Tourism Sustainability in Developing Countries and Emerging Economies

Dear Colleagues,

UNWTO’s long-term forecasts predict that tourism destinations in developing economies will grow at double the rate of those in advanced economies (UNWTO, 2018). Among the 1326 billion international tourist arrivals in 2017, 597 million are visits to destinations in emerging economies (45%) despite counting for only US$ 416 billion out of the US$ 1186 billion international tourism receipts. Indeed, according to the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index of the World Economic Forum (WEF), advanced countries are by far the most competitive, while developing countries have not yet managed to fully exploit their tourism potentials and are still far from incorporating sustainable concepts.

Tourism can exert an important multiplier effect in developing countries and emerging economies (DCEEs), but a competitive model of sustainable tourism that favorably affects economy, the environment, and society is required. Sustainability is often perceived as a cost rather than an investment, and the key issue for the creation of sustainable models in DCEEs is the awareness that sustainability can enhance tourism destination competitiveness. Goffi, Cucculelli, and Masiero (2019) provided empirical evidence that sustainability plays a key role in fostering tourism destination competitiveness in a developing country such as Brazil. If this relationship is confirmed in further DCEEs, then the adoption of a sustainable model can eventually boost economic growth and poverty reduction in other developing countries.

Sustainable tourism should not only be limited to environmental preservation, but the sociocultural and economic sides should also be considered. Tourism development in DCEE needs an integrated approach recognizing that resources, facilities, and infrastructures are interrelated with the social, cultural, and natural environment.

A more sustainable model can be achieved in DCEEs not only through appropriate infrastructure design, demand management, zoning, and monitoring of environmental impact, but also monitoring socioeconomic impact and merging the principles of sustainability with economic growth objectives. Investments in infrastructures for medical care, transport, basic sanitation services, and other environmentally friendly infrastructures are fundamental in enhancing tourism competitiveness in developing countries. Negative social impacts as gender inequalities, sexual exploitation, and loss of identity also have to be addressed. Moreover, there is the need to prioritize the link between tourism development and poverty reduction. Poor communities have to be empowered and encouraged to participate in the tourism industry and negotiate with the private sector.

Tourism policy makers and destination managers in DCEEs should be encouraged to adopt new planning and management models that prioritize tourists’ needs and the satisfaction of economic, environmental, and social needs at the local level. Managing the impacts of tourism on the environment and society is crucial, especially in DCEEs where tourism development is usually fast and uncontrolled. The direct involvement of the main local stakeholders is essential in identifying key values.

This Special Issue aims to shed light on a very important but neglected research topic on destination competitiveness: The role of tourism sustainability in improving living standards of local communities in DCEEs and sustaining the local sociocultural and environmental heritage. We particularly invite research papers focusing on destinations located in developing countries and emerging economies.

To this aim, we invite papers addressing issues related but not limited to the following areas:

• Role of sustainability on destination competitiveness in DCEEs;
• Economic, sociocultural, and environmental impacts of tourism in DCEEs;
• Sustainable tourism policy, planning, development in DCEEs;
• Destination management and sustainable development in DCEEs;
• Tourism and sustainable development goals;
• Tourism and economic growth in DCEEs;
• Effects of tourism activity in DCEEs;
• Competitiveness of local tourism firms in DCEEs;
• Entrepreneurship in the tourism industry in DCEEs;
• Residents’ perception and acceptance of tourism in DCCEs;
• Tourism and poverty alleviation;
• Pro-poor tourism;
• Large-scale coastal tourism in DCEEs;
• Package tourism in DCEEs;
• Community-based tourism;
• Opportunities, challenges, and threats for tourism in DCEEs;
• Comparative analysis of tourism in developed and developing countries.

Case studies from 191 DCEE nations (according to World Bank Country Classifications, https://www.isi-web.org/index.php/resources/developing-countries), as well as comparative studies of tourism in developed and developing countries, will be considered for publication.

Some helpful references:

Brohman J. (1996). New directions in tourism for third world development. Annals of Tourism Research, 23, (1), 48-70.

Brown, F. & Hall, D. (2008). Tourism and Development in the Global South: the issues. Third World Quarterly, 29 (5), 839-849.

Goffi, G., Masiero, L. & Pencarelli, T. (2018). Rethinking sustainability in the tour-operating industry: Worldwide survey of current attitudes and behaviors. Journal of Cleaner Production, 183, 172-182.

Goffi. G., Cucculelli, M. & Masiero L. (2019). Fostering tourism destination competitiveness in developing countries: The role of sustainability. Journal of Cleaner Production, 209, 101-115.

Jaafar, M., Abdul-Aiz, A. R., Maideen, S. A. & Mohd, S. Z. (2011). Entrepreneurship in the tourism industry: Issues in developing countries. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 30, 827-835.

Medina-Muñoz, D. R., Medina-Muñoz, R. D. & Gutiérrez- Pérez, F. J. (2015). The impacts of tourism on poverty alleviation: an integrated research framework, Journal of Sustainable Tourism, DOI: 10.1080/09669582.2015.1049611.

Scheyvens, R. (2009). Pro-Poor Tourism: Is There Value Beyond the Rhetoric? Tourism Recreation Research 34 (2), 191-196.

Spenceley, A. & Meyer D. (2012). Tourism and poverty reduction: theory and practice in less economically developed countries, Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 20 (3), 297-317.

Tosun, C. & Timothy, D. J. (2001). Shortcomings in planning approaches to tourism development in developing countries: the case of Turkey. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management 13 (7), 352-359.

UNWTO & UNDP (2017). Tourism and the Sustainable Development Goals – Journey to 2030.

UNWTO (2018). Tourism Highlights 2018, United Nations World Tourism Organization.

Prof. Linda Osti
Prof. Oswin Maurer
Dr. Gianluca Goffi
Guest Editors

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• Sustainable tourism in developing countries
• Tourism development in developing countries
• Tourism economic, sociocultural, and environmental impacts
• Tourism and economic growth in developing countries
• Tourism and poverty alleviation
• Pro-poor tourism
• Large-scale coastal tourism in developing countries
• Package tourism in developing countries
• Community based tourism
• Tourism impacts
• Sustainable tourism policy, planning, and development
• Destination competitiveness and sustainability