12
ECOCLUB, Issue 91
Although most tourism ventures can be geared towards benefiting the local economy, recent trends and examples have singled
out ecotourism, community-based tourism, etc as those that have the potential for maximizing benefits to the poor (Kiss, 2004).
These collectively are what I term “new wave” tourism. Where new wave tourism is articulated and set for implementation, it
has the capacity to do one or all of the following:
Proceeds from such tourism activities can be used to fund conservation, environmental protection, research
and various forms of capacity building for which the local community can benefit.
New wave tourism has the capacity to provide direct financial benefits (sells) and empowerment for local
people.
The local community when involved tends to benefit not only financially but in other tangible facets (like
portable water, roads, health clinics, etc) as well as intangible aspects like preservation of culture, etc.
Analyzing the specific role of tourism in achieving the MDGs
Conceptually, the eight MDGs (see Box 1) can be divided into categories that can be supported by the tourism industry. While
MDGs 1 and 7 can be directly supported by specific tourism policies, MDGs 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 can be indirectly supported by
tourism and MDG 8 can constitute a bridge that can bring about success in any framework of implementation. But as these
goals, targets and indicators are many and can vary in priority from place to place, an understanding of generic format by which
tourism can be utilized is necessary.
Box 1
The MDGs
Many people attest to the need of the MDGs to poverty
eradication and general development issues confronting
the third world countries in Africa, Asia and South
America. Although the framework for articulation and
need for achieving the MDGs by 2015 has gained
currency all over the world, it is significantly more
important to Africa and Asian countries where about
70% of the population is rural and underdeveloped
(World Bank, 2002). While progress is being recorded
in some Asian countries (like China and Thailand), such
progress in Africa is far from being satisfactory given that it was the only continent that was explicitly mentioned at the
millennium declaration and subsequently where poverty is discussed. Comparatively, China has recorded successes in poverty
alleviation that can be emulated. The percentage of people living on $1/day fell from 53% in 1980 to 8% in 2002. As a result of
this, an estimated 300 million people have been lifted out of poverty giving great impetus to the global effort in poverty
reduction (Malik, 2005).
Although tourism as an industry cannot be said to be the major sector for this achievement, the contribution it has made are
laudable. For instance, domestic tourism, domestic consumption and the like have been enhanced through rural tourism
development which has become a new growth sector in China. This tourism theme together with agricultural tourism has the
capacity to create over 350,000 new jobs every year, according to officials of the China National Tourism Administration.
The case of Africa is unique and deserves specific mention. While Africa has been disadvantaged by global trade, particularly in
manufacturing, exports and imports and services, etc., tourism accounted for over 11% of total Africa exports by 2003 (Ashley
and Mitchell 2005). With many governments realizing the positive nature of tourism to the economy, commitment to tourism is
increasing and tourism itself is growing. Tourism indeed is labour intensive as compared to other non-agricultural sectors that
are likely to take a population out of poverty. In addition, tourism is generally an additional diversification for the poor and not a
substitute for their core activities particularly in rural Africa (Ashley et al. 2000). Given that this is the case, successful tourism
policies can therefore add value and improve the quality of life of the local poor community. The notion of quality of life will
tend to amalgamate all the positive aspects that achieving the MDGs will portend.
When the advantages of tourism in relation to MDGs are considered, it is an industry that is multifaceted and capable of
bringing together many stakeholders. For instance whether or not tourism is specifically designed to help the poor or not, a
number of products could be sourced locally, making the local community part of the production and retail process (Wisansing,
2005). The range of such products can include: local textiles; hand-made crafts of paper, wood, clay, etc.; Others include food
and agricultural products like fruits, vegetables, flowers, beverages, food additives, snack foods, sweet/deserts, cosmetics, etc.
(Torres and Momsen, 2004). Indeed, local products can be both tangible and intangible leaving the tourists with positive
experiences to linger when it is well done.
Wherever tourism flourishes and become successful, it can generate partnerships (MDG 8) in establishing positive development
framework for a given destination. As a source of employment, entry into the industry can be at any level making it a sector
with low barriers. In many sectors of tourism, it has a high female employment ratio (MDG 3) varying from 2% to over 80% in
different countries. Worldwide, women make up to 46% of the tourism labour, a fact first alluded to by Grown and Sebstad in
1989, making it a sector that can strategically be used in the direct pursuit of MDG3.
MDG 1 Eradicate poverty
MDG 2 Achieve universal primary education
MDG 3 Promote gender equality
MDG 4 Reduce child mortality
MDG 5 Improve maternal health
MDG 6 Combat HIV/AIDS and other diseases
MDG 7 Ensure environmental sustainability
MDG 8 Develop global partnership for development
