Issue brief: Poverty reduction through tourism

Hotels, Catering and Tourism (HCT) is one of the fastest-growing economic sectors in countries around the world. It is very labour-intensive and is a significant source of development and employment, especially for those with limited access to the labour market, such as women, youth, migrant workers and rural populations. It can signifi cantly contribute to social and economic development and to poverty reduction in least developed countries (LDCs).