Tourism and development in Southeast Asia

Over the last decades, Southeast Asia has experienced a rapid growth in international tourist arrivals from 21.2 million in 1990 to 96.7 million in 2014 (UNWTO,
2015a, p. 4). Tourism is no longer only regarded as a mere income generator,
creator of jobs, or socio-cultural phenomenon, but also serves as a tool to foster beneficial and locally driven development in all its dimensions (Scheyvens,
2002). Recent years have shown a steady increase in tourism being used as a tool
for development and poverty alleviation in the world’s less developed countries
(Darma Putra & Hitchcock, 2012; Holden, 2013; Novelli, 2015). Organizations
such as the World Bank, UN agencies, NGOs, and governments put tourism high
up on the agenda to achieve objectives of livelihood diversification, community
empowerment, poverty alleviation, and development (Christie et al., 2013; Spenceley & Meyer, 2012; UNWTO, 2013). Understandings of development have significantly changed over the years, moving beyond ideas of economic growth towards the inclusion of social and environmental aspects. As part of the post-2015
agenda, development focuses on the eradication of poverty and hunger as well
as on health, education, gender equality, sanitation, clean energy, and economic
growth (UN, 2015). It further includes action against climate change, responsible
consumption and production, the reduction of inequalities, and the conservation of the environment (UN, 2015). The UN includes tourism as a key activity
to contribute to the achievement of its former Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs) and the newly implemented Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),
thus contributing to tourism being “firmly positioned in the post-2015 development agenda” (UNWTO, 2015b, p. 2).