destinations will make a conserved effort to preserve and protect the local culture. This often contributes to the conservation and sustainable management of natural resources, the protection of local heritage, and a renaissance of indigenous cultures, cultural arts and crafts.

In one way, this is great! Cultures are preserved and protected and globalisation is limited. BUT, I can’t help but wonder if this is always natural? We don’t walk around in Victorian corsets or smoke pipes anymore…

Our social settings have changed immensely over the years. And this is a normal part of evolution! So is it right that we should try to preserve the culture of an area for the purposes of tourism? Or should we let them grow and change, just as we do? Something to ponder on I guess…

Tourism can be a catalyst for strengthening a local community.

Events and festivals of which local residents have been the primary participants and spectators are often rejuvenated and developed in response to tourist interest. I certainly felt this was the way when I went to the Running of the Bulls festival in Pamplona, Spain. The community atmosphere and vibe were just fantastic!

The jobs created by tourism can also be a great boost for the local community. Aside from the economic impacts created by enhanced employment prospects, people with jobs are happier and more social than those without a disposable income.

Local people can also increase their influence on tourism development, as well as improve their job and earnings prospects, through tourism-related professional training and development of business and organisational skills.

Read also: Economic leakage in tourism explained

The tourism industry requires many facilities/ infrastructure to meet the needs of the tourist. This often means that many developments in an area as a result of tourism will be available for use by the locals also.

Local people often gained new roads, new sewage systems, new playgrounds, bus services etc as a result of tourism. This can provide a great boost to their quality of life and is a great example of a positive social impact of tourism.

Tourism can see rise to many commercial business, which can be a positive social impact of tourism. This helps to enhance the community spirit as people tend to have more disposable income as a result.

These businesses may also promote the local cultures and arts. Museums, shows and galleries are fantastic way to showcase the local customs and traditions of a destination. This can help to promote/ preserve local traditions.

Some destinations will encourage local cultures and arts to be revitalised. This may be in the form of museum exhibitions, in the way that restaurants and shops are decorated and in the entertainment on offer, for example.

This may help promote traditions that may have become distant.

Many tourists will visit the destination especially to see its local heritage. It is for this reason that many destinations will make every effort to preserve its heritage.

This could include putting restrictions in place or limiting tourist numbers, if necessary. This is often an example of careful tourism planning  and sustainable tourism management.

This text by Hyung You Park explains the principles of heritage tourism in more detail.

Negative social impacts of tourism

Unfortunately, there are a large number of socio-cultural costs on the host communities. These negative social impacts include; social change; changing values; increased crime and gambling; changes in moral behaviour; changes in family structure and roles; problems with the tourist-host relationship and the destruction of heritage.

Social change is basically referring to changes in the way that society acts or behaves. Unfortunately, there are many changes that come about as a result of tourism that are not desirable.

There are many examples throughout the world where local populations have changed because of tourism.

Perhaps they have changed the way that they speak or the way that they dress. Perhaps they have been introduced to alcohol through the tourism industry or they have become resentful of rich tourists and turned to crime. These are just a few examples of the negative social impacts of tourism.

Read also: Business tourism explained: What, why and where

Globalisation is the way in which the world is becoming increasingly connected. We are losing our individuality and gaining a sense of ‘global being’, whereby we are more and more alike than ever before.

Globalisation is inevitable in the tourism industry because of the interaction between tourists and hosts, which typically come from different geographic and cultural backgrounds. It is this interaction that encourage us to become more alike.

Here are some examples:

• When I went on the Jungle Book tour on my travels through Goa, the tourists were giving the Goan children who lived in the area sweets. These children would never have eaten such sweets should they not have come into contact with the tourists.
• When I travelled to The Gambia I met a local worker (known as a ‘ bumster ‘) who was wearing a Manchester United football top. When I asked him about it he told me that he was given the top by a tourist who visited last year. If it was not for said tourist, he would not have this top.
• In Thailand , many workers have exchanged their traditional work of plowing the fields to work in the cities, in the tourism industry. They have learnt to speak English and to eat Western food. If it were not for the tourists they would have a different line of work, they would not speak English and they would not choose to eat burger and chips for their dinner!

Many people believe globalisation to be a bad thing. BUT, there are also some positives. Think about this…

Do you want an ‘authentic’ squat toilet in your hotel bathroom or would you rather use a Western toilet? Are you happy to eat rice and curry for breakfast as the locals would do or do you want your cornflakes? Do you want to struggle to get by when you don’t speak the local language or are you pleased to find somebody who speaks English?

When we travel, most tourists do want a sense of ‘familiar’. And globalisation helps us to get that!

You can learn more about globalisation in this post- What is globalisation? A simple explanation .

Along similar lines to globalisation is the loss of authenticity that often results from tourism.

Authenticity is essentially something that is original or unchanged. It is not fake or reproduced in any way.

The Western world believe that a tourist destination is no longer authentic when their cultural values and traditions change. But I would argue is this not natural? Is culture suppose to stay the same or it suppose to evolve throughout each generation? 

Take a look at the likes of the long neck tribe in Thailand or the Maasai Tribe in Africa. These are two examples of cultures which have remained ‘unchanged’ for the sole purpose of tourism. They appear not to have changed the way that they dress, they way that they speak or the way that they act in generations, all for the purpose of tourism.

To me, however, this begs the question- is it actually authentic? In fact, is this not the exact example of what is not authentic? The rest of the world have modern electricity and iPhones, they watch TV and buy their clothes in the nearest shopping mall. But because tourists want an ‘authentic’ experience, these people have not moved on with the rest of the world, but instead have remained the same.

I think there is also an ethical discussion to be had here, but I’ll leave that for another day…

You can learn more about what is authenticity in tourism here or see some examples of staged authenticity in this post.

Read also: Environmental impacts of tourism

Similarly, destinations risk standardisation in the process of satisfying tourists’ desires for familiar facilities and experiences.

While landscape, accommodation, food and drinks, etc., must meet the tourists’ desire for the new and unfamiliar, they must at the same time not be too new or strange because few tourists are actually looking for completely new things (think again about the toilet example I have previously).

Tourists often look for recognisable facilities in an unfamiliar environment, like well-known fast-food restaurants and hotel chains. Tourist like some things to be standardised (the toilet, their breakfast, their drinks, the language spoken etc), but others to be different (dinner options, music, weather, tourist attractions etc).

Do we want everything to become ‘standardised’ though? I know I miss seeing the little independent shops that used to fill the high streets in the UK. Now it’s all chains and multinational corporations. Sure, I like Starbucks (my mug collection is coming on quite nicely!), but I also love the way that there are no Starbucks in Italy. There’s something great about trying out a traditional, yet unfamiliar coffee shop, or any independant place for that matter.

I personally think that tourism industry stakeholders should proceed with caution when it comes to ‘standardisation’. Sure, give the tourists that sense of familiar that they are looking for. But don’t dilute the culture and traditions of the destination that they are coming to visit, because if it feels too much like home….. well, maybe they will just stay at home next time? Just a little something to think about…

On a less philosophical note, another of the negative social impacts of tourism is that it can have significant consequences is culture clashes.

Because tourism involves movement of people to different geographical locations cultural clashes can take place as a result of differences in cultures, ethnic and religious groups, values, lifestyles, languages and levels of prosperity.

The attitude of local residents towards tourism development may unfold through the stages of euphoria, where visitors are very welcome, through apathy, irritation and potentially antagonism when anti-tourist attitudes begin to grow among local people. This is represented in Doxey’s Irritation Index, as shown below.

Culture clashes can also be exasperated by the fundamental differences in culture between the hosts and the tourists.

There is likely to be economic inequality between locals and tourists who are spending more than they usually do at home. This can cause resentment from the hosts towards the tourists, particularly when they see them wearing expensive jewellery or using plush cameras etc that they know they can’t afford themselves.

Further to this, tourists often, out of ignorance or carelessness, fail to respect local customs and moral values. 

Think about it. Is it right to go topless on a beach if within the local culture it is unacceptable to show even your shoulders?

There are many examples of ways that tourists offend the local population , often unintentionally. Did you know that you should never put your back to a Buddha? Or show the sole of your feet to a Thai person? Or show romantic affection in public in the Middle East?

A little education in this respect could go a long way, but unfortunately, many travellers are completely unaware of the negative social impacts that their actions may have.

The last of the social impacts of tourism that I will discuss is crime, gambling and moral behaviour. Crime rates typically increase with the growth and urbanisation of an area and the growth of mass tourism is often accompanied by increased crime.

The presence of a large number of tourists with a lot of money to spend and often carrying valuables such as cameras and jewellery increases the attraction for criminals and brings with it activities like robbery and drug dealing.

Although tourism is not the cause of sexual exploitation, it provides easy access to it e.g. prostitution and sex tourism . Therefore, tourism can contribute to rises in the numbers of sex workers in a given area. I have seen this myself in many places including The Gambia and Thailand .

Lastly, gambling is a common occurrence as a result of tourism. Growth of casinos and other gambling facilities can encourage not only the tourists to part with their cash, but also the local population .

As I have demonstrated in this post, there are many social impacts of tourism. Whilst some impacts are positive, most unfortunately are negative impacts.

Hopefully this post on the social impacts of tourism has helped you to think carefully about the impacts that your actions may have on the local community that you are visiting. I also hope that it has encouraged some deeper thinking with regards to issues such as globalisation, authenticity and standardisation.

If you are interested in learning more about topics such as this subscribe to my newsletter ! I send out travel tips, discount coupons and some material designed to get you thinking about the wider impacts of the tourism industry (like this post)- perfect for any tourism student or keen traveller!

As you can see, the social impacts of tourism are an important consideration for all industry stakeholders. Do you have any comments on the social impacts of tourism? Leave your comments below.

If you enjoyed this article on the social impacts of tourism, I am sure that you will love these too-

• Environmental impacts of tourism
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Impacts and Benefits of Tourism in Society

Impacts and benefits of tourism in society, provides a brief explanation of how tourism is currently one of the sectors of the economy that has more growth, both economically and socially. Being such an important activity in these times, it brings a series of impacts and benefits, both environmentally and culturally, since it involves the communities. Even ecotourism benefits communities that are poor in economic resources but rich in biodiversity, environmental resources and indigenous culture. These resources attract a large number of tourists who are little interested in conventional tourism, and who are more closely disposed to the environmental and cultural activity of a particular region. To understand a little more about what ecotourism is, an explanation will initially be given about what tourism activity implies.

Tourism is defined as the activity carried out by people when they move from their usual place of residence with leisure, entertainment or other reasons and who do not intend to engage in remunerated activities in the place they visit.

Tourism has become in the last decades an important activity in the economic sector, since it generates employment, exports and investment of companies specialized in offering recreation and travel services. Jorge Chávez de la Peña, writer of the book Cultural Biodiversity and Ecotourism states: “In this century, tourism as a social phenomenon already encompasses all areas of human endeavor and has a significant influence on the development of many countries, both European and international. eternally called in the way of development “.

One of the effects that tourism provides is the generation of employment, investment in regions considered low economic resources, but with cultural diversity and biodiversity.

“Tourism is defined as the activity carried out by people when they move from their usual place of residence with leisure, entertainment or other reasons and who do not intend to engage in remunerated activities in the place they visit”.

Similarly, environmental deterioration is also one of the most important in this century, and therefore all activity and tourism must be done as recommended by the World Tourism Organization (WTO), which says that all tourism must be done in a sustainable and with awareness of care for the environment where it is practiced. The environmental problem in which the world finds itself at the moment is so serious, that there is no human activity that should not consider this problem and take measures to avoid further deterioration in the environment.

The main raw material of tourism, are the tourist attractions of a region and offer visitors a unique experience that allows changing the monotony of people and meet the expectations they have on a certain culture, place and ecosystem. The development of tourism promotes the constructions that allow to exercise the tourist activity, as they are hotels, roads, restaurants among others. These constructions seek to supply the needs of the visitors and generate economic impact on the locals, since the value of the land increases and it also generates the creation of numerous jobs in the areas with the greatest attraction and influx of visitors.

As tourism is a booming and growing activity, it generates both economic, environmental and sociocultural impacts.

Impacts of the Tourist Activity

Positive and negative impacts at the economic level.

Since tourism depends to a large extent on the human factor, it generates the creation of new jobs. In addition, the demand for local goods increases, the value of housing increases and, in general, the land where tourist activity is generated. It also generates investment, and improvement in the economy of the region.

Tourism also has negative impacts, such as monopoly by companies, low participation or none from the country of destination; Tourism is a seasonal economic activity, little or no tourism training for the population results in the contraction of unqualified personnel and thus the distribution of income is affected as it is not equitable.

“Tourism also brings negative impacts such as, monopoly by companies, low participation or none of the country of destination”.

Positive and Negative Impacts at a Socioeconomic Level

Tourism can stimulate interest in one’s own culture due to its traditions and customs, the recovery of cultural identity, cultural exchange and modernization of cultures.

Tourism can also generate culturation of the destination: since the contact of locals with visitors can lead to adaptation to the customs of visitors and the disappearance of their own culture. Even socioeconomic differences between visitors and locals can influence the increase in crime, prostitution, gambling and conflicts caused by drug addiction.

Positive and Negative Environmental Impacts

The positive impacts that ecotourism brings are: The rational use of nature, environmental education for tourists and residents, the conservation of ecosystems, although on several occasions tourism brings problems to the environment such as, for example, the saturation of strategic ecosystems, pollution, erosion and destruction of ecosystems as well as visual impact. Sometimes not having an awareness of the problems that can be created and alter an ecosystem, even leads companies providing tourism services to make constructions and modifications of the environment to provide a particular service.

“As tourism is a booming and growing activity, it generates both economic, environmental and sociocultural impacts”.

The destruction of ecosystems is due to the massive presence of visitors, since for many years the only thing that was taken into account when exploiting an area to exercise tourism was the enrichment of the people involved in the sector. Currently that has changed thanks to the emergence of ecotourism, or also called sustainable tourism, which seeks the least impact on the environment and its alteration.

Currently conventional tourism or also called mass tourism has been replaced by other motivations of other types of tourism. Since conventional tourism is characterized by having the following impacts:

Over-saturation of the cargo capacity of the destinations (congestion, lack of resources, discomfort in the residents). Little respect towards the environment and towards the landscape.

Currently, a tourist development that is in harmony with the environment is tried. That implies respect towards the environment where it is located, accentuates the interest for the best preserved spaces.

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Community-based tourism: how your trip can make a positive impact on local people

Community-based tourism can reap great rewards. Done well, it enables local organisations to protect precious habitats, preserve unique culture and empower grassroots employees.

In the mid-1990s, the remote community of Klemtu in Canada’s British Columbia had to make a choice. Hit hard by the collapse of the fishing and forestry industries, unemployment was rocketing, and options were running out. But they knew there were two things in the Great Bear Rainforest that you couldn’t get anywhere else: their own Indigenous culture and the rare, ghostly-white Kermode bear, also known as the Spirit Bear. And that’s how Spirit Bear Lodge was born: a showcase of the Kitasoo/Xai’xais First Nation, and an entry point for exploring the extraordinary wilderness of the largest temperate rainforest on Earth, with the added benefit of spotting those elusive bears, along with wolves, whales and brown bears. Today, the lodge is a blueprint for conservation-based, community-based tourism, with a string of successes under its belt: the surrounding rainforest is now protected from logging, bear hunting has been banned and the community has a steady income. It has also, they say, fuelled a cultural renaissance. “The lodge has created opportunities for young and old to thrive in their homelands, while educating people from around the world with our rich culture,” explains Roxanne Robinson, guest services manager at the lodge. Guests learn about Kitasoo/Xai’xais culture from the lodge staff and their guides on wildlife expeditions, kayaking tours and cultural visits, while younger community members drop by as part of the Súa Educational Foundation programme. “Súa means ‘thunder’ in our language, and they come to share stories, songs and dances with guests in our traditional big house,” says Robinson. Guests not only have an incredible experience, but they can also sleep easy knowing that their tourist dollars are doing good. Doing good, if reports are anything to go by, is something we all want to do more of. According to an American Express poll last year, 72% of travellers want to help boost tourism revenue in local economies. And the latest sustainability report by Booking.com showed that 73% of travellers would like to have authentic experiences that are representative of the local culture; 84% believe that preservation of cultural heritage is crucial; and 76% want to be sure that their economic impact is spread equally throughout society. So, being a responsible traveller is no longer just about protecting the environment or reducing our carbon footprints. It’s about how our tourist dollars can do good in the places we visit. It’s about communities. It’s taking the ‘buy local’ mantra — supporting your neighbourhood bookshop instead of buying on Amazon, say, or eating in a local restaurant instead of McDonald’s — and using it on your travels. When travelling, though, buying locally can be more nuanced. It could mean eating out in a local restaurant — but who owns the restaurant? Are the staff local but the profits going abroad? Does the restaurant support local producers and farmers, or are the ingredients imported? Is the attached gift shop a showcase of Indigenous craftsmanship, or are the souvenirs all made in China?  

It is, in other words, complicated. “Is it tourism that takes place in a community?” asks Dr Albert Kimbu, head of tourism and transport at the University of Surrey. “Or is it tourism that’s actively engaging and benefitting communities?” That’s the key. That’s the question we, as travellers, need to be asking. “My take on community-based tourism, or CBT,” explains Dr Kimbu, “is that it has to be by the community, for the community.” In other words, if a hotel or lodge takes guests to visit a local school, or to see a cultural dance in a local village, which might be taking place in the community — is the community genuinely benefitting? They might be getting paid, but it could also be straight-up cultural exploitation. Jamie Sweeting, CEO of Planeterra, the non-profit partner of G Adventures, which specialises in community tourism, agrees: “It needs to be owned, led and run by the communities themselves.” Why? “Because,” explains Dr Kimbu, “When communities become aware that what they have is a product that can be sold, then they have a stake in protecting it.” Take the Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge in Rwanda. The saleable product here is the mountain gorilla that inhabits Volcanoes National Park next door. Visitors will pay a high price to see them in the wild. Working with Sacola, a local non-profit, the idea of a lodge that’s 100%-owned and -run by the community was born, with all profits going back into social and economic projects, as well as conservation within the park. It’s worked a treat. Since opening in 2006, US$4m (£3m) has gone into community and conservation projects, while the gorilla population in the park now includes 10 different gorilla groups. So, the community recognised the financial benefits of their neighbouring gorillas and now benefit by protecting their environment. But CBT at its best goes way beyond employing locally. It means the community gets to decide how to protect the culture and environment on which it depends. So, the community benefits, the environment and local culture is safeguarded, and the resulting economic benefits stay within the community. Win-win-win. There are ripple effects, too. Spier, a wine estate in South Africa’s Stellenbosch region, has a Growing for Good programme, which includes mentoring and assisting local entrepreneurs to create businesses that can then be used by Spier. This has worked with a local laundry service, for example, as well as a taxi service used by its guests. And Fogo Island Inn in Newfoundland, Canada is all about the ripple effects, having been created entirely for the benefit of the local community. This 29-room luxury inn was built by local philanthropist Zita Cobb through her Shorefast Foundation, and 100% of operating surpluses are reinvested in the community — a community that was in dire straits just a decade ago, thanks to the collapse of the global cod market.  

Power in partnership

Sabyinyo, Spier and Fogo are examples of when it works. When it doesn’t work, community involvement is nothing short of exploitation. As Amanda Ho, the co-founder of Regenerative Travel, puts it: “In many cases, what we’ve seen is communities around the world angry that their health, wellbeing, and priorities are not being recognised or respected by tourism.” Jamie Sweeting tells me about a particular lodge in Botswana — he won’t name names — which was ‘talking the talk’ about working with the Indigenous San. “The website was shouting about empowering the local community,” he says. But when Planeterra did some digging, it found that while the San were used to put on cultural shows at the lodge, they were earning below the living wage and staying in poor accommodation with barely enough food. Planeterra worked with the local San people to promote and upskill the community-owned Dqae Qare San Lodge nearby, helping them gain direct access to the same markets the other lodge was benefitting from.  

“Community-based tourism can be especially beneficial in empowering women, who are often responsible for the homestay or dining components of a trip” Francisca Kellett

That lack of access to market — and the lack of the knowledge, skills and infrastructure needed to run a successful travel business — is key. As Justin Francis of Responsible Travel puts it: “Being able to access the distribution chains of the tourism industry — to get guests through the doors — is difficult without the partnership of an established tour operator.” When CBT first appeared around 20-25 years ago, he says, NGOs and donors would pitch up at communities, build beautiful ecolodges, but allow the communities very little say — and then fail to provide the training, infrastructure and business know-how to lead to any kind of success.  

Having a voice, Francis says, is key where elected community representatives participate in the decision making: “The driving force behind successful CBT projects is local people setting the terms. It’s about them making informed decisions around how tourism develops.” In the case of the Ccaccaccollo Women’s Weaving Cooperative in Peru’s Sacred Valley, it was three women that had that voice. “When they first came to us, only a handful could do traditional Inca weaving,” Sweeting says. Led by those women, Planeterra assisted with training, infrastructure and marketing, and the co-op has boomed, now owned and run by more than 65 individuals, with an attached homestay attracting overnight visitors. CBT can be especially beneficial in empowering women, who are often responsible for the homestay or dining components of a trip. Dreamcatchers, a tour operator in South Africa, recognised this over 30 years ago, and helped launch a range of CBT enterprises including ‘Kammama’, a selection of nationwide, women-run homestays and experiences, from cooking courses in Soweto to an overnight stay with a family in the Cape Winelands. In the case of Ccaccaccollo, the ripple effect has been a huge uptick in education in the community: all the women involved are now fully literate in Spanish, the first generation to achieve this locally, and most have children in tertiary education — another first. “And there has been an uplift in the pride in their culture. They’re embracing it. They can see that people from dozens of countries travel to visit them because they have something special to offer,” says Sweeting. That special offering is what’s in it for us. “For travellers, CBT offers a genuinely authentic experience and insight into local life,” says Zina Bencheikh, at Intrepid Travel. “Travellers are welcomed into a community and have the chance to immerse themselves.” Intrepid now aims to bring a degree of CBT into many of its sustainable, small-group adventure tours. “Our clients often talk about our CBT experiences as one of the unexpected highlights of their trip,” says Bencheikh. So how do we spot the good guys? How do we know whether a lodge or restaurant or experience that claims to benefit a community genuinely is?   “Ask questions,” says Dr Kimbu. “Have a discussion with those organising your trip.” Bencheikh agrees. “Do your research. Before you visit, ask questions about how the project is run and where the money goes from your visit.” Travelling with a trusted tour operator is also sensible, as is looking out for any certification programmes such as B Corp. Covid-19, of course, has had a dreadful impact on CBT. Planeterra recently launched the Global Community Tourism Network, providing online training, promotion and marketing, to help organisations prepare for when tourists come back. “Many communities don’t have internet or phone access,” explains Sweeting. “So, we also have 16 strategic partnerships, mostly local non-profits with their own network. Our reach is now more than 800 community tourism enterprises in 75 countries.” On the flipside, Covid-19 has also changed how we want to travel. “There’s been a definite shift, with more travellers wanting to find purpose in their trips,” says Sweeting. “We need to take advantage of that. When you’re able to experience something owned and run by a community, it’s much more rewarding, and a more equitable experience for the host and the guest.” As Dr Kimbu puts it, “CBT has a sense of fairness and justice.” It’s that sense of fairness and justice that’s been behind the success of Spirit Bear Lodge for more than 20 years and one that the community hopes will last for generations. “I do hope that my children and future children continue with Spirit Bear Lodge,” Robinson tells me. “Seeing the growth in this company has been amazing. It’s a great way to learn and grow and thrive in our homelands.” You can’t say fairer than that.  

Published in the   May 2022   issue of   National Geographic Traveller (UK)

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How Tourism Benefits Nature and Wildlife

The Great Barrier Reef. Yellowstone. The Amazon Rainforest. One of the top reasons that tourists are drawn to destinations such as these is because of their rich biodiversity and unique landscapes.

According to Brand USA,  2 of the top 5 motivators  for selecting vacation spots are ecotourism and nature. Wanderlusters are seeking experiences that reflect the  true  essence of the places they are visiting. In other words, they want to visit places with unspoiled environments and thriving native wildlife.

We often hear about all of the ways that humans are destroying wild places and jeopardizing the health of the planet – and rightfully so. Over  75%  of land environments have been severely altered by humans and species are facing extinction at up to  1000x  the natural rate. While there’s no denying that irresponsible tourism contributes to this devastation, we shouldn’t overlook the important role that sustainable and well-managed tourism plays in advancing conservation and protecting our world’s treasured ecosystems. These benefits have only been further evidenced by the current COVID-19 crisis and the resulting halt in tourism.

In this blog post we’ve highlighted just a handful of the different ways that tourism benefits nature and wildlife. Read on to learn more!

Increasing Community Support for Conservation

Over the last decade, nature-based tourism has become increasingly popular.  In total, wildlife tourism now supports nearly  22 million jobs  around the world and contributes more than $120 billion to global GDP.

This growing interest in wildlife tourism, and the economic benefits that come along with it, can change community attitudes towards conservation. Without tourism, local communities may merely view wild animals as a danger to their farms and families, and only value natural resources for consumption. But when animals and natural areas bring tourism dollars and jobs to their community, it can help residents see the importance of keeping their natural assets intact and healthy.

In Cambodia, for instance, ecotourism is motivating communities to conserve critically endangered bird species, such as the giant ibis and white-shouldered ibis. Thousands of tourists come from across the world to see these rare and iconic species. The birding operator Sam Veasna Conservation Tours incentivizes community-based conservation in the region by training and employing locals as guides and ecotourism providers, and requiring visitors to donate to village development projects. In return for this income and employment, community members agree to not hunt or cut down trees. To date, Sam Veasna’s visitors have contributed over  $500,000  to local communities, making a strong case for the importance of protecting their unique birdlife.

Creating Sustainable Livelihoods

Beyond changing mindsets, tourism can prevent ecosystem degradation by creating more sustainable livelihoods for local communities. Jobs as guides, cooks, or housekeepers offer alternative income sources to environmentally-destructive activities such as logging, slash-and-burn agriculture, quarrying, or illegal hunting.

In Rewa, Guyana, poor job security led villagers to illegally harvest and trade wild animals. As a result, wildlife species such as arapaimas, giant river turtles, and giant otters were beginning to disappear. In 2005, the village opened a community-run eco lodge to improve livelihoods while protecting its ecological diversity.  By employing community members as sport fishing guides and boat captains, the lodge allows villagers to maintain rainforest-based livelihoods without causing damage to the ecosystem. Thanks to tourism, arapaimas, turtles, and otters are now common in the Rewa River. Not to mention, visitors contribute far more money to the local economy than wildlife exploitation did. In fact, research shows that globally wildlife tourism is  5x  more lucrative than illegal wildlife trade!

Raising Environmental Awareness of Tourists

Tourism not only bears the capacity to shift local mindsets and behavior, it can also raise environmental awareness among tourists. From camping to beach lounging, tourism provides countless opportunities for individuals to learn about the natural world and experience it firsthand.

When people connect with nature during their travels, it can lead them to appreciate it more and become invested in protecting it. Tours, parks, and other travel experiences often facilitate this type of environmental learning through interpretive techniques such as educational brochures, exhibits, or guided excursions. Whale watching, for instance,  has been shown  to raise visitors’ knowledge of aquatic mammals and increase their support for whale conservation. And on the Great Barrier Reef, guided boat tours and marine biology talks  have been found  to influence visitor behavior and minimize the damage that they cause to the reef.

In Chilean Patagonia, interpretive panels have been installed along one of the world’s most iconic trekking circuits in Torres del Paine National Park. The panels, which were designed by the  Torres del Paine Legacy Fund , educate visitors about the wetland ecosystem they’re traversing, and provide information about the plants and animals found there.

A hiker reads about the types of wildlife that reside in Torres del Paine National Park. Photo: Torres del Paine Legacy Fund.

Prompting Conservation Policies & Protected Areas

Tourism can also provide a compelling incentive for governments and organizations to institute environmental policies and conservation measures. This includes the creation of national parks, nature reserves, and other protected areas to preserve their biodiversity and correspondingly boost their tourism appeal.

Due to the popularity of coastal tourism in particular, reef-based activities such as scuba diving, snorkeling, boat trips and whale watching are a particularly important source of economic revenues. In fact, it is estimated that coral reefs generate  $36 billion  in global tourism value per year. Many countries rely on the income that comes from marine-based tourism and see the importance of protecting their coastlines, coral reefs, and beaches.

In the Galapagos, for instance, marine-based tourism is worth over  $178 million  per year, and supports over a third of all jobs.  The islands are a hotspot for large and rare marine life, including the  highest abundance  of sharks on the planet. Thanks to spending by divers and other marine tourists, a single shark in the Galapagos is worth about $5.4 million over its lifetime, while a dead shark only brings in $200 to fishermen. Realizing the economic importance of its life below water, the government introduced no-fishing zones in 2016 to prevent the extraction of sharks and safeguard the island’s marine tourism value.

Mountain gorillas are another species that has benefited from tourism-motivated conservation policies. These endangered apes can only be found in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In Uganda, gorilla trekking permits start at  $600  and the economic value of gorilla tourism is estimated to be as much as  $34.3 million . This has led to policies and strategies that support conservation, such as veterinary interventions, intensive law enforcement, community conservation projects, regulated ecotourism, and transboundary collaboration among government institutions and NGOs. Thanks to these efforts, the number of gorillas within the Virunga Mountain region rose from  240 in the 1980s to 604 in 2016 . Now they are the  only wild ape population whose numbers are increasing !

Financing Conservation

But simply establishing protected areas isn’t enough on its own. Ensuring the conservation of the sensitive environments and vulnerable species that these areas aim to protect requires effective management and conservation measures.

However, this is easier said than done. Around the world, many protected areas are under-funded. In fact, the global funding gap for effectively managing these sites is estimated to be up to  $440 billion  dollars per year. Tourism plays an essential role in bridging this gap by providing an additional source of funding. Proceeds from visitor entrance fees, operating permits, accommodations, and guiding services can help pay the salaries of park rangers and guards, and fund necessary management activities such as ecosystem monitoring, anti-poaching patrols, invasive species eradication, and environmental educational programs.

In Africa, tourism is an important source of funding for land and wildlife conservation. SANParks, the public entity responsible for managing South Africa’s national parks, raises more than  80%  of its funding from tourism.  Chumbe Island Coral Park,  a marine protected area off the coast of Zanzibar, takes this model a step further and is funded  entirely  by ecotourism income. Thanks to effective management, Chumbe Island is home to one of the most pristine coral reefs in the region.

In addition to financing protected areas, tourists and tourism businesses may also contribute directly to local conservation initiatives. In St. Kitts, local tourism businesses donated  $18,500  to fund the planting of fruit trees to protect coastal areas. At Vail Resorts, guests are invited to donate $1 when they purchase a season pass, lift ticket, hotel stay, or shuttle ride. In 2019, Vail’s program raised over  $975,000  for on-the-ground conservation efforts that help restore habitat, improve forest access, and preserve land.

Carbon offsetting is another way that individuals and businesses can contribute to environmental conservation projects, while also mitigating their own emissions. Luxury tour operator TCS World Travel, for instance, partners with Sustainable Travel International to  offset  the carbon emissions generated by their jet trips. Through this partnership, TCS supports the  Madre de Dios project  which protects critical rainforest habitat and endangered species in the Peruvian Amazon.

Aiding Ecosystem Monitoring

While park rangers and guards play a critical role in patrolling sensitive environments, tracking ecosystem health, and warding off threats, it is often impossible for them to monitor such vast areas by themselves. The mere presence of tourists in natural areas can protect wildlife by providing an extra set of eyes on the ground.

In Africa, safari vehicles and guests deter poachers from wildlife conservancies, helping to safeguard highly targeted species such rhinos. The COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the critical role that tourism plays in deterring poachers and creating safe havens for wildlife. As visitation has come to a halt, rhino poaching has  reportedly increased  in tourism hotspots.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s “Eye on the Reef” program is an even more intentional effort to engage tourists and operators in ecosystem monitoring. The program engages divers and marine tourism providers in watching over the Great Barrier Reef by reporting the coral, fish, pollution, and invasive species they see via a citizen science app. Sustainable Travel International is currently developing NEMO, a similar reef monitoring program for use on the  Mesoamerican Reef.

There are countless other citizen science programs that aim to fill different research gaps, and that visitors can participate in during their trip. Whale watchers, for example, can contribute to whale identification and tracking by submitting their photographs of humpback whales via the HappyWhale website. To date, more than  260,000  photos have been submitted to HappyWhale, and more than 38,000 individual whales identified.

Tourism businesses may also aid researchers in collecting environmental data. In Nevis, the Four Seasons Resort helps researchers study the migration patterns of critically endangered hawksbill sea turtles that nest on the island’s beaches. Resort guests help look for nesting sea turtles which are then fitted with a satellite transmitter and released into the sea. To date,  21  turtles have been released through this program.

Supporting Habitat & Ecosystem Restoration

Along with putting on their scientist cap, visitors and tourism businesses can support conservation by participating in ecosystem restoration.  

In Bonaire, local dive operators are lending a hand in restoring the island’s coral reefs by training tourists and divers on basic reef restoration techniques. Once they are trained, visitors can help maintain coral nurseries and outplant coral fragments onto degraded reef sites. To date, more than over  22,000  corals have been outplanted onto Bonaire’s reefs.

Visitors and tourism businesses can also participate in the removal and eradication of non-native species which devastate local habitats. In Mexico, divers and guides lend a hand in  hunting invasive lionfish  which are a serious threat to the Mesoamerican Reef. After they are captured, the fish are grilled up and served to tourists as a special local dish.

Visitors and tour guides can also help restore ecosystem health by cleaning up the environments they visit. For example, more than  86,000  scuba divers have removed litter from the oceans as part of Project Aware’s “Dive Against Debris” program.

Advancing Green Technologies & Fueling Innovation

Because of its economic importance and influence, tourism can trigger environmental innovation through the advancement of green infrastructure, processes, and technologies. For instance, tourism can lead the way in the development of renewable energy infrastructure, like wind and solar farms, on remote islands or rural areas that would not usually be exposed to clean energy.

In Aruba, tourism is the primary economic activity, representing  73%  of GDP. Realizing that the future of its tourism industry depends on environmental sustainability, Aruba’s public and private sector have invested in innovative solutions. Aruba’s Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort, for instance, is considered an eco-pioneer in the  Caribbean  due to the novel sustainability initiatives that it not only implements, but also develops. Among its achievements, the property heats its water via solar panels, installed exercise equipment that produces electricity, utilizes water saving devices in its bathrooms, and reuses greywater to irrigate its gardens. The resort aids the sustainability transition on the island by offering tours of their grounds and sharing their practices with others.

In Oregon, tourism supported the expansion of electric vehicle infrastructure along the state’s rural roads and scenic highways. The state’s tourism commission,  Travel Oregon , helped facilitate the installation of electric vehicle charging stations near tourism businesses and developed Electric Byway itineraries. Now, Oregon is home to one of the largest networks of electric vehicle fast charging stations in the country!

Still Progress To Be Made

But of course, all of the benefits above will only occur when tourism happens in a well-managed and sustainable way. As we’ve gained a better understanding of how humans impact the natural world, there have definitely been great strides towards making tourism more eco-friendly. However, our work is far from done. There’s still a lot of room for improvement by everyone involved in tourism – businesses, governments, communities, and tourists – to maximize tourism’s benefits for the planet.

To learn more about how we are helping to amplify the environmental benefits of tourism and ensure that tourism safeguards local ecosystems through our work, click  here .

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UN Tourism | Bringing the world closer

Ethics, culture and social responsibility.

• Global Code of Ethics for Tourism
• Accessible Tourism

Tourism and Culture

• Women’s Empowerment and Tourism

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The convergence between tourism and culture, and the increasing interest of visitors in cultural experiences, bring unique opportunities but also complex challenges for the tourism sector.

“Tourism policies and activities should be conducted with respect for the artistic, archaeological and cultural heritage, which they should protect and pass on to future generations; particular care should be devoted to preserving monuments, worship sites, archaeological and historic sites as well as upgrading museums which must be widely open and accessible to tourism visits”

UN Tourism Framework Convention on Tourism Ethics

Article 7, paragraph 2

This webpage provides UN Tourism resources aimed at strengthening the dialogue between tourism and culture and an informed decision-making in the sphere of cultural tourism. It also promotes the exchange of good practices showcasing inclusive management systems and innovative cultural tourism experiences .  

About Cultural Tourism

According to the definition adopted by the UN Tourism General Assembly, at its 22nd session (2017), Cultural Tourism implies “A type of tourism activity in which the visitor’s essential motivation is to learn, discover, experience and consume the tangible and intangible cultural attractions/products in a tourism destination. These attractions/products relate to a set of distinctive material, intellectual, spiritual and emotional features of a society that encompasses arts and architecture, historical and cultural heritage, culinary heritage, literature, music, creative industries and the living cultures with their lifestyles, value systems, beliefs and traditions”. UN Tourism provides support to its members in strengthening cultural tourism policy frameworks, strategies and product development . It also provides guidelines for the tourism sector in adopting policies and governance models that benefit all stakeholders, while promoting and preserving cultural elements.

Recommendations for Cultural Tourism Key Players on Accessibility 

UN Tourism , Fundación ONCE and UNE issued in September 2023, a set of guidelines targeting key players of the cultural tourism ecosystem, who wish to make their offerings more accessible.

The key partners in the drafting and expert review process were the ICOMOS International Cultural Tourism Committee and the European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT) . The ICOMOS experts’ input was key in covering crucial action areas where accessibility needs to be put in the spotlight, in order to make cultural experiences more inclusive for all people.

This guidance tool is also framed within the promotion of the ISO Standard ISO 21902 , in whose development UN Tourism had one of the leading roles.

Download here the English and Spanish version of the Recommendations.

Compendium of Good Practices in Indigenous Tourism

The report is primarily meant to showcase good practices championed by indigenous leaders and associations from the Region. However, it also includes a conceptual introduction to different aspects of planning, management and promotion of a responsible and sustainable indigenous tourism development.

The compendium also sets forward a series of recommendations targeting public administrations, as well as a list of tips promoting a responsible conduct of tourists who decide to visit indigenous communities.

For downloads, please visit the UN Tourism E-library page: Download in English - Download in Spanish .

Weaving the Recovery - Indigenous Women in Tourism

This initiative, which gathers UN Tourism , t he World Indigenous Tourism Alliance (WINTA) , Centro de las Artes Indígenas (CAI) and the NGO IMPACTO , was selected as one of the ten most promising projects amoung 850+ initiatives to address the most pressing global challenges. The project will test different methodologies in pilot communities, starting with Mexico , to enable indigenous women access markets and demonstrate their leadership in the post-COVID recovery.

This empowerment model , based on promoting a responsible tourism development, cultural transmission and fair-trade principles, will represent a novel community approach with a high global replication potential.

Visit the Weaving the Recovery - Indigenous Women in Tourism project webpage.

Inclusive Recovery of Cultural Tourism

The release of the guidelines comes within the context of the International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development 2021 , a UN initiative designed to recognize how culture and creativity, including cultural tourism, can contribute to advancing the SDGs.  

UN Tourism Inclusive Recovery Guide, Issue 4: Indigenous Communities

Sustainable Development of Indigenous Tourism

The Recommendations on Sustainable Development of Indigenous Tourism provide guidance to tourism stakeholders to develop their operations in a responsible and sustainable manner within those indigenous communities that wish to:

• Open up to tourism development, or
• Improve the management of the existing tourism experiences within their communities.

They were prepared by the UN Tourism Ethics, Culture and Social Responsibility Department in close consultation with indigenous tourism associations, indigenous entrepreneurs and advocates. The Recommendations were endorsed by the World Committee on Tourism Ethics and finally adopted by the UN Tourism General Assembly in 2019, as a landmark document of the Organization in this sphere.

Who are these Recommendations targeting?

• Tour operators and travel agencies
• Tour guides
• Indigenous communities
• Other stakeholders such as governments, policy makers and destinations

The Recommendations address some of the key questions regarding indigenous tourism:

Download PDF:

• Recommendations on Sustainable Development of Indigenous Tourism
• Recomendaciones sobre el desarrollo sostenible del turismo indígena, ESP

UN Tourism/UNESCO World Conferences on Tourism and Culture

The UN Tourism/UNESCO World Conferences on Tourism and Culture bring together Ministers of Tourism and Ministers of Culture with the objective to identify key opportunities and challenges for a stronger cooperation between these highly interlinked fields. Gathering tourism and culture stakeholders from all world regions the conferences which have been hosted by Cambodia, Oman, Türkiye and Japan have addressed a wide range of topics, including governance models, the promotion, protection and safeguarding of culture, innovation, the role of creative industries and urban regeneration as a vehicle for sustainable development in destinations worldwide.

Fourth UN Tourism/UNESCO World Conference on Tourism and Culture: Investing in future generations. Kyoto, Japan. 12-13 December 2019 Kyoto Declaration on Tourism and Culture: Investing in future generations ( English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian and Japanese )

Third UN Tourism/UNESCO World Conference on Tourism and Culture : For the Benefit of All. Istanbul, Türkiye. 3 -5 December 2018 Istanbul Declaration on Tourism and Culture: For the Benefit of All ( English , French , Spanish , Arabic , Russian )

Second UN Tourism/UNESCO World Conference’s on Tourism and Culture: Fostering Sustainable Development. Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. 11-12 December 2017 Muscat Declaration on Tourism and Culture: Fostering Sustainable Development ( English , French , Spanish , Arabic , Russian )

First UN Tourism/UNESCO World Conference’s on Tourism and Culture: Building a new partnership. Siem Reap, Cambodia. 4-6 February 2015 Siem Reap Declaration on Tourism and Culture – Building a New Partnership Model ( English )

UN Tourism Study on Tourism and Intangible Cultural Heritage  

The first UN Tourism Study on Tourism and Intangible Cultural Heritage provides comprehensive baseline research on the interlinkages between tourism and the expressions and skills that make up humanity’s intangible cultural heritage (ICH). 

Through a compendium of case studies drawn from across five continents, the report offers in-depth information on, and analysis of, government-led actions, public-private partnerships and community initiatives.

These practical examples feature tourism development projects related to six pivotal areas of ICH: handicrafts and the visual arts; gastronomy; social practices, rituals and festive events; music and the performing arts; oral traditions and expressions; and, knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe.

Highlighting innovative forms of policy-making, the UN Tourism Study on Tourism and Intangible Cultural Heritage recommends specific actions for stakeholders to foster the sustainable and responsible development of tourism by incorporating and safeguarding intangible cultural assets.

UN Tourism Study on Tourism and Intangible Cultural Heritage

• UN Tourism Study
• Summary of the Study

Studies and research on tourism and culture commissioned by UN Tourism

• Tourism and Culture Synergies, 2018
• UN Tourism Study on Tourism and Intangible Cultural Heritage, 2012
• Big Data in Cultural Tourism – Building Sustainability and Enhancing Competitiveness (e-unwto.org)

Outcomes from the UN Tourism Affiliate Members World Expert Meeting on Cultural Tourism, Madrid, Spain, 1–2 December 2022

UN Tourism and the Region of Madrid – through the Regional Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Sports – held the World Expert Meeting on Cultural Tourism in Madrid on 1 and 2 December 2022. The initiative reflects the alliance and common commitment of the two partners to further explore the bond between tourism and culture. This publication is the result of the collaboration and discussion between the experts at the meeting, and subsequent contributions.

Relevant Links

• 3RD UN Tourism/UNESCO WORLD CONFERENCE ON TOURISM AND CULTURE ‘FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL’

Photo credit of the Summary's cover page:  www.banglanatak.com

• Brochure Download

The benefits of tourism careers abroad

26th August, 2024

In this article

Travel and tourism careers to consider

Benefits of working in tourism abroad, challenges of working in tourism abroad, essential attributes and qualifications for a successful career in tourism, educational pathways into the tourism industry.

Do you dream of living and working somewhere new, immersed in a different culture? As tourism businesses continue to flourish, with expected growth of more than 3% annually, more opportunities are opening up abroad. The attraction of working in foreign settings appeals to those with a passion for experiencing new environments while advancing their careers. Tourism careers promise personal growth and professional development, compelling incentives for individuals to seek positions that allow them to live and work in different parts of the globe.

This article looks at the benefits of pursuing tourism roles abroad. Whether you’re drawn to the exciting hospitality scene in bustling cities or the serene beauty of remote destinations, this is a career that can open doors to experiences that are truly unparalleled.

As the industry grows, some roles are more in demand among aspiring hospitality professionals than others due to their earning potential and job satisfaction. Let’s look at some top-rated careers that promise fulfillment and opportunity.

Hotel general manager

A key role in the hospitality industry, you will oversee all aspects of operations. From setting strategic direction to managing daily activities, the hotel general manager ensures guests have exceptional experiences. Managers in luxury hotels can command substantial salaries, averaging around $118,000 per year, reflecting the critical nature of their position in high-stakes environments.

These experts bring destinations to life, sharing their knowledge and passion with visitors from around the world. Whether leading historical tours in ancient cities or adventure excursions in remote areas, tour guides are essential to improving the tourist experience. This role is perfect for those with charisma, the ability to engage with varied groups and a love of exploring. The annual salary can vary widely depending on the location and type of tours offered, but averages around $67,297 .

Travel agent

Experts in creating tailored experiences, these professionals have extensive knowledge of various tourism products and locations. Travel agents provide invaluable assistance to travelers looking to tailor their trips. While they may be stationed in their home country, high-level agents still have to visit destinations to ensure everything is right for their clients. This career demands strong organizational skills, attention to detail and a deep understanding of customer service. Travel agents can expect to earn around $59,565 per year, with the potential for higher earnings based on experience and specialization.

Event coordinator

Planners and managers who stage activities that boost the guest experience, ranging from conferences to weddings. The salary for an event coordinator is typically $112,307 per year, depending on experience and the complexity of events managed.

If you want to secure the highest roles in tourism abroad, a hospitality degree can give you the skills needed to get ahead. Find a course taught by experts who can help you achieve your dreams.

Our world-class tutors and sought-after placements will help prepare you for an exciting career anywhere in the world

Taking your career to another country offers many benefits beyond the traditional perks of a domestic job. Below, we’ll examine some key advantages that make this path appealing.

Cultural immersion and personal growth

Living and working in a foreign country immerses you in a new culture, allowing you to gain first-hand experience of different lifestyles, traditions and customs. This can help broaden your worldview, boost your personal growth and adaptability and give you a deeper understanding of global perspectives.

Professional development

International tourism careers often provide opportunities to develop a wide skillset. From mastering new languages to developing a deeper understanding of global hospitality standards, professionals can gain invaluable experience that boosts their employability and career prospects. Working with a varied clientele and colleagues can also improve interpersonal and communication skills.

Networking opportunities

Tourism is a global industry and working abroad enables you to build a vast network of contacts from different parts of the world. This can be a significant asset for future career opportunities , collaborations and professional support.

Competitive salaries and benefits

In many countries, tourism professionals are offered decent earnings and attractive perks, such as accommodation, health insurance and travel allowances. These benefits can significantly improve your overall compensation package.

Travel and adventure

One of the most enticing benefits of a tourism career abroad is the chance to explore new destinations. Working in the industry often comes with opportunities to travel, either as part of your job or during your time off. This allows you to satisfy your wanderlust while earning a living.

Language skills

Living in a foreign country often requires learning the local dialect, which is much easier while immersed in the culture. Fluency in multiple languages is a valuable asset in the tourism industry, opening up more job opportunities and enabling better customer service.

Contribution to local economies

By working in tourism abroad, you play a vital role in boosting local economic growth. Responsible tourism is often a significant financial driver that provides jobs and supports businesses. Your work can also contribute to sustainable development and the preservation of cultural heritage in your host country.

Unique experiences

Every destination offers something different, from participating in local festivals to exploring historical landmarks. Working in tourism allows you to participate in these events, creating memories and stories that enrich your personal and professional life.

While being based in another country can be incredibly rewarding, it’s not always easy. Understanding the potential challenges is essential for anyone considering this path, as it allows you to prepare better and adapt accordingly. Some of the common issues faced by tourism professionals working internationally include:

• Cultural adjustment: differences in language, customs and social norms can create initial discomfort and require a period of adaptation. Handling these cultural nuances successfully demands patience, open-mindedness and a willingness to learn and adapt
• Language barriers: even if you have a basic understanding, differences can still pose challenges in professional and personal interactions. Miscommunication can lead to misunderstandings with colleagues and customers, affecting job performance and customer satisfaction. Continuous learning and practice are essential to overcome this hurdle
• Homesickness and isolation: living far from family and friends can lead to loneliness, particularly during holidays and special occasions. Building a new social network and finding ways to stay connected with loved ones back home are vital strategies to avoid these feelings
• Legal and administrative issues: working in a foreign country can be complex and time-consuming and can include obtaining work visas, understanding local labor laws and dealing with bureaucratic processes. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in legal issues or job insecurity
• Economic and political instability: some regions may experience upheaval, impacting job security and personal safety. It’s important to stay informed about the local situation and have contingency plans in place for unexpected events
• Work-life balance: tourism jobs often involve irregular hours, including weekends and holidays. This can make it challenging to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Managing stress and finding time for personal activities is vital to avoid burnout
• Health and safety concerns: living in a foreign country might expose you to new risks. Understanding the local healthcare system, having appropriate insurance and taking necessary precautions can help manage these issues. Being aware of regional safety practices and emergency procedures is also important
• Professional challenges: adapting to different business practices and standards can be difficult. Differences in management styles, workplace expectations and customer service norms require flexibility and a willingness to adapt. Building credibility in a new environment might take time and effort
• Financial management: handling funds in a foreign country, including understanding the local banking system, currency exchange and cost of living, can be daunting. Effective planning and budgeting are essential to ensure financial stability and avoid potential pitfalls

Achieving success in this industry requires a combination of soft skills and qualifications. The essential proficiencies and credentials needed are:

• Customer service skills: professionals must have strong interpersonal skills to provide excellent service, manage varied customer needs and handle difficult situations with tact and patience
• Communication skills: proficiency in multiple languages is highly advantageous, enabling professionals to communicate with international clients. Clear and professional verbal and written communication abilities are also essential for interacting with customers, colleagues and stakeholders
• Cultural awareness: understanding and respecting different cultures and customs is vital. The ability to adapt to diverse cultural environments and provide culturally sensitive service boosts customer satisfaction and promotes positive experiences
• Sales and marketing skills: professionals should be able to identify market trends and customer preferences and capitalize on them to drive business growth and consumer engagement
• Organizational skills: time management and multitasking abilities are essential for managing the logistical aspects of travel and events. Attention to detail ensures all elements of a customer’s experience are seamlessly coordinated
• Problem-solving skills: tourism professionals must be adept at thinking on their feet and resolving issues efficiently. Creative problem solving enables them to provide innovative solutions to customer requests and handle unexpected situations effectively
• Technical skills: proficiency in booking and reservation systems and other relevant software is essential. Familiarity with digital marketing tools and social media platforms also improves a professional’s ability to promote services and engage with customers
• Knowledge of geography and destinations: a comprehensive understanding of attractions and travel routes allows tourism professionals to provide insightful recommendations and create compelling itineraries for clients
• Networking skills: building and maintaining professional relationships in the industry is helpful for career progression. Seeking out events and possible mentors helps professionals stay connected and informed

To launch a successful career in this sector, prospective professionals can pursue various routes to gain the necessary skills and knowledge. These options include:

• Diplomas and certificates: Short-term courses in tourism management, travel planning or hospitality services offer practical, industry-ready skills for quick entry into the field
• Associate’s and bachelor’s degrees: comprehensive courses in hospitality management , tourism, business administration or related areas offer a comprehensive understanding of the industry dynamics, practices and principles
• Master’s degrees: advanced qualifications in tourism management or related areas can prepare individuals for senior roles and provide deeper insights into strategic management and operational challenges
• Professional placements: gaining hands-on experience through internships or apprenticeships in travel agencies, hotels or other tourism-related businesses is invaluable for practical learning and networking

Pursuing a tourism career abroad offers a unique blend of work-related and personal benefits that can lead to a truly enriching experience. There are countless opportunities for cultural immersion, professional development and adventure, providing a lively and fulfilling path for those passionate about travel and hospitality. While there are challenges to be faced, such as cultural adjustment and feeling lonely, the rewards of individual growth, improved skills and the chance to contribute to global tourism make it a compelling choice. Tourism roles abroad are exciting and rewarding for those eager to explore new horizons and build an inspiring, stimulating career.

If you’re looking to open yourself up to international positions in tourism, a great place to start is with a degree from a renowned school such as Les Roches .

Main Image: Nick David / DigitalVision via Getty Images

Start a career that can take you anywhere

If you want to work in tourism or travel abroad, our degree course gives you the skills and know-how you’ll need

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