Author(s)

A. Sharma, M. Thapar

Abstract

The tourism sector is one of the most profitable non-technology-based-economic sectors and, more so in the case of Third World nations, which will remain as this research paper’s prime focus. At that, we should keep in mind the hurdles embedded in such countries – abject poverty, dearth of educational and employment opportunities and lack of capital, to name but a few. This paper primarily deals with the relative plusses of progress in the tourism sector over advances in the technological sector, insofar as Third World nations are concerned. So, a dependence of such nations (and/or local communities, as the case may be) on the tourism department gives them an upper hand over the technology-based-economic sectors. Such nations have unharnessed and unexploited natural resources and scenic landscapes which attract tourists massively, especially from the First World nations. Also, in such time of unchecked economic expansion, life as such becomes exceedingly hectic. Thus, such tourist destinations become, though temporarily, the much needed escape from this monotonous lifestyle that we lead, as has been further elucidated in the paper. Furthermore, this paper also discusses how alternative tourism policies and strategies that put the interests of local ethnic and indigenous communities to the fore can profit dually – one, by benefitting the tourism sector and two, by bestowing upon such communities an opportunity to be self-sufficient. This, in turn, would foster the process of nation building and help in reduction of soaring rates of poverty and unemployment. This paper is researched upon secondary external data taken from various journals and research theses, with due regard, salutations and proper citations to the source of the data, as and when required.

Keywords

sustainable tourism, local communities, technology-based-economic sectors, growth, development