In 2002, UNWTO launched the ST-EP (Sustainable Tourism for the Elimination of Poverty) Programme, aimed at reducing poverty levels through developing and promoting sustainable forms of tourism. UNWTO is undertaking a number of activities to materialize the ST-EP Programme. It has organized eighteen regional and national training seminars on tourism and poverty reduction, in order to build capacities among public officials, NGOs, the private sector and communities in developing countries, with a total participation of over 1,500 officials so far.
Continuous research activity by UNWTO has led to the publication of four reports, providing evidence of the impact of tourism in reducing poverty levels, as well as recommendations on how to maximize these impacts. UNWTO received support for the ST-EP programme from The Government of the Republic of Korea, the Netherlands Development Organisation SNV, the Italian Government and a wide range of other development agencies and private sector organisations.
With this support, 50 ST-EP projects are already under implementation, benefiting 25 developing countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Balkans. The ST-EP projects focus on a wide range of activities, such as training of local guides and hotel employees, facilitating the involvement of local people in tourism development around natural and cultural heritage sites, establishing business linkages between poor producers and tourism enterprises, providing business and financial services to small, medium and community based tourism enterprises, and development and promotion of community based tourism initiatives. Further information on the ST-EP Programme can be found at: www.unwto.org/step/index.php