Coastal Tourism and Economic Inclusion in Indian Ocean Rim Association States

This research paper examines the potential for increasing economic inclusion in the coastal and marine tourism sectors of Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) states by promoting the participation of local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

• Mass tourism, characterized by large numbers of international tourists visiting all-inclusive enclave beach resorts, hinders inclusive development because international firms dominate the value chain, typically excluding local entrepreneurs.
• Low-budget international tourism and domestic or regional tourist markets provide more secure entry points for the growth of locally owned SMEs and the participation of marginalized groups, including youth and women, though these sectors are often neglected in planning.
• In mass international tourism models, economic inclusion is best achieved by integrating SMEs into the supply chains of accommodation establishments, such as providing food inputs. This requires interventions to improve market information, financial access, and both 'hard' infrastructure (transport, storage, water) and 'soft' infrastructure (organizational capacity and standards).
• The paper calls for better data to monitor economic inclusion in coastal communities and increased research capacity for evidence-based planning. It suggests that South Africa should lead engagement on inclusive tourism through IORA structures, including the Academic Group, the Business Forum, and the Working Group on Trade & Investment.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2018). Coastal Tourism and Economic Inclusion in Indian Ocean Rim Association States. https://saiia.org.za/research/coastal-tourism-and-economic-inclusion-in-indian-ocean-rim-association-states-2/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. Coastal Tourism and Economic Inclusion in Indian Ocean Rim Association States. 2018. https://saiia.org.za/research/coastal-tourism-and-economic-inclusion-in-indian-ocean-rim-association-states-2/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=Coastal Tourism and Economic Inclusion in Indian Ocean Rim Association States |date=16 October 2018 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/coastal-tourism-and-economic-inclusion-in-indian-ocean-rim-association-states-2/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2018coastal, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{Coastal Tourism and Economic Inclusion in Indian Ocean Rim Association States}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2018}, month = oct, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/coastal-tourism-and-economic-inclusion-in-indian-ocean-rim-association-states-2/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }