ethical tourism

Approach to tourism which seeks to ensure that the local population benefits from tourist development and activities. Although there has been a rapid increase in the number of tourists visiting developing countries, these countries do not always benefit economically. For example, when large international companies build and run tourist resorts, a high percentage of the revenue usually leaves the country and the local economy suffers.

Ethical tourism promotes the idea that local people should own or be involved in the development of tourism and not simply provide a cheap labour force. It may also involve the boycotting of countries with politically repressive regimes.