This research views sustainable tourism in this light, as having a role in the development of
socially and economically disadvantaged countries, with great potential for poverty
alleviation. Thus, sustainable tourism in this case incorporates the UNWTO definition, but
recognises a focus on sociocultural aspects as important as environmental ones, and the
potential development opportunities for poverty alleviation.
As a development tool, tourism is a non-heavy industry with relatively few barriers to entry
that can be used to facilitate economic development (Weaver & Lawton, 2002). In LDCs, it is
a lack of money that is a major cause of socio economic disadvantage, and many residents
live in poverty (Dao, 2004). Tourism is therefore frequently seen as a quick and easy solution
to economic disadvantage, and it is optimistically assumed that increased wealth will lead to
the resolution of other social problems via a trickle-down effect of economic benefits which
can lead to an increase in standard of living (Gossling, 2003; Rogerson, 2007).