Title: Modelling the interaction of tourism and international development

Authors: Ruth Rios-Morales; Dragan Gamberger; Ian Jenkins

Addresses: Center of Foreign Affairs & Applied Diplomacy, School of Management and Law, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Switzerland ' Rudjer Boskovic Institute, Bijenicka 54, Zagreb, Croatia ' Les Roche-Gruyère, University of Applied Sciences, Rue de l'Ondine 20, CH 1630 Bulle, Switzerland

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the theoretical frameworks of the interaction of tourism and international development; this study also provides a critical evaluation of the effectiveness of international development initiatives and poverty reduction, using the Nicaraguan case. The evaluation incorporates aspects related to the millennium development goals (MDGs) and the heavily indebted poor countries (HIPCs) initiatives. By using data analysis techniques, we evaluated the ratio between investment in the tourism industry and economic growth in the period 1995-2010. From this analysis, a predictive model has been developed. Tourism represents one of the main sources of income for many developing countries. We argue that tourism pro-poor must be integrated within national development strategies and should be present in international economic development and poverty reduction.

Keywords: predictive modelling; tourism industry; international development; economic development; poverty reduction; Nicaragua; millennium development goals; MDGs; heavily indebted poor countries; HIPCs; investment; economic growth; developing countries; national development strategies.

DOI: 10.1504/JGBA.2013.058274

Journal for Global Business Advancement, 2013 Vol.6 No.4, pp.283 - 298

Published online: 12 Dec 2013 *

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