TourisminThirdWorldDevelopment.pptVIP

Tourism in Third World Development /pc/tourism/home.htm /index.htm Tourism’s Importance in Development Tourism is an important economic activity Over 700 million people traveled to a foreign country in 2000, spending more US$ 478 billion. International tourism receipts combined with passenger transport currently total more than US$ 575 billion Thus tourism is the worlds number one export earner, ahead of automotive products, chemicals, petroleum and food. If we consider tourisms potential in encouraging job creation, this would seem to be a natural course of action to stimulate growth But World Bank has been slow to encourage this and many governments have only moved recently to push this as a means of revenue generation and poverty alleviation. Global Tourism Growth There were about 700 million international tourist arrivals worldwide in 2002 Tourism receipts have grown dramatically since 1985 Air transport increased its share against road in international holidays; together these two account for 85% of all international trips. Rail and sea transport remain below 8% each. Tourism Growth January-August 2004 period growth is estimated at 12%, corresponding to an increase by some 58 million arrivals. This leap is primarily a reaction to last years depressed figures due to the Iraq war, SARS and the weak economy Terrorist activity and natural disasters continue to have depressing effects on tourism Sustainable Tourism Three interconnected aspects: environmental, socio-cultural, and economic Sustainability implies permanence, so sustainable tourism includes optimum use of resources Including biological diversity; minimization of ecological, cultural and social impacts Maximization of benefits to conservation and local communities Also refers to the management structures that are needed to achieve this. Impacts of Tourism Environmental The quality of the environment, both natural and man-made, is essential to tourism. But tourisms relationship with the en