Do the world’s poorest countries benefit from tourism?

Tourism has the potential to lift entire nations out of poverty; it currently ranks as one of the top three sources of export earnings for nearly half of the least-developed countries in the world.

For most economists, raising tourism capital is a top priority in the challenge to sustainably integrate developing nations into the global economy.

According to the UN Steering Committee on Tourism for Development (SCTD), tourism spending contributed $10 billion to the world’s least developed countries in 2010 alone; while nearly 17 million travelers sought out new and unique international destinations.

These numbers are a drastic shift from a decade prior, where the numbers came in at $3 billion and and 6 million travelers, respectively.

During an SCTD Special Event on Tourism for Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction, representatives from least developed countries including 15 Ministers of Tourism, various UN agencies and donor countries addressed the importance of sustainable tourism dollars on the plight of the the world’s “least developed countries” (LDCs).

The gathering, which was the first public appearance of the UN Steering Committee on Tourism for Development, reflected the increasing relevance of tourism in the development agenda – representing a clear commitment of the UN system in making tourism work for development.

“Most LDCs are rich in resources,” said UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon at the Fourth UN Conference on Least Developed Countries (LDC-IV). “All have young and vibrant populations. These men and women need decent jobs, education, training, so they can make the most of their country’s assets – minerals and other commodities, farmland, rich stores of biodiversity and tourism potential.”

According to UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, although tourism is now “playing an active role for the first time,” much still needs to be done.

“In spite of tourism’s proven contribution to foreign exchange generation, job creation and socio-economic development, low priority has so far been assigned to the sector in the development agenda,” he said. “This is particularly surprising given that tourism has been clearly identified by developing countries themselves as a priority for their economic advancement.”

The Committee outlined the support and technical cooperation that can be provided to LDCs by UN agencies and programs on an individual and joint basis based on “four pillars”: building good governance and sustainability in tourism development, promoting investment in the tourism economy, fostering the poverty reduction impact of tourism, and encouraging human resources development. In cooperation, the successful implementation would contribute to the preservation and safeguarding of natural and cultural assets that form the basis of tourism in LDCs.

Photo via Reuters: Katrina Manson