‘Socio-economic impacts of tourism in less developed countries.’

Tourism remains a key driver in many less developed countries and has been used as an engine for economic and social development. This paper outlines the key socio-economic impacts of international tourism using case study material from research projects undertaken in South-East Asia and the Indian Ocean with examples cited from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Seychelles and Vietnam. The paper examines economic linkages to local communities, the benefits (and costs) of hosting small-scale tourism, and the challenge of minimising economic leakages from less developed countries.