The global NGO and foundation The Travel Foundation, in collaboration with international research partners, has published a new report: „Creating equitable destinations: How to manage and distribute tourism’s value to better serve communities.“ The background of the report lies in the growing dissatisfaction in popular tourist regions. Despite increasing visitor numbers, many local communities benefit little from the economic advantages. Revenues often flow to a few stakeholders, while the jobs created are frequently poorly paid.
The study includes three key recommendations:
- Prioritize the needs of the local population: Destination management should focus on the needs of residents, with greater emphasis on social and ecological goals.
- Tourism should not only be "redistributed": Strategies such as focusing on luxury tourism or opening up new areas are not enough to create real justice.
- Acknowledge broader benefits: Tourism can include marginalized groups, for example, through contributions to urban development, the expansion of public infrastructure, or the renaturation of natural spaces.
Lead author Bernadett Papp describes the report as a roadmap: “It begins with the goals of the community, presents evidence-based mechanisms, and provides practical guidance for implementation. The goal is a fairer distribution of benefits.” Implementation requires strong partnerships between government, destination managers, and local groups.