Tourism Offers Opportunities for Asia's Poor

Robert Fishman, Jai Pratap Rana, Mingma Norbu Sherpa, David J. de Villiers, and Renton de Alwis

Tourism offers a way out of poverty for many people in rural parts of Asia.

In eastern Nepal, where trekking tourism generates more than US$50 million annually in foreign exchange, mountain guides who are engaged in ecotourism are experiencing significant socio-economic impacts, according to Mingma Norbu Sherpa, World Wildlife Fund Director of Conservation, Asia and Pacific.

Mr. Sherpa told a seminar on Tourism and Poverty Reduction in Asia and the Pacific that tourism development in certain regions has contributed to improvements in health care, safe drinking water, and significant advances in educational opportunities. These gains are being made without harming the cultural heritage of the indigenous people.

"Despite claims that Sherpas are losing their culture, the local people have retained strong connections to their cultural and religious traditions," Mr. Sherpa said.

The seminar on tourism and poverty was part of the 34th Annual Meeting of the Asian Development Bank.