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ECOCLUB, Issue 91
ECO PAEDEIA
Achieving the Millennium Development Goals through Tourism
by Professor Lawal Mohammed Marafa*
Abstract
When the millennium development goals (MDGs) were articulated and presented on the eve of the millennium, tourism as an
industry was not explicitly mentioned. But over the years it became clear that tourism, a multifaceted industry and one that is
now used by many countries for poverty alleviation and economic development and can contribute immensely in pursuing the
goals set at the millennium summit. This paper therefore discusses and highlights the role of tourism in achieving the MDGs.
Examples of African and Asian context are drawn especially China to underline the fact that MDGs 1 and 7 can be directly
supported by specific tourism policies while MDGs 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 can be indirectly supported by tourism. MDG 8 can
constitute a bridge that can bring about success in any framework of implementation. But these framework however, vary in
priority from place to place.
Introduction
When the millennium development goals (MDGs) were proposed on the eve of the new millennium, tourism as an industry was
not explicitly mentioned. Over the years, it became clear that it has a role to play in helping to achieve some or all of the MDGs
identified. Increasingly, it is being recognized that the potential impact of tourism in reducing poverty is significant (Brohman,
1996; Ashley et al., 2000). Therefore it is now widely acknowledged that if tourism development is planned and implemented
properly, it could be used as an effective tool for poverty reduction (Torres and Momse 2004) and thus achieving other MDGs.
In contemporary development discussion, poverty has assumed centre stage. Dating back to 1970s, the international community
has identified poverty as one of the most important aspect of third world development (Britton, 1982; Carter, 1987, Joppe,
1996). Consequently, when world leaders gathered on the eve of the millennium to debate the plight of the world poor, they
made a moral declaration that resulted into the MDGs. The MDGs are eight in number but are made up of many indicators and
targets. Success in achieving the goals is hinged on the fact that many sectors are incorporated and interrelated. In order to
underscore the importance of poverty in the process of third world development it is listed as number one in the priority order of
the MDGs.
When carefully studied and analyzed, there is enormous potential for the application of the tourism industry into the campaigns
and processes in achieving the MDGs. This was made clear at the review summit of the MDGs in 2005 at the UN. At that
meeting, tourism was called upon to take its place in national development plans to help achieve the targets set (World Bank,
2002). In overall national economic development, tourism cannot be ignored as it already constitutes over 5% of GDP and over
10% of exports in about 41 of the 50 poorest countries according to the UNWTO. Tourism indeed plays a major part in the
economy of poor countries. In 2001, international tourism receipts accruing to developing countries amounted to US$142,306
million. Indeed, tourism is the principal export in a third of all developing countries and, amongst the 49 Least Developed
Countries (LDCs), it is the primary source of foreign exchange earnings (Yunis, 2004).
In fact, the role of tourism in development in many countries has aroused considerably in the last three decades. Considering the
fact that tourism is now playing an important role in a number of developing countries, international development agencies are
getting more involved and increasing their commitments with aids and grants for tourism development purposes.
Consequently, the tourism industry makes important contributions to the economies of developing countries, particularly to
foreign exchange earnings, employment, and overall GDP. Since tourism is seen as partly a panacea for poverty alleviation and
eradication, the question is: how can tourism help the rural and the poor people? How can policies for tourism development
benefit the poor? Given that tourism is already a fact of life for many of the world’s poor, the challenge is to enhance the many
positive impacts and reduce costs to the poor and their environment. This will help achieve the MDG 1 and set the stage for the
realization of the other millennium goals.
Understanding the logical currency of this notion, this paper discusses and highlights the role of tourism in achieving the MDGs.
To this end, examples of programmes and themes will be drawn from Africa and Asia where is the home to most of the worlds
poorest people. Although Africa was the only continent identified by name when the MDGs were created, discussions on the
role of tourism in national economies and rural areas can be universally relevant. Critical analysis of the MDGs will be made to
identify those goals that can fit into tourism in both planning and development framework. This is finally intended to generate
academic discussion that will put tourism and the MDGs in context.
Tourism and Development
Tourism is one of the world’s largest industries generating an estimated 11% of global GDP, employing over 200 million people
and transporting nearly 700 million travellers per year – a figure that is expected to double by 2020. The question is how can we
use this to the benefit of the third world economies? How can we manage and utilize its potential?
