The efforts of some African countries develop luxury tourism bring only limited benefits to local communities and often cause more harm than good. This is reported by a new study by the Manchester University, published on Tuesday by African Studies Review. TASR refers to Reuters Report.
Africa is becoming increasingly attractive to multinational and airlines that increase their capacity on the continent. Many governments refer to luxury tourism as “high -value and low influences”. Recent research, however, has shown that reality is sometimes different.
According to findings, so-called all-inclusive resorts are often isolated from local life, employing few domestic workers and preventing tourists to spend in the surrounding areassince they provide everything directly in the area. Moreover, the most profitable accommodation is often in foreign ownership, with a large part of the expenses of tourists going to foreign travel agencies or imports of food.
The study also warns that Luxury tourism deepens inequalities in countries. Profits are centered in the hands of foreign operators or small local elitewhile most employees receive low wages.
The problem is already transformed into open conflicts, He writes Reuters. Last week, the activist filed an action in order to block the opening of a new luxury Safari resort Ritz-Carlton in Kenya reserve Masai Mara. The project provoked the resistance of local residentswho claim that tourism destroys their environment and way of life.
In Kenya, people complain about the alleged confiscation of their land with rich investors. In Tanzania, protests against the displacement of tens of thousands of Masai for hunting resorts have grown into violent collisions with the police that claimed victims of lives.
