The tourism sector is one of the major employers in the world supporting over 200 million workers.¹ The rate of growth in tourism is quite simply enormous. In 2008, 922 million international tourists were recorded compared with 534 million in 1995.² Remarkably 40% of these journeys were directed towards a developing country.³ In many countries, such as Australia, Belize, Brazil, Costa Rica, Kenya, Madagascar, Mexico, South Africa, and Tanzania, biodiversity represents the primary tourism attraction.⁴

An opportunity for local development

According to the UN World Tourism Organization, the earnings from tourism in 2008 touched a record US$ 944 billion (provisional data), which is about 6% of total global goods and services.⁵ Of the total in 2007, US$ 295 billion were spent in developing countries, almost three times the official development assistance.⁶ Thus, tourism is the primary source of foreign exchange earnings for the vast majority of Least Developed Countries.⁷

In Tanzania in 2007, for example, tourism contributed US$ 1.6 billion (11% of the total economy). Tanzania also secured about half the total value of the global value chain (the total amount tourists spend on a particular holiday) for Mount Kilimanjaro and Northern Safari Circuit, of which 28% (US$ 13 million) and 18% (US$ 100 million) respectively went to the local poor.⁸

One potential problem is that many countries currently under-charge; a survey of willingness to pay amongst visitors to Uganda suggested that revenue at Mabira Forest Reserve could be maximised with a fee of US$ 47 (2001 prices) whereas the charge then was just US$ 5.⁹ A survey of 18 studies of willingness to pay in marine protected areas found overwhelming support for higher entrance fees amongst tourists.¹⁰

Local and national tourism can add value directly to natural resources through fees paid to park authorities, private companies or in some cases to local communities and through associated benefits and economic opportunities from having more tourists in the region. In Maldives, which harbours rich biodiversity, the contribution of tourism has been estimated at 67% of GDP, while that of the fishery sector is 8.5% of GDP (Emerton et al .2009 and TEEBcase Tourism more valuable than fishing, Maldives.¹¹ But important economic benefits from ecotourism are not confined to poorer countries; for example it is calculated that nesting ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) in Scotland bring an addition US$ 7 million per year into the area as a result of nature tourism.¹²

…And a challenge

Such numbers should not disguise the fact that tourism comes at a price. In many tourist destinations, the largest share of tourism-related income goes to non-local service providers whereas the costs are mostly borne locally. Some of the impacts include: rising consumption of water; rising prices for local goods, services and property; increased waste and pollution and rapid changes in local public life. Local policy challenges are to channel tourism development in such a way that a fair share of income is retained locally, and that locals remain ‘sovereign’ owners of their home place.

This takes careful government planning and marketing, as well as local regulation and capacity building. One important tool to help this process is the development of various national and international certification systems to set basic standards for sustainable tourism, such as the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas, coordinated by the EUROPARC Federation and the Pan Parks certification system (www.europeancharter.org).

Development of tourism very much depends on the availability of other resources such as water, but also a local population that is receptive and hospitable to visitors. Equitable benefit sharing from tourism supports a culture of tourism, and not only reduces conflicts but provides incentives for people to take care of their natural and cultural heritage

Tourism brings business to the community¹³ 

Federation for Ecuadorian Community Tourism (FEPTCE), Ecuador¹⁴

This partnership of sixty community-based initiatives comprising indigenous peoples, afro-Ecuadorians, and farmers, focuses on encouraging eco-friendly tourism. Since its establishment in 2002, participating communities have experienced improved access to health services and education, and increased employment. It has also generated public interest in biodiversity and agriculture.

Reforestation and the protection of native flora and fauna, has improved the environment and biodiversity of 25,000 hectares which has been used to promote the region’s tourism. Conserving biodiversity has permitted the FEPTCE communities to diversify their economy, leading to added income and an improved standard of living (www.feptce.org).

Community Tours Sian Ka’an (CTSK), Mexico¹⁵

A tourism alliance of three Mayan cooperatives in the UNESCO Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve (www.siankaantours.org) was established for sharing benefits from tourism and for sustaining the ecosystems of the reserve. By regulating the influx of tourists and providing high quality services, they have been able to raise their tour prices by 40% leading to increased community income with the least amount of environmental impact. CTSK’s cooperation with Expedia.com lead to an increased rate of tourists of more than 100 percent in 2006/2007. 5% of CTSK’s annual income is dedicated to conserve the local ecosystem.¹⁶

What can I do?

It’s always helpful to become more aware of the topic so that you can make better and more informed choices and there are plenty of resources out there to help with this. There are website which also offer tips and guidance on how to be a more responsible tourist. There are many sustainable and responsible eco-tourism companies out there. Try checking out online directories for comprehensive lists of sustainable tourism companies.

1. Backes, M.; Baumgartner, C.; Pils, M. and Plüss, C. (2002) ‘Red Card for Tourism: Ten Principles and Challenges for a Sustainable Tourism Development in the 21st Century’, DANTE – The NGO Network for Sustainable Tourism Development, Germany. [↩]
2. Kester, J. G. C. (2010) ‘2009 International Tourism Results and Prospects for 2010’, UNWTO – World Tourism Organization News Conference. UNWTO. URL: www.unwto.org/pdf/Barometro_1_2010_en.pdf and UNWTO – United Nations World Tourism Organisation (2009) Tourism Highlights: 2009 Edition. URL: www.unwto.org/facts/menu.html [↩]
3. Mitchell, J.and Ashley, C.(2010) ‘Tourism and Poverty Reduction: Pathways to Prosperity’, Earthscan London [↩]
4. Christ, C.; Hillel, O.; Matus, S.; Sweeting, J. (2003) ‘Tourism and Biodiversity: Mapping Tourism’s Global Footprint’, Conservation International [↩]
5. UNWTO – United Nations World Tourism Organisation (2009) Tourism Highlights: 2009 Edition. URL: http://www.unwto.org/facts/menu.html [↩]
6. Mitchell, J.and Ashley, C.(2010) ‘Tourism and Poverty Reduction: Pathways to Prosperity’, Earthscan London [↩]
7. UNWTO – United Nations World Tourism Organisation (2010) URL:www.unwto.org/step/about/en/step.php?op=1 [↩]
8. Mitchell, J. and Faal, J. (2008) ‘The Gambian Tourist Value Chain and Prospects for Pro-Poor Tourism’, Overseas Development Institute, Working Paper 289 [↩]
9. Naidoo, R., and Adamowicz, W.L. (2005) ‘Economic benefits of biodiversity exceed costs of conservation at an African rainforest reserve’, PNAS 102(46):16712-16716 [↩]
10. Peters, H. and Hawkins, J.P. (2009) ‘Access to marine parks: A comparative study in willingness to pay’, Ocean & Coastal Management Volume 52, Issues 3-4, March-April 2009, Pages 219-228 [↩]
11. Emerton L., Baig S., and Saleem M. (2009) Valuing Biodiversity. The economic case for biodiversity conservation in the Maldives. AEC Project, Ministry of Housing, Transport and Environment, Government of Maldives and UNDP Maldives [↩]
12. Dickie, I.; Hughes, J.; Esteban, A. (2006) ‘Watched Like Never Before…the economic benefits of spectacular bird species’, RSPB, Sandy, Beds [↩]
13. Taken from the TEEB for Local and Regional Policy report, Chapter 5 [↩]
14. TEEB for Local and Regional Policy Makers Chapter 5, Box 5.14, page 96 [↩]
15. Ibid [↩]
16. Raufflet, E.; Berranger, A.; Gouin, J.-F. (2008) Innovation in business-community partnerships: evaluating the impact of local enterprise and global investment models on poverty, bio-diversity and development, Corporate Governance. Vol. 8 Iss: 4, pp.546 – 556 [↩]