Publication Contribution of Tourism to Poverty Alleviation: Pro Poor Tourism and the Challenge of Measuring Impacts

Release date 04/02/2018
Contributor IREST TRIANGLE
Author Jamieson W, Goodwin H, Edmunds C.
Publisher Transport Division UN ESCAP
Publication year 2004
Issue date 04/02/2018
Country United States of America,
Keywords Poverty Alleviation, poverty reduction, value systems, local economy,
Page(s) 38
Target group(s) Destinations , Businesses , Travellers , Education, Research, Consultancy , NGOs, Partnerships, Networks , Governments & Administrations
Topics Value Chain Management & Fair Trade
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The paper builds on previous ESCAP work namely the "Seminar on Tourism and Poverty Reduction" held in Bangkok (2001), a monograph, Poverty Alleviation through Sustainable Tourism Development, New York: United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (2003), "The Challenges of Urban Tourism and Poverty Reduction, Regional Workshop on Urban Tourism and Poverty Reduction" held in Colombo, Sri Lanka (2002) and the Seminar on Poverty Alleviation through Sustainable Tourism Development, held in Katmandu, Nepal (2003). One of the recommendations emanating from the Katmandu seminar was to carry out more research on measuring impacts and to convene an experts' seminar to develop and agree on a regional approach to measuring tourism impacts. The paper builds on the work of several groups and individuals and acknowledges the important contributions of the Pro-Poor Tourism Partnership composed of Caroline Ashley, Harold Goodwin and Dilys Roe. It also draws heavily on the research and community based technical aid work of the Urban Environmental Management Project led by Walter Jamieson that was based at the Asian Institute of Technology from August 1998 – August 2003. Portions of the paper were presented at the Expert Group Meeting on Measuring and Assessing the Impact of Tourism Initiatives on Poverty Alleviation held in Bangkok from October 4-5, 2004 and have been amended to reflect discussion at that meeting. The paper summarizes some of the key ideas and issues in tourism-related poverty reduction before addressing the measurement of poverty reduction initiatives and the development of indicators. There are a growing literature and experience in the field and the paper attempts to summarize some of the key ideas and approaches.