A 2024 World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) report shows that global Indigenous tourism will generate USD 67 billion by 2034 – with socioeconomic benefits as well as ethical risks like cultural commodification, land appropriation and exclusionary practices. Global frameworks, like the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and the Larakia Declaration on Indigenous Tourism, foster community-led tourism models based on equitable partnerships. Together with responsible tourism practices and reporting standards such as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI 400+) and SASB, they minimise cultural, social and environmental risks.
Global focus
Unleashing the benefits of sustainable Indigenous tourism
Through equitable partnerships with Indigenous communities, tourism drives both economic growth and cultural and ecological preservation
People: Social & Governance impacts
Travel & leisure services
AT A GLANCE
Indigenous tourism’s rapid growth has huge socioeconomic benefits for local communities, if undertaken sustainably.
Sustainable Indigenous tourism requires equitable community partnerships, assuring inclusivity, ecological protection, and cultural conservation.
Innovative community-led tourism models use authentic cultural experiences to creäte inclusive economic growth.
Equitable partnerships
Together, the World Indigenous Tourism Alliance (WINTA) and UNWTO emphasise partnerships with Indigenous communities leading tourism initiatives, guided by the Larrakia Declaration. Integrating Indigenous worldviews into resilient tourism models respects cultural heritage while offering authentic cultural experiences. The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) collaborates with Expedia Group through the Indigenous Tourism Destination Fund, to empower Indigenous-led projects.
Cultural preservation
Tourism often commodifies indigenous cultures – exemplified by commercialised traditional dances – thus potentially eroding cultural integrity. Reorienting tourism strategies towards authentic visitor experiences, as seen in Māori and Chilean enterprises, thus prioritises storytelling and cultural continuity over shallow financial objectives. Such approaches ensure tourism supports cultural preservation, while addressing the risks of the misrepresentation and/or loss of traditional practices.
Environmental sustainability
Ever-expanding tourism into Indigenous territories often opens conflicts over land and other critical natural resources, and disrupts traditional ecological cycles and practices. For example, Maasai regions in East Africa have experienced tensions, as tourism operators and conservationists compete for land critical to Indigenous livelihoods. Sustainable tourism models that integrate local environmental knowledge are essential to mitigating such conflicts and promoting long-term coexistence.
Inclusive economic growth
Global Indigenous tourism partnerships, like those of key Indigenous tourism organisations in Canada, New Zealand and the US, drive inclusive economic growth. This is achieved by fostering both physical and digital visitor access, to maximise the sector’s contribution to the sustainable development of regional economies. In Canada for example, growth in Indigenous tourism is underpinned by inclusive policy frameworks, and driven by local ownership of recreational activities and cultural services.
FURTHER READING
- Sustainable tourism in Indigenous protected areas in Canada (Frontiers in Sustainable Tourism)
- Incorporating Indigenous voices and cultural knowledge into tourism (Annals of Tourism Research)
- Empowering indigenous communities through participation in tourism (International Journal of Tourism)