Tourism, inclusive growth and decent work: a political economy critique

Article


Bianchi, R. and de Man, F. 2021. Tourism, inclusive growth and decent work: a political economy critique. Journal of Sustainable Tourism. 29 (2-3), pp. 353-371. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2020.1730862
AuthorsBianchi, R. and de Man, F.
Abstract

This paper interrogates the ideas of ‘sustained’ and ‘inclusive’ growth that are intrinsic to one of three UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 8 - Decent Work and Growth) adopted by the UN World Tourism Organisation’s (UNWTO) 2030 sustainable tourism agenda. It provides a Marxian-inspired political economy critique of the UNWTO’s embrace of SDG8 and highlights the blind spot within the UNWTO’s inclusive growth-led SDG agenda with respect to questions of equity and social justice. The paper contends that the UNWTO’s SDG-led agenda is contradicted by the logics of growth, competitiveness and profit-making that drive the continued expansion and development of tourism. Rather than addressing the structural injustices that entrench inequalities and reproduce exploitative labour practices, the notion of sustained and inclusive growth reinforces the primacy of capital and market notions of justice and continues to perpetuate a growth driven tourism development model. The paper contributes to a critical theorization of sustainable tourism and offers an informed critique of the current political agenda for sustainable tourism and its potential outcomes.

JournalJournal of Sustainable Tourism
Journal citation29 (2-3), pp. 353-371
ISSN0966-9582
Year2021
PublisherTaylor & Francis
Accepted author manuscript
License
File Access Level
Anyone
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2020.1730862
Publication dates
Print04 Mar 2021
Online25 Feb 2020
Publication process dates
Accepted12 Feb 2020
Deposited02 Mar 2020
Copyright holder© 2020 Taylor & Francis
Copyright informationThis is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Journal of Sustainable Tourism on 25/02/2020, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/09669582.2020.1730862.
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Accepted author manuscript
JOST 5524 Tour, inc growth dec wrk_Mx critique_revised ms.7 Feb 2020.pdf
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File access level: Anyone

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