Introduction
SDG 10 is one of the most progressive elements of the 2030 Agenda and an impressive and necessary step towards a transformative vision for the world in 2030. It casts a spotlight on one of the underlying causes of poverty and deprivation, not only within but also between countries. Its targets pledge action to reduce inequalities in income as well as social, political and economic exclusion and discrimination, inequalities in opportunities and outcome, key policy determinants of inequality (such as fiscal policy) and necessary reforms in global governance to curb differences in political influence.
It was an important success in the negotiations of the 2030 Agenda to formulate a specific goal on inequalities within and between countries. Nevertheless, discussions among UN member states were difficult and substantial curtailments were made before the 2030 Agenda was finally adopted by the UN General Assembly in September 2015. As is the nature of compromise amongst governments, the result is a goal that has a very progressive title, but lacks specifics when it comes to its targets (Donlad, 2016, p. 80-86).
Political commitment with respect to inequalities was long overdue. Inequality between countries has been declining for a couple of years. But “within-country inequality for the average person in the world was wider in 2013 than 25 years previously [and] developing countries tend to exhibit wider within-country inequality relative to developed countries” (World Bank, 2016, p. 10).
Reducing inequalities is not just a goal on its own, but a crucial cross-cutting challenge to be addressed in all SDGs. Failing to curb inequalities would result in failure to achieve many of the other 16 SDGs. Vice versa, the achievement of SDG 10 also depends on developments in other SDGs. In tourism there is a strong connection with (>> SDG 13) on climate change and (>> SDG 8) on employment and decent work.
What statistics tell us about income inequalities and tourism
A study published in 2015 by the German Tourism Association (BTW) correlates the GINI-coefficient (a measure for inequality, with 0 meaning complete equality, 1 complete inequality) with growth in international tourism in 89 developing countries and emerging economies. The study concludes that income inequality decreases with growing inter- national tourism only in the short run, but increases permanently on the long run (BTW, 2015, p. 99ff). Academic research from countries as diverse as Thailand and Brazil found that incomes of the poor relative to the rich do not increase as a result of a ten percent increase in foreign tourist arrivals (Wattanakuljarus et al, 2008 and Blake et al, 2008, p. 3). Even though only a few studies exist, they agree that domestic tourism has more favourable effects on income equality than international tourism. Domestic tourists spend mainly on local food, transportation, and services provided by local small and medium enterprises while foreign tourists spend more on accommodation, partly connected with international hotel chains (Ebd. p. 10).