The Role of Trade Policy in Sustainable Tourism Inclusivity in Africa

Abstract

When local communities are allowed to participate fully in tourism trade activities either through supplying goods and services or direct employment in the tourism sector-inclusiveness of tourism, trade can be realized in a practical sense. Research indicates that, in most tourist destinations in Africa, the tourism trade continues to be characterized by environmental and social-cultural degradation and inadequate local community participation associated with revenue leakages and weak economic linkages. The mechanism on how tourism trade contributes inclusively on local communities' benefits such as inclusive growth and poverty alleviation remains unclear. Despite destination economies engaging in services liberalization, little evidence exists on how such trade policies have been beneficial at enhancing inclusive benefits of the tourism trade. Therefore, this chapter aims to clarify how trade policies can be employed to promote the inclusiveness of the tourism trade.