Introduction
The money spent by holiday makers in the local economy makes a direct contribution to raising the household incomes in local communities. It also provides an enhanced experience for tourists. Lack of information on the local area, lack of reliable public transport, and uncertainty about where it is safe and unsafe to go can all discourage tourists from venturing far from their accommodation, therefore stifling the opportunity for visitors meet the local poor. The local tourism industry has a role to play in helping to facilitate this interaction by providing opportunities where the visitors feel safe and local people can offer products and services for sale.

The Opportunity
Visitors are increasingly looking for additional ‘authentic’ experiences during their stay. It is important to identify products that are of value to the tourist and where access is acceptable; compatible with the community’s lifestyle; competitive in terms of price, value and “uniqueness” and for which there is a sustainable income for the economically poor. Local excursions provide the opportunity to:

• Encourage additional spending at a destination
• Contribute to longer stays
• Provide a more experiential holiday
• Generate income for the local communities

Who Can Help and How?

Hotels & Resorts

Guest Houses, Small Hotels & B&Bs

Cultural Heritage Sites

Protected Areas

Other Visitor Attractions

Local Guides

Local Operators & Ground Handlers

Outbound Operators

Words of Caution

• Avoid raising the expectations of the poor. Be sure about the market at a given price and quality and then begin the process of creating appropriate supply, clear in the knowledge about what the market will purchase.
• Think carefully about whether or not there is adequate local demand from visitors to create a viable market.
• If goods and services are developed for which there is no local demand the initiative will fail, if the supply exceeds demand then prices will fall. The initiative will fail to make the anticipated contribution to local incomes and if the community has borrowed money in anticipation of selling to tourists then financial ruin is a real risk.