Poverty Alleviation through Tourism

 I, you and we make tourism. I guess everyone agree with this statement. Tourism is one of the strongest drivers of the world trade and prosperity. On the other side poverty is the result of unequal distribution of resources and opportunities. Today’s one of the world’s challenge is Poverty Alleviation. Despite turbulent times for the world’s economy, these basic facts are unlikely to change. Focusing the wealth creating power of tourism on people most in need remains gigantic task and opportunity.

Tourism is not related to any caste, religion, cultural or any racial group. It is all about the hospitality, services and beauty that one receives after experiencing it. The taste, color or a flavor of touristic understanding might differ from one part of world to other but the nature and in depth reality of hospitality behavior is almost the same to all.

“Guest are God, Guest are Always Right” are the statement that governs every tourism entrepreneur or service provider to the direction of respectful world. Either a tourist guide or an airlines ticket operator or a restaurant waiter or kitchen chef all are the part of a broader tourism horizon.

Today many countries have taken tourism as “engine for development” through creating tourist destinations and providing employment opportunities which sooner or later supports on earning the foreign exchange. And it is found that tourism contributes nearly 5% of world’s GDP and is also the fourth largest industry after fuels, chemicals and automobiles products. The wise part is it is responsible for one in every 12 jobs worldwide.

For least developing or developing counties, tourism can be the best option for the development of nation that is lifting up the life standard of people and carving a healthy and wealthy nation within the short period of time. But, it is not that easy as we read or say. All the tourism entrepreneurs, academics, policy makers, stake holders, local government and the local people all who share the tourism destination directly or indirectly should at least go through the following ways.

• All sorts of tourism should be concerned about poverty alleviation.
• Government should take poverty alleviation as a key aim of tourism, like as “Tourism for all”.
• The competitiveness and economic success of tourism business should be bench
  marked otherwise poor cannot be benefited.
• All tourism business should be concerned about its impact on the local community and should balance the poor with action.
• Tourism destination should be selected and managed with poverty alleviation as a central aim with strategies and action plans.
• Understanding tourism functions and its range of interest should always include the participation from the poor communities.
• Policies and license providing authorities should come with ranges of bench marking of standard, quality and cost inspections.

So, “Lets grow together” and “it’s our responsibility and duty to serve” sort of attitude should first come to all the tourism personals to make it happen. Sacrificing your little happiness and time to make other enjoy is the motto of tourism.