Tourism as an income earner

Abstract

The International Tourist Research Centre (University of Botswana) has developed a four part program to explore the development of tourism for the wellbeing of African communities. One part of this program is concerned with exploring the value of tourism as an income earner and th is background document sets forth a style of study and some key content areas for that exploratory journey. It highlights the need for researchers to be partners with specific businesses rather than preach to the industry sector as a whole. It emphasises the multi-faceted nature of sustainability and suggests that the partnership motif must apply across the centre's programs as well as externally. The importance of considering lhe research and tourism context of ench African country is stressed. The main stakeholders with whom the researchers and lTRC must work are identified. Adopting a final content focus the document suggests three areas for attention; the close analysis of the income directly and indirectly generated by tourism, the distribution of costs and benefits associated with that income and the need to study the assets and capabilities of communities.