When communities benefit from tourism, the industry will thrive
For each $100 spent on a holiday tour by a tourist from a developed country, only $5 stays in a developing-country destination’s economy
It is a busy period for the tourism sector in SA — between World Travel Market Africa 2018 and Africa’s Travel Indaba, countless talks have taken place and presentations delivered on how businesses can optimise their products and services. But there are some challenges that need to be addressed before this can be realised. For the sake of a sustainable tourism economy, it’s imperative that immediate action take place. The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) cites that in most all-inclusive mass tourism package tours, about 80% of traveller’s expenditure go to airlines, hotels and other international companies, and not to local businesses or workers. For each $100 spent on a holiday tour by a tourist from a developed country, only about $5 actually stays in a developing-country destination’s economy. We need to encourage tourism professionals to procure goods and services from locally owned enterprises that meet acceptable quality standards. By sourcing locally, communities benefit direc...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.