Sustainable tourism can act as a catalyst for socio-economic development and poverty reduction. This work contains papers presented at a seminar, held in Kathmandu in August 2003, which discuss experiences from selected Asian countries on the economic impact of tourism; and specific case studies of tourism development programmes.

Sustainable tourism can act as a catalyst for socio-economic development and poverty reduction, through job creation and productive employment, preservation of the natural environment and cultural traditions, and investment of tax revenues derived from tourism activities in education, health and infrastructure development. This publication contains papers presented at a seminar, held in Kathmandu in August 2003, which discuss experiences from selected Asian countries on the economic impact of tourism; and specific case studies of tourism development programmes, including from India, Indonesia, Nepal and Vietnam.