The impact of tourism on rural livelihoods in the Dominican Republic's coastal areas

Abstract

Tourism has rapidly grown in the Dominican Republic in recent years. This paper evaluates the impact of tourism on rural livelihoods through a survey conducted in 23 coastal communities covering a range of tourism levels and types. Tourism generally has a positive impact as measured by increased household income and job satisfaction. Personal and community characteristics, such as knowledge of a second language, young age, and predominance of domestic and day-trip tourism, are the most important factors in determining tourism-related employment in the studied communities. Policy implications for pro-poor tourism are discussed, followed by a cautionary note on tourism-induced population displacements.