International tourism management - Assignment Example

One of the major challenges of corporate social responsibility of international tourism is to curb child prostitution and sex tourism. Despite many meaningful campaigns to curb these social evils, this heinous trade continues to flourish and is endangering the social fabric in and around the vicinity of the tourist hotspots across the world. This is not a sustainable practice it is time to evaluate the potential contribution of ‘corporate social responsibility’ (CSR) strategies to achieving more environmentally sustainable international tourism.

Tourism is an extremely heterogeneous socio-economic phenomenon which encompasses a large array of lifestyles and cultures (Fuchs, 2010). The travel and tourism industry is one of the fastest growing industries for almost half century despite ups and downs in global financial and political ups and downs (Fuchs, 2010). Tourism casts complex and varied impact on the societies. While, there are great many tourists, there are also a large variety of societies that host the tourists catering to their every need and taste (Kala, 2008).

Tourism is undoubtedly one of the major drivers of global economy. It increases opportunities in all countries whether developed or developing for its people to take part as hosts and guests in this socio-economic phenomenon (Kala, 2008). Source: UNWTO, 2010. Tourism trends and outlook update UNWTO. [Online] UNWTO Available at: http://www.unwto.org/facts/eng/pdf/barometer/UNWTO_Guilin_Forum10_day2_JK_fin_1x1.pdf [Accessed 24 November 2010]. The geographical reach and the labour intensive nature helps in generating employment, particularly remote and rural areas, where three-fourth of the two-billion people live under extreme poverty conditions (World Tourism Organisation, 2010).

The World Tourism Organisation identifies seven factors that make tourism as an