How to Throw a Bird? Towards a Framework for Pro-Poor Tourism Development

There is great potential in developing local communities in Sub-Saharan Africa through pro-poor tourism for business and communities alike. Yet, unforeseen challenges have – in many cases- turned these good intentions into worse off situations. Although many locations with tourism potential has been left behind in global economic development, it is important to recognise that interventions, such as within tourism, cannot start on a tabula rasa. Hence, in this paper we argue that geographical locations are living systems where different stakeholders, formal and informal institutions, environment with its wildlife, etc., all interact and influence interventions and outcomes. In metaphorical terms developing locations through tourism is like attempting to make a bird fly in a desired direction: One can never predict completely the direction in which it will fly. On the contrary throwing a rock, where ballistics can easily be calculated, is more predictable. Recognising this, we take our starting point in complexity theory and the role played by institutions.