Major challenges

It has been easy to state that tourism ‘can alleviate poverty if we manage it properly’, but in practice ‘manage properly’ remains the key challenge. Direct involvement of the poorest of the poor in tourism is not easy and will not happen automatically. For the poor to be meaningfully involved (whether in mainstream tourism or in community-based projects), there is a need for distinct affirmative action that includes empowerment, capacitybuilding and facilitation.

Reducing vulnerability, strengthening resilience

Tourism as an industry may increase a country’s vulnerability, as the sector is easily affected by disasters, epidemics, terrorism and political and economic crises. The same applies at the micro-level for individuals involved in the sector, e.g. vulnerable groups overly depending on tourism (even with menial jobs). To reduce their vulnerability, there is a need for a diversification of income and livelihoods at all levels. Target 1.5 is aimed at building the resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations and reducing their exposure and vulnerability to climate-related extreme events and other economic, social and environmental shocks and disasters. Tourism taken as an additional activity and form of income may play a role in strengthening resilience at household, community and macro-economic levels.