Tourism
IS AIRBNB-STYLE
TOURISM THE ANSWER
TO RURAL POVERTY?
Travellers
staying with
locals could
help economic
growth in rural
communities
T
he goal of encouraging tourism
in developing rural areas is to
provide sustainable livelihoods
to the local population. Tourism
permits diversification away from
agriculture, which is often the
sole economic activity in these
communities.
But tourism can bring new problems.
In the Himalayas, a key issue is the
protection of the natural environment,
including endangered wildlife such as
snow leopards. As a result, the area
was designated a UNESCO World
Heritage Site in 2014. However,
homestay tourism avoids the need
for hotel construction and other large,
disruptive infrastructure projects.
Why isn’t homestay tourism
happening already?
It isn’t easy to switch from farming
to running a service-based
business and there’s often a lack of
entrepreneurial knowhow in remote
areas. There’s also a lack of self-belief.
Some people in rural communities find
it difficult to overcome the view that
their communities are perceived as
non-modern and “backward”.
One participant in a study by
Edinburgh Napier researchers said:
“We can’t provide the comforts that
people from the cities are used to.
We have ordinary houses and simple
lifestyle[s]. They may not like it.”
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Some communities may ostracise
those who choose commercialism
over traditional practices. “Only
people who are blatantly driven
by money and have spare houses
can allow unknown strangers to
stay in their house, but the entire
village would stop talking to them
if the deota [deity] gets offended
or a mishappening occurs,”
said another participant.
Infrastructure is another problem.
In some Himalayan communities, for
example, many household toilets are
located outside. In situations like this,
how should communities balance
their traditions with the expectations
of tourists? Researchers suggest
that answers to this type of problem
should be community-defined and not
imposed by external organisations.
What does the research suggest
for policymakers?
Individuals in rural communities
require support to get started.
Community-led, NGO and government
assistance are necessary at different
stages. For example, for marketing
support in areas with no internet
connectivity. As one local pointed out,
“Where would a poor person like me
go to find tourists?”
In addition, financial support in
the form of micro-loans can help
communities afford the basic
upgrades required to host travellers.