Tourism development and local community empowerment

Tourism is an activity that directly touches and involves host communities and causes a wide range of impacts. At the centre of many recent studies of the impact of tourism on host communities, particularly in developing country contexts, is the idea that tourism can and should "empower" local residents. Empowerment frameworks can be used to analyze the actual and/or potential impacts of various forms of tourism on local communities. This article will discuss whether tourism development can empower a host community, and to what degree tourism is empowering local rural communities. This knowledge can aid in the planning of appropriate community involvement strategies in tourism development.