Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
the same country, or even in the same region. Different regions within a coun-
try may also have different social and cultural values, which will react differ-
ently to tourism development; these differences may be overlooked if only
national indices are used. Tourism is often only a small part of larger socio-
economic development plans and, in many cases, it is impossible to isolate the
effects of tourism development from other forms of development. In some
nations, tourism is the major contributor to socio-economic development,
while in others, tourism's overall contribution to development is minimal.
Human Development Index (HDI)
The UN started to publish annual reports on the Human Development
Index in 1990 as an alternative way to measure national development. The
conventional measurement was based on levels of income or rate of economic
growth. The new index was intended to '[bring] about development of the
people, by the people, and for the people, and emphasizing that the goals of
development are choices and freedoms' (UNDP, 2010a). In other words, the
HDI stresses that the development of a country needs to be accessed by
enhancing human capabilities and individuals' choices, not by measuring
economic growth alone (ELISAN, 2012; UNDP, 2011b). As the most critical
dimensions of human development are 'a long and healthy life, knowledge,
and a decent standard of living', a composite measure of three basic dimen-
sions of human development include health, education and income (UNDP,
2011a). These three dimensions utilise four indicators (see Figure 7.1).
The HDI clearly distinguishes itself from other approaches such as 'eco-
nomic growth', theories of human capital formation and human resource
Life expectancy
at birth
Health
Mean years of
schooling
Educaon
Expected years of
schooling
Gross naonal
income per
capita
Living
Standard
Four indicators Three dimensions
Figure 7.1 The HDI: Three dimensions and four indicators
Source: After UNDP, 2013.
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