COASTAL TOURISM AND ECONOMIC INCLUSION IN INDIAN OCEAN RIM ASSOCIATION STATES

The document analyzes the impact of different coastal tourism models on economic inclusion in IORA states. It argues that the dominant 'mass tourism' model often creates enclaves that exclude local entrepreneurs, whereas budget, domestic, regional, and niche tourism (such as eco-tourism) provide more accessible entry points for SMEs and marginalized groups. The briefing highlights the role of the Blue Economy and provides recommendations for IORA member states, particularly during South Africa's 2017–2019 chairship, to foster inclusive growth through better finance, training, and value-chain integration.

• The prevailing coastal tourism model in IORA states is mass tourism, which often results in 'enclave' tourism that marginalizes local populations and allows foreign hotel chains and travel agents to capture most economic benefits.
• Budget-oriented international tourism, specifically the backpacker segment, offers higher local economic multiplier effects because these tourists spend more on locally produced goods and services and require less capital for accommodation.
• Domestic and regional tourism are identified as highly effective entry points for poverty alleviation and SME growth because they do not require luxury standards or high levels of formal qualifications.
• Niche tourism markets, including eco-tourism, adventure, cultural, heritage, and culinary tourism, provide promising avenues for the inclusion of marginalized groups and SME development compared to the standard 'sea, sun, sand' model.
• In South Africa and Kenya, despite the existence of support funds and agencies, tourism SMEs still face significant barriers, including informality in Kenya and a general lack of access to finance and business incubation services in both countries.
• The document identifies several systemic threats to the sustainable development of coastal tourism, including poor policy integration across government levels, governance issues, and environmental pressures such as climate change.

APA

ROGERSON, C., BENKENSTEIN, A., & MWONGERA, N. (2018). COASTAL TOURISM AND ECONOMIC INCLUSION IN INDIAN OCEAN RIM ASSOCIATION STATES. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Coastal-tourism-and-economic-inclusion-in-Indian-Ocean-Rim-Association-states.pdf

Chicago

ROGERSON, CHRISTIAN, ALEX BENKENSTEIN, and NAHASHON MWONGERA. COASTAL TOURISM AND ECONOMIC INCLUSION IN INDIAN OCEAN RIM ASSOCIATION STATES. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2018. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Coastal-tourism-and-economic-inclusion-in-Indian-Ocean-Rim-Association-states.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=ROGERSON |first1=CHRISTIAN |last2=BENKENSTEIN |first2=ALEX |last3=MWONGERA |first3=NAHASHON |title=COASTAL TOURISM AND ECONOMIC INCLUSION IN INDIAN OCEAN RIM ASSOCIATION STATES |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=October 2018 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Coastal-tourism-and-economic-inclusion-in-Indian-Ocean-Rim-Association-states.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rogerson2018coastal, author = {ROGERSON, CHRISTIAN and BENKENSTEIN, ALEX and MWONGERA, NAHASHON}, 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/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Coastal-tourism-and-economic-inclusion-in-Indian-Ocean-Rim-Association-states.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }