Tourism and community development

TOURISM has always been considered a blessing to the community since prehistoric times when primitive man started to move away from his usual habitat, often to great distances, in search of necessities such as food, shelter and clothing. In a word, tourism has stood beside the poor community. With the passage of eras, tourism has won over the world and the world in turn has won over tourism. Present-day tourism is very theoretical. These days it is a subject of research and higher studies. Nothing is left out of the close grip of tourism.

This year, World Tourism Day theme focuses on fostering 'Tourism and Community Development.' Communities across the world face enormous challenges as their social, economic, and environmental resources are being depleted and destroyed. Only sustainable development can pave the way to achieve recovery and enhance the quality of life for everyone in these communities by developing local assets to revitalise economies, limiting waste and pollution, improving the status of disadvantaged people, conserving natural resources, and promoting cooperation and efficiency. Tourism's role has been considered as a significant tool for sustainable development.

In developing countries like Bangladesh, the contribution of tourism in alleviating poverty is enormous. Its incorporation in policy-making in countries such as Nepal and Bhutan has resulted in greater dividends with increasing GDP. Tourism is no more new in Bangladesh and yet it remains an embryonic means to lift the country on to a solvent status.

The ability of the national economy to benefit from tourism depends on the availability of investment to develop the necessary infrastructure and on its ability to supply the needs of tourists. The book, Community Development through Tourism, authored by Sue Breeton, an associate professor at La Trobe University, Australia, is the Bible in this regard. This book examines the development of local communities through healthy integration of community planning, business planning and finally tourism planning.

Whilst poverty alleviation remains a highly ambiguous, much debated concept, Sue Beeton proclaims that community development through tourism is the only responsible long-term solution for managing poverty in the third world.

Bangladesh will need to recognise that the critical issue for tourism developers today is ensuring a net benefit tomorrow for the entire environment in which tourism takes place. Its benefits will act as a catalyst in the overall development in Bangladesh. Tourism could be the main actor for community development reiterated by the theme of world tourism day 2014. Happy World Tourism Day!

The writer is Senior Faculty Member, NHTTI, Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation. Email: [email protected]