Building Social Capital to Enhance the Quality of Life of Destination Residents

[Extract] Tourism is often promoted and used as a development tool by governments and aid and conservation agencies. Typically this is based on claims about economic benefit tourism may bring to destinations and their residents. The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO 2010, p, 1), for example, describes tourism as the 'fastest growing economic sector' producing 'economic and employment benefits'. Whilst the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC 2010) describes the value and importance of tourism using employment and revenue statistics. Tourism is presented as a generator of income and employment and this in turn is seen as a driver for other benefits for destination residents