Poverty Alleviation through Tourism (PAT)
PAT is convinced that the benefits of tourism should be widely spread in society and that the poor should benefit from tourism development.
Tourism has been identified an important vehicle in addressing the current development challenges facing Latin America. This is so because tourism has unique characteristics that make it different from other industries. Namely; labor-intensive tourist attractions are located in remote areas, the north-south dichotomy, high multiplier effects and the fact that the tourists travel to the destination as opposed to the product being shipped to the consumer.
The power of tourism can be more effectively harnessed to address the problems of poverty more directly since it’s one of the most dynamic economic activities of our time. As a central component of our work we have initiated research and consultation on the interrelation between tourism and poverty. In most developing countries tourism earns a lot of money but the irony is that only less than 5% reaches the local people whose resources are used to fuel the industry. PAT harnesses the power of tourism to alleviate poverty through the following seven carefully formulated strategies.
Enhancing employment of the poor in tourism enterprises
PAT seeks to reduce poverty levels by undertaking specific measures aimed at increasing the levels of employment of poor people within the tourism enterprises in the marginalized areas.
Stimulating supply of goods and services to tourism establishments by the poor
Tourism establishments outsource a number of supplies which range from food stuffs, curios, linen, uniforms, furniture and building materials - most of these can be outsourced from the communities living next to the establishments. To achieve this, PAT brokers business relationships between the establishments and the local communities and at the same time builds the capacity of the local communities to handle supplies until they are in a position of handling these orders.
Direct sale of goods and services to tourists by locals through the informal sector
The program seeks to create a good working relationship between the formal and informal tourism sector with the sole aim of enabling the locals to make a living selling their products directly to visitors. These products include sale of food in stalls, sale of fruits, handicrafts, guiding services, pottery, taxi services, boat rides, and homestays.
Establishment of community based tourism enterprises
PAT assists the poor to initiate and manage small and sustainable community based enterprises so as to rake benefits from this multibillion industry. PAT encourages local individuals or groups to invest in providing services such as accommodation, catering, transport, retailing of souvenirs, tour guiding and entertainment among other services.
Utilization of tourism levies and taxes to support the poor
Developing nations collect a lot of taxes and levies. PAT advocates for policy change so that these levies and taxes can be used to provide amenities and other services to local communities whose resources are used to fuel the industry.
Increased social responsibility by tourism establishment
PAT encourages tourism service providers to constantly and persistently give back to the society that gives them the charter to operate through their corporate social responsibility programs.
Usage of investments developed for tourism purposes by locals
Tourism development especially in remote areas, requires development of new infrastructure including roads, water, energy, sanitation and communication facilities. PAT promotes the opening up of new tourism facilities in remote areas, which have tourism potentials.
RECLAIM: A Sewing Micro-Enterprise Project (Canada & DR)
RECLAIM: is a carefully formulated non-profit project aimed at addressing the problems facing local women, namely; poverty, unemployment and gender inequality through the selling of sewing materials made by these women. More than 50% of latinas' live below the poverty line (CBS). sewing materials making is one of the best means of helping the poor societies in Latin America since it is practiced by the marginalized communities, requires little capital to kick off and the fact that the business is labor intensive and requires semi-skilled labor.
Essentially, the project works with women since the majority are the sole breadwinners in most rural homesteads. Most women in Honduras o Dominican Republic lack land, adequate employment in clerical, technology, formal employment and or agriculture. Currently, the project boosts of over 30 women members who are benefiting from this small manufacturing outfit.
RECLAIM program uses an alternative dimension to international sewing trade by promoting sustainable development for the marginalized Caribbean and Central America sewing producers in Dominican Republic. RECLAIM's primary goal is thus to help the marginalized and disadvantaged Latin women sewing by advancing micro-loans, promoting producers' independence and gender equality, providing decent working conditions, increasing their production capacity and helping them to sell their sewing or products at fair prices in the Fair Trade.
RECLAIM Program is guided by the slogan "Give the marginalized women a fish and you feed them for today, teach them to fish and you feed them forever". We at RECLAIM believe that sustainable sewing or a business trade is better than aid because it equips the women with a sustainable means of earning their livelihood as opposed to waiting for funds which might not be forthcoming or may not be consistent.
Currently, the project coordinates the production and the marketing of products from three workshops in Latin America: Honduras, Dominican Republic and San Salvador. Each workshop is self-managed; planeed salaries and working conditions are well above other production centers from the same sector. In excess of this members are trained on how to produce high quality products, how to save and reinvest their earnings, how to form social groups and how to improve their welfare. At the moment Honduas Workshop has 32 women members, Sto Dgo workshop has 25 women members in total while San Salvador workshop boosts of 20 women. All of them want also to produce beads products, namely; necklaces, neck collars, bracelets, mats and watch bands or local crafts.
SHORT TERM MISSIONS:
Community based Ecotourism, Ecotourism projects, Missions; Sustainable tourism; Ecotourism, Rural community tourism, etc.
All these travel schemes seeks to provide tourists with a memorable opportunity where they are in a position of visiting the various tourist attractions in Dominican Republic while at the same time have a chance of helping to solve some of the social problems facing Dominicans such as poverty, youth unemployment, and gender inequality.
Short Term Missions (STM) operates as a conventional tour operator in that we package various tours and trips and price them accordingly. In excess of this since we are non profit making organization we are in a position of offering tourists with activities which are considered to be less profitable such homestays, Donkey or horse rides, nature walks, cultural tours and missionary tours.
Our Eco-Tours are highly personalized tours that enable our clients to appreciate and enjoy the natural and cultural heritage of the destination visited and at the same time contribute to the improvement of the livelihoods of the locals in the areas visited. The carefully packaged thematic tours have different themes that range from cultural tours, community-based tours, ecotourism projects, agro-tours, missionary tours and homestay.
STM acknowledges that tourism is a Top Priority in the fight against poverty and gender inequality. All eco-tours proceeds are ploughed back to the community through community. STM's mission is to ensure that tourists enjoy nature, share experiences with the local communities and contribute to their well-being, traveling by our motto "Travel responsibly and touch the heart of a poor Person".
Dominican Republic is currently among the leading sustainable tourism destinations in the world; the destination continues to lure new visitors from all over the world and also to enthrall the most seasoned eco-travelers. To assist you in making the right choice, click the link below which will take you to some of the fixed departures that we operate. However, we appreciate the fact that you might be interested in eco tours outside the scope of this site and this is why we give you an opportunity to place the request of a Tailor-Made Eco tours through Hineni Media Cross Cultural Services. Click on the Eco-tours of your choice for more information.
