Economy

Tourism is one of the most dynamic and fastest growing economic sectors. Every eleventh job depends on tourism and within every third developing country tourism is the main source of foreign exchange. However, almost half of the people working in tourism work in the informal sector – without contracts of employment and social security – they might be taxi drivers, souvenir vendors or unregistered tour guides.

Also, those who are formally employed graft in many cases under exploitative conditions: without paid overtime, little to no breaks and a lack of promotion prospects. No wonder, tourism statistically widens income inequalities in developing and emerging countries   in the long run. We therefore support tourism which reduces inequalities and enables a fair participation for the people.


Article

Not on Track

To achieve climate justice in tourism there is still a long way to go. Climate mitigation and adaptation are urgently needed.

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Interview

Tourism at any price?

Dr. Ya-Yen Sun looks at the economic profitability of tourism from a cost-benefit calculation taking into account environmental effects.

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Article

Scaling Up Decarbonisation

More than 100 climate-neutral tours. Thailand, shows how cross-sectoral collaboration and policy support can help to scale up climate action.

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Article

SDG 4: Education

Tourism can support education SDG 4 in many ways. Suyatri in the southern Indian state of Karnataka provides an example of how this can be done.

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Article

SDG 8: Decent work

SDG 8 focuses on economic growth but neglects that work must be decent - including in tourism.

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Article
Signposts point in different directions

SDG 12: Sustainable Consumption and Production

To enable sustainable consumption and production patterns in tourism, markets of origin need to become aware of their responsibilities.

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Interview
[Translate to english:] Computer

The Invisible Burden of Tourism

Many holiday regions do not record the real costs of tourism. Often the expenses are even higher than the income from tourism.

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Article
[Translate to english:] Mann sitzt am Meer

Dominican Republic: On track to resilience?

Local operators want to make tourism in Dominican Samaná more resilient. But the government still bets on mass tourism

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Article
[Translate to english:] Insel

Maldives: Island State in Debt

Tourism once lifted the Maldives out of poverty. But the country’s debts have been growing faster than the economy, and climate change threatens the

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Article
[Translate to english:] Frau mit Kind auf FAhrrad

Pacific: A “Blessing in Disguise”

Tourists are returning to the Pacific, but not all people are as entranced by the tourism sector as in pre-pandemic times.

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Lebensmittel

Increasing Food Prices in Latin America

Increasing food prices – also in consequence of the Russian War on Ukraine - are felt in Latin America – with new challenges for the tourism sector.

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Dürre im Südlichen Afrika

South Africa: Water Consumption in Tourism

The holiday paradise of South Africa beckons with pools, golf courses and wellness. But the country fails in supplying its population with sufficient

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Teilnehmer:innen Fachtagung

Conference-Documentation: Child Rights and Tourism

Representatives from public and private sector as well as NGOs met in Berlin on June, 13 to discuss strategies to strengthen child protection in

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Frauenmeeting

India: On The Way Up

Trekking guides in India are usually male. But that can change, as this year’s TODO Award winner Himalayan Ecotourism shows.

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Starke Frauen - Starker Tourismus

Latin America: Female Entrepreneurship in Tourism

Three women from Brazil and El Salvador report on the ups and downs of their entrepreneurship.

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Ausgebildete Managerin auf Barbados

Empowering Women in Caribbean Tourism

Krystal Yearwood of UNDP's future tourism project talks about the importance of women's empowerment to rebuilding Caribbean MSMEs in tourism after

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Paneldiskussion Informeller Sektor ITB 2022

Panel Discussion at ITB Convention 2022

Companies should not benefit from the vulnerability of people in the informal economy but act with due diligence to fulfil their responsibilities to

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Strand in Gambia

The Gambia: From Colonialism to Tourism

In 1965, The Gambia had just gained internal self-rule from Britain when the country was opened up to tourism, increasing its dependency.

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Bunt gestreifte Wand mit einem Mann davor

Europe: No more whitewashing

Baroque splendour makes Europe's metropolises a tourist magnet. What guests usually don't learn is that this prosperity is based on exploitation in

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Tourism and aviation commitments at COP26

On the occasion of the UN Climate Change Conference, the travel and airline sector announced plans for more climate protection.

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Woman looking through Telescope_Uganda

World Tourism Day 2021

Since 50 years, the international community celebrates World Tourism Day annually on September 27. We have compiled some statements and demands from

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Insel im Meer

No Long-Term Plan for Lakshadweep

A planned tourism project in the Indian Union Territory of Lakshadweep meets with resistance from both local people and the scientific community.

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Publication: "Rethink Single-Use Plastic Products in Travel & Tourism“

The United Nations Environment Programme and the World Travel & Tourism Council assess the impacts of plastic waste and provide implementation

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Encouraging Sustainable Tourism Practices

The COVID-19 pandemic is forcing destinations around the world to reshape their tourism strategies. This publication provides analysis and good

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Videos of ITB 2021now online

The international tourism fair ITB NOW took place in March 2021. Here you can find videos of the events that we helped to create.

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Rezeptionist hinter Plastikscheibe mit Mund-Nasen-Schutz

Health as a competitive advantage

The Dominican Republic is prioritising tourism workers for COVID-19 vaccines to strengthen its economy. However, mainly large hotel chains seem to

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Reiseleiter mit Mund-Nasen-Schutz bei einem Seminar zu Corona Maßnahmen

For guides it will be even more difficult

Turkey has made headlines vaccinating staff in tourism. We interviewed Recep Yavuz with regard to the situation of tour guides.

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Impfen_vor_Gruppe

Vaccination priorities for tourism?

The way out of the corona tourism crisis leads through the expansion of vaccine production and global solidarity in distribution.

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Health and Wellness

Tourism on the way to recovery

People’s physical and mental well-being has suffered during the pandemic. Health tourism can contribute to recovery and resilience.

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Junge Demonstrantin:Innen auf einer Klimademo

A question of vaccine justice

If COVID-19 vaccination becomes mandatory for participating in the UN Climate Conference, the Global South will lose a voice due to lacking access to

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“Act on Corporate Due Diligence in Supply Chains” passed the German Parliament

The “Act on Corporate Due Diligence in Supply Chains” passed the German Parliament on June, 11th, 2021.

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COVID-19 Impacts on the Thai Tourism Supply Chain

The new report from the Asian Travel Association (PATA) and Focusright highlights the impact of COVID-19 on Thailand's tourism supply chain.

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Gruppe indigener Mapuche

Responding to the pandemic with reforestation

Planting trees during the crisis: A reforestation project organised by this year’s TO DO Award winner Rutas Ancestrales Araucarias in Chile generates

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Schulung „Earthquake“

From COVID-19 to Climate

In the middle of the COVID-19 crisis hotels start to integrate disaster preparedness systematically in their strategies and actions.

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Hand mit Kompass

Sustainability Assessments in Tourism

Entrepreneurial and political decisions are often based on performance indicators. It is time to revise the existing success criteria for tourism.

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Tourism Declares

Interview with Kasia Morgan

The initiative Tourism Declares calls on the tourism industry to declare a climate emergency. Kasia Morgan explains, why climate protection is so

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Signposts point in different directions

Back to old routines or off to a better tourism?

ITB is a mirror of the current debates in the tourism world: Some promise to "build back better"; others try follow their old business paths.

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Cover Fair Reisen mit Herz und Verstand

Tourism Watch at ITB Berlin NOW 2021

This year's ITB Berlin, took place virtually from the 9 – 12 of March 2021. Tourism Watch participated with a virtual booth and own events.

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"Stop building back Tourism" – Interview with Albert Salman

In an interview with Jon Florin, Albert Salem, Dutch pioneer of tourism critiques and ambassador for tourism that serves the people in the

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Woman looking through Telescope_Uganda

Uganda: A game changer for women

Due to COVID-19, domestic tourism is moving into focus in many countries - also in Uganda. This strengthens women in the industry and promotes female

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Beach_Bali

Bali: Domestic Tourism as a Glimmer of Hope

With their borders closed to international tourism, the people of Bali use their creativity and collaborative spirit and rely on domestic tourism.

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Inlandstourismus_CBT_Thailand_Jaranya Daengnoy

Thailand: Emerging Stronger and Better

Tourism experts and entrepreneurs from Thailand explain how their country manages the COVID crisis, with a particular focus on community-based

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Community Based Tourism_CBT_Brasilien_Gemeindebasierter Tourismus

Brazil: Not Yet an Option

Disrespectful behaviour, waste and noise pollution, lack of interest, and now COVID-19. In Brazil the risks that domestic tourism entails for

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UNWTO Report: Understanding domestic tourism and seizing its opportunities

In the light of ongoing restrictions of international mobility due to COVID-19, World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has published a report on domestic

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Video documentation on community resilience and tourism

Mit inspirierenden Beiträgen wurde im internationalen Online-Seminar der Transforming Tourism Initiative über alternative Tourismusmodelle im Hinblick

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Investors are concerned about the situation of migrant workers

Investors are taking an even closer look on what impact their investments have. Now a group of investors is concerned about reports of serious labor

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Policy Paper: Migrant Workers in the Tourism Industry

Das Center for Global Development hat einen zusammenfassenden Artikel über die Auswirkungen der Covid-19 Pandemie auf Arbeitsmigrant*innen in der

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Kreuzfahrtschiff auf See

Filipino Seafarers claim working rights

Seafarers worldwide are stuck on their ships due to COVID-19 – among them many Filipinos. They are facing inadequate hygiene measures, financial

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Tourismusmitarbeiterin in Eingangshalle

Migrant Workers in Tourism in Times of Covid-19

In an interview with Tourism Watch, Christiane Kuptsch, migartion expert at ILO, explains why migrants working in tourism are particularly affected by

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Straßenreinigung durch indische Männer

From Empty Hand to Mouth

In India, the informal sector has been hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. A study now provides insights into the extent of the precariousness and

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Demo - We the people

Women first

Women are predominant in tourism employment. But COVID-19 has revealed structural inequalities that are hitting female employees in the travel

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Safaripark Guards

Pandemic Poaching

Animal welfare activists, development workers and NGOs report that poaching is increasing again in times of pandemic lockdown. This could also be due

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virtuelles reisen

Virtual traveling

Virtual travel experiences can help tourism providers achieve a low income in times of crisis and give access to places and encounters – even without

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Resilienz durch gemeindebasierten Tourismus

Tourism As A Viable Livelihood?

Due to the corona-crisis, the tourism industry is facing enormous challenges. The pandemic shows which providers and entrepreneurs are more resilient

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Titelbild Gemeindebasierter Ökotourismus im Dorf Esfahk

Together In Crises

Iran is not only fighting COVID-19. Political crises, trade sanctions, environmental disasters and a weak economy are pervasive. How do local tourism

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Schild ,,we alle be okay - spread hope" an Eingangstür

Unsustainably Resilient?

Resilience is the new buzz word. It is more than just returning to the old tourism models - which were neither sustainable nor resilient - but to

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Empty Road in India

For a new and just economy in tourism

In many countries public programmes are trying to stabilize the tourism sector. Against the background of already existing problems of the sector, how

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Schutzmasken gegen die Pandemie

Helpers in need

The platform Ubuntu Beds offers hotel rooms to medical workers in order to reduce the spread of the virus and losses in tourism. An interview with its

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Wendepunkt

The end of the global travel warning in Germany

While most European countries are about to re-start tourism, the German government extended the travel warning for countries of the Global South. What

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Dossier Digitalization
Titelbild der Studie: Techno-Dispurtions in Travel and Tourism.

Booking Platforms Disrupt Tourism Value Chains in India

How are booking platforms changing the tourism value chain in India? National players such as Oyo and MakeMyTrip dominate the market. A new study by

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Reisterassen auf Bali

Digital Travel Platforms in Germany Claim to Offer Sustainable Travel Options

More and more digital booking platforms and online tour operators claim to offer sustainable holiday trips. A second glance raises doubts: Does the

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Interaction between tourists and members of a community-based-tourism project in Cambodia

Bridging the Digital Gap for Tourism Projects in Cambodia

Most community based tourism initiatives in rural Cambodia do not have the necessary skills and conceptual understanding of the digital revolution

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Bunte Surfboards an einer Mauer

Precious Human Rights

Rika Jean-Francois is in charge of Corporate Social Responsibility at the ITB Berlin and on the Board of Directors of the International Gay & Lesbian

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Unite Here uionist protesting for LGBTQI* rights

Equality, Decent Work and Economic Justice for All

Unionist Cleve Jones explains in the interview, what kinds of discrimination LGBTQI* workers in the food and hospitality sector face every day and how

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Erntestand auf den Bahamas

Agritourism in the Caribbean

Caribbean islands have increasingly turned to tourism as a pathway for economic advancement, often to the detriment of other industries, particularly

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Male City

The Dark Side of Life

For a long time, tourism in the Maldives was seen as a force for economic development. But today, only a c chosen few profit from the excessive

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Ati Stamm auf Boracay

Paradise lost, regained: sold!

In the Philippines, the indigenous Ati of Boracay Island struggle to defend their land rights against unfettered tourism development.

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Dossier Human Rights

Using the growth of the cruise industry to get better working conditions aboard underway

Fabrizio Barcellona von der Internationalen Vereinigung der Transportarbeiter erläutert im Interview, inwieweit sich die Arbeitsbedingungen an Board

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"Schöne Ferien" für Tourismuskaufleute

Die Projektstelle zur Berufsschularbeit beim EPIZ Berlin hat eine neue Broschüre für die Ausbildung von Tourismuskaufleuten herausgegeben. Das

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Sun, Sand and Sustainable Tourism?

On Friday, 13th of March EED-Tourism Watch realized a presentation on Corporate Social Responsiblity in Practise under the title: "Sun, Sand and

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Tourism at the Crossroads

GATS - the General Agreement on Trade in Services - promotes world trade liberalisation. With the expansion from trade in commodities under GATT to

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