By Amee Jankot

Tourism offers a promising means to achieve economic growth. But the beaches‚ rainforests‚ and mountaintops that fuel it can also be ecologically fragile and culturally significant.

Developing countries in particular are balancing the competing demands of attracting tourism dollars—which create jobs‚ support small businesses‚ and boost national economies—and preserving local cultures and natural resources.

To address this pressing issue‚ AED joined forces with 15 leading conservation and tourism development organizations to create the Global Sustainable Tourism Alliance‚ or GSTA‚ which is supported by the United States Agency for International Development.

“Sustainable tourism is an environmentally and socially responsible tool that leads to economic development‚” said Richard P. Bossi‚ vice president and director of the AED Center for Environmental Strategies‚ which manages the alliance. “Matching what local people value with business opportunities can lead to new jobs‚ stable employment‚ community pride‚ and the preservation of a cultural heritage.” In addition to these benefits‚ GSTA seeks to foster workforce development and livelihood development and alleviate poverty‚ he added.

FORESTRY‚ FARMING‚ AND TOURISM
For example‚ in Mali‚ GSTA is helping attract investment in tourism by showcasing the country’s national heritage to international and national visitors and working directly with local tour companies to improve their business practices.

To that end‚ the alliance recently held a number of trainings specifically tailored to the local guides and hotels in Dogon country‚ which is situated in the south-central region of Mali.

The Dogon people are best known for their elaborate mask dances‚ mud-brick architecture‚ and wooden sculptures‚ which contribute to making the area one of Mali’s prime tourist locations.

In addition to training the guides‚ local village elders and agricultural-extension agents were trained on environmentally friendly forestry and farming techniques.

“By simultaneously strengthening the tourism industry and the agricultural sector‚ GSTA is helping Mali to protect its richest cultural and natural assets and to spur its economic growth‚” Bossi said.

ATTRACTING TOURISTS
Meanwhile‚ the alliance is working with the Republic of Montenegro to expand its tourism industry. The country saw a sharp decline in tourism dollars when the Balkan war broke out in 1990. In 2007‚ however‚ the World Travel & Tourism Council ranked Montenegro as one of the fastest-growing travel and tourism destinations in the world.

Still‚ most people traveling there flock to the country’s southern coasts‚ keeping the benefits of tourism out of regions that are typically neglected.

To attract more tourists to the northern part of Montenegro‚ home to one of only three primeval forests in Europe‚ GSTA is promoting the area to tourists‚ supporting the development of privately owned agricultural and hospitality businesses‚ and encouraging companies in the south to use products and services that are created in the north.

In addition‚ the alliance will promote networking and partnerships among the economic‚ social‚ environmental‚ and government communities‚ which will achieve the greatest impact for the country.

“Our goal is to bring the local tourism improvements to scale throughout Montenegro‚” said Gregory R. Niblett‚ senior vice president and director of the AED Social Change Group. “That is the kind of systemic change that AED ultimately seeks to make.”

Amee Jankott is a program officer in the AED Center for Environmental Strategies.

Learn more at www.gstalliance.net

 

 

Social Change GROUP

• AED Center on AIDS &
  Community Health
• AED Center for Civil Society
  and Governance
• AED Center for
  Environmental Strategies
• AED Center for Health Communication
• AED Center for Social Marketing
  and Behavior Change
• AED Center for Youth Development