Community development is important in creating attractions for tourists.
The connection between tourism and community development lies in the impact that tourism has on the host community. The economic benefits found in tourism constitute the most notable association between tourism and community development. Other effects of tourism can be sociocultural or environmental.
A significant number of communities depend on tourism as their main source of income. For these communities, revenue from a well-managed tourism trade could translate into increased tax revenue and an overall improvement in the community economy. Tourism contributes to the growth of a community because it creates many jobs in the various industries associated with tourism. Some examples include the hospitality industry, transportation, crafts and arts, as well as entertainment. The association between tourism and community development can be seen in the way that an increase in business opportunities and corresponding employment opportunities contribute to increasing the income potential and living standards of community members.
Building more tourist attractions in an area can boost the economic growth of an area.
Tourism and community development are also linked by the effect that tourism has in improving the infrastructure framework of the community. A country or community that is a tourist destination will undertake certain infrastructure development projects that will make the area more attractive to visitors. For example, the community will invest in the construction of good roads, as well as in the establishment of a good transport and communication system and other types of projects that aim to attract more visitors to the area. These investments also help improve and facilitate community development because members of the local community will also benefit from them.
Tourism can be a driving force in the development of excellent dining options.
Another way to link tourism and community development is through the impact that tourism has on the environment. For example, most tourist destinations depend on natural resources as their main tourist attraction. These tourist attractions are usually places like waterfalls, pristine beaches, local flora and fauna, as well as historical sites and monuments. Places considered essential to the tourism industry are often preserved and maintained in a way that would probably not be the case were it not for their importance to the community. Most of the time great efforts are made for the restoration and protection of these sites, including ecological studies aimed at the development of the community as a whole.