Employment can mean different things to different people just as the cultural
importance of family and friends vary. Employment in hospitality and tourism, or the
development of a tourism industry, may not always seem desirable, especially if the
tourism and hospitality sector is associated with low-paying menial jobs. It is therefore of
pivotal importance to ensure that local people become involved through equitable
collaborations which aim at maximizing the economic and social benefits to employees
as well as the local community. Students should also be cognizant of how the discussion
of local involvement in tourism and sustainable development predominantly focus upon
indigenous people in the so-called Third World (c.f. Mowforth and Munt, 1998).
However, these issues are relevant to local cultures and communities everywhere and
should be reflected in human resource policy and management in all contexts.