An Evaluation On the Approach of the Pro Poor Tourism

Abstract

While poverty is one of the most important problems in the twenty-first century, tourism is one of the most prominent dynamics of socioeconomic dimension of this century. Therefore, given the economic strength of the sector, tourism is seen as an important actor for poverty alleviation by international organizations, especially for underdeveloped and developing countries. Therefore, towards the end of the 1990s, the "Pro-poor Tourism" approach emerged that draws attention to the potential to reduce poverty in tourism. "Pro-poor Tourism" which provides net benefits for the poor, is not a product or sector but an approach. The benefits provided by "Pro-poor Tourism" can be economic as well as social, cultural and environmental. The main point of "Pro-poor Tourism" approach is the creation and offering the opportunities for the poor in tourism, rather than expanding the overall dimension of the tourism sector. In other words, "Pro-poor Tourism" is based on the understanding of sharing out the sector cake instead of enlarging it. In this context, "Pro-poor Tourism is based on the changing the way of tourism benefits distribution for the poor sake. Within the scope of the study, qualitative research method was applied and source and document examination were carried out. In the study, the terms of the definition, qualities and features of the poor side tourism approach which is primarily a new concept in the tourism literature was examined. Afterwards, the effects of tourism sector on poverty have been examined; it is found out that tourism activities have been effective in reducing poverty in three ways, direct, indirect and dynamic.