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People & Culture

Create sustainable livelihood opportunities to improve the well-being of people around the world

Around the world, more than one billion people are living in poverty. Food insecurity, illiteracy, income inequality, and poor healthcare, are challenges that many people face on a daily basis and often impact women and children more than men. This is especially true in developing countries and rural areas where there are fewer income earning opportunities, less education options and little access to capital.

Tourism is one of the most effective tools for job creation in the world’s most vulnerable regions. As one of the largest industries in the world, tourism represents a key means of bringing foreign money into developing economies, increasing demand for local goods and services, increasing infrastructure and education, and introducing needed foreign investment.  However, when managed irresponsibly, tourism development has the potential to exacerbate income inequality and cause the loss of culture, traditions and language. This can have a particularly negative impact on indigenous communities

Issues We're Addressing

Limited jobs in rural areas, particularly for women

Lack of education, skills and capital to start businesses

Disrespect to local culture, traditions and language

Indigenous cultures marginalized from tourism economy

What We're Doing

  • Samoa

    Samoa

    Encouraging business practices that contribute to community well-being and strengthening support for local community development initiatives.

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  • Social Enterprise Development

    Social Enterprise Development

    Bringing underserved communities, including women, indigenous populations, and at-risk youth, into the tourism value chain

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  • Galápagos Islands

    Galápagos Islands

    Balancing the livelihoods of local fishermen with enhanced marine conservation

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  • Pacific Islands

    Pacific Islands

    Inspiring the adoption of sustainable tourism best practices that are more inclusive of local people and cultures

    Read more

  • Indonesia

    Indonesia

    Increasing the perceived value of forest conservation through ecotourism development

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  • St. Kitts

    St. Kitts

    The Heart of St. Kitts Foundation is committed to preserving local culture and heritage sites and supporting new, community-driven tourism products

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  • Sustainable Destinations Alliance for the Americas

    Sustainable Destinations Alliance for the Americas

    Preserving local culture and increasing tourism benefits for residents in the Caribbean and Central America

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    Samoa

    Encouraging business practices that contribute to community well-being and strengthening support for local community development initiatives.
    Read more

    Empowering Communities

    Encouraging business practices that contribute to community well-being and strengthening support for local community development initiatives.
    Read more

    Galápagos Islands

    Balancing the livelihoods of local fishermen with enhanced marine conservation
    Read more

    Pacific Islands

    Inspiring the adoption of sustainable tourism best practices that are more inclusive of local people and cultures
    Read more

    Indonesia

    Increasing the perceived value of forest conservation through ecotourism development
    Read more

    St. Kitts

    The Heart of St. Kitts Foundation is committed to preserving local culture and heritage sites and supporting new, community-driven tourism products
    Read more

    Sustainable Destinations Alliance for the Americas

    Preserving local culture and increasing tourism benefits for residents in the Caribbean and Central America
    Read more

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