A report published today highlights 40 ways for policymakers, national tourism bodies and destination management organisations to ensure better distribution of tourism’s benefits across local communities.
The report, ‘Creating Equitable Destinations: How to manage and distribute tourism’s value to better serve communities’, calls for stronger destination governance following protests against tourism this summer in some popular destinations.
Published by the Travel Foundation in partnership with the Centre of Expertise in Leisure, Tourism and Hospitality (CELTH), the European Tourism Futures Institute, Breda University of Applied Sciences, HZ University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands, the Netherlands Board of Tourism, and Destination Think, the report examines how tourism’s benefits don’t always reach communities and tourism can exacerbate local inequalities.
It notes tourism revenue can be concentrated in the hands of a few while jobs in the sector are often low paid and 50% to 80% of tourist spending “leaks” from the destination.
The report suggests “simply spreading tourism further, bringing in more jobs or attracting high-spending visitors, won’t necessarily make it fairer and may make things worse”.
It points out tourism relies on public resources and maintaining a social licence to operate and recommends ensuring destination management is driven by local needs and consideration of which groups benefit most and which bear the burdens.
The report also suggests a focus on the broader value tourism can bring to communities, such as contributing to urban regeneration, public infrastructure development and nature restoration.
It argues that destination management organisations (DMO)s “are increasingly recognising their role in supporting broader community goals” and offers 25 case studies where tourism has served community interests and improved community wellbeing.
The report calls on destination managers to strengthen partnerships with local agencies and the participation of community groups and urges policymakers and DMOs to pay “particular attention to balancing foreign investment and economic leakage, resident access to tourism-related opportunities and services, and retaining control of local resources such as land and housing”.
It concludes that more equitable tourism can only come from strengthening destination governance.
The report outlines 40 mechanisms for achieving similar outcomes, including taxes and revenue-sharing initiatives, business incubation and training programmes, licensing and zoning regulations, community enterprises and volunteering programmes, and integrating local culture and environment protection into product development.
Lead author Bernadett Papp described the report as “a roadmap for a more equity-driven management approach” and said: “Start by identifying the broader community goals tourism can contribute to, review the evidence-based mechanisms and case study examples we’ve gathered and consider our practical guidance on implementation and measuring impact before deciding what might work in your context.”
Rodney Payne, chief executive of project partner and lead sponsor Destination Think, said: “The world is in crisis, but this research shows that many of the solutions we need are ready to be adopted.”
Carol Savage, Not in the Guidebooks chief executive, said the report “resonates deeply” with her company’s mission and echoes what it has heard from local partners for years.
“I am particularly encouraged by the report’s 40 proposed mechanisms for positive change,” she said.
“Many align with practices we’ve already implemented – from supporting community enterprises to developing products that protect local culture and environment. Yet there’s always room for improvement.
“Equitable tourism isn’t just good ethics – it’s good business.
“This report isn’t just a wake-up call; it’s a roadmap for creating better tourism for everyone.”