This book sets out to give a comprehensive overview of tourism and poverty. Regina Sheyvens responds to the lack of studies and publications on the potential contribution of tourism to poverty alleviation and examines how tourism can uplift the well-being of the poor. The book is based on the author's fundamental belief that the sustained presence of high levels of inequality and poverty in the world is an insult to humanity. The eight chapters of the book shed light on debates around tourism in developing countries and pay particular attention to the contribution of tourism to poverty. The author clarifies the complex, multidimensional phenomenon of poverty through a comprehensive discussion of tourism development and poverty alleviation.
In chapter one the author introduces the potential of Pro-poor Tourism (PPT) and the concerns about what PPT can achieve and how it can impact on people's livelihoods. It contains a good discussion on trends in global tourism and draws attention to the potential in the growth of tourism to developing countries. The meaning of poverty and its dimensions is thoroughly discussed in chapter two. Theoretical underpinnings of PPT are discussed in this chapter as well as the possibilities of PPT to assist the poor to be respected members of their community and to be able to contribute to family life and other social group events. In building capabilities of the poor, PPT strategies are discussed from the point of view that it should facilitate the empowerment of the poor and assist them in securing their rights and gaining greater control over their lives. The author is of the view that there is potential for tourism to direct more of its benefits to the poor and, therefore, the book pays particular attention to governments, development agencies, tourism organization bodies and large tourism companies who have the power to make a difference in the contribution of tourism to poverty alleviation.
Major critiques of tourism in developing countries that developed in the 1970s are the focus of chapter three. The purpose of this chapter is to raise awareness of constraints that the author feels need to be addressed in order for tourism to be able to work effectively in the interest of the poor. The intention of this chapter is to remind readers of the limitations that hinder tourism from contributing to poverty alleviation. Consequently, evidence of the ways in which tourism has undermined development prospects in specific places is reviewed in this chapter. It concludes on a positive note with reflections on criticisms towards the tourism sector and notes that tourism adds to poverty and is therefore often seen as the culprit for a number of socioeconomic and environmental problems. Chapter four examines poverty as a phenomenon that attracts tourists and includes explanations by postcolonial and postmodern writers on reasons for tourists wanting to visit cheap locations. The first part of the chapter focuses on the marketing of developing countries by discussing ways in which images and representations of developing countries and their people are manipulated by the tourism industry. The author argues that tourism to poor countries should be about enhancing the well-being of those visited and not about the rights of travellers to explore exotic places and peoples. ‘Voluntourism’ is discussed in the second part of the chapter. This new type of tourism where tourists wish to do charitable or volunteer work is considered a type of tourism that attracts tourist to poor areas. Justice tours that seek to develop an understanding of world inequality are also discussed. The chapter concludes with a discussion on whether all types of tourists are ‘voyeurs of poverty’ or whether their travel experiences will make considerable contributions to development.
The latter part (chapters 5–7) of the book discusses positive ways in which the tourism industry, governments and development agencies connect tourism and poverty alleviation. Chapter five questions if an industry driven by profits, such as tourism, can ever be expected to prioritize the interest of the poor. Hence, the focus of the chapter is on recent shifts towards greater social responsibility in the tourism industry. The main part of the chapter outlines progress to date by discussing ways in which tourism industry players are engaging in forms of PPT and showing support for tourism as a tool for poverty alleviation. Additionally, this chapter looks at ways in which government must engage with tourism industry stakeholders if PPT is to work. The final section of chapter five includes a good discussion on constraints to corporate social responsibility (CSR) in tourism. This leads to the focus of chapter six, which is on the roles of governments in promoting PPT. Here the author discusses ways in which governments might encourage private sector actors to work in a pro-poor manner and explains ways in which governments can adopt PPT. Included in this chapter is a useful comprehensive list of policies and strategies that could be adopted by governments that want to direct more benefits of tourism to the poor. However, the chapter shows that growth of tourism does not always lead to fair distribution of benefits and stresses the importance of strategic planning by governments.
PPT efforts of multilateral agencies, such as the World Bank and UNWTO, bilateral donors, such as SNV (Netherlands) and GTZ (Germany), and NGOs are outlined in chapter seven. The reasons for these agencies’ involvement in tourism for poverty alleviation vary from neo-liberal growth orientated approaches to more alternative development and human rights ideologies. The author discusses lessons that development agencies can learn about the most effective ways of supporting poverty alleviation through tourism, and pitfalls to avoid. Examples point to ways of ensuring that tourism makes a real difference to the lives of the poor in the future and reveal some very innovative attempts by development agencies to engage with the private sector.
In conclusion, Tourism and Poverty is a great and much-needed addition to the literature on tourism development in developing countries. It is a well-written book in which tourism scholars, government officials, aid agencies, tourism organizations and conservation bodies will find much that will stimulate and provoke. The book makes a good teaching text for both undergraduate and postgraduate students and it would certainly belong on the shelf of a student of tourism development. The book should also provide an excellent introduction to tourism and poverty for those from other academic disciplines.