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Abstract
Sustainable tourism helps countries grow economically, protect the environment, and improve the lives of local communities. This article studies three emerging tourism destinations-Costa Rica, Bhutan, and Kenya and examines the impact of tourism on local communities. The study examines how government support, the use of local resources, and active community involvement contribute to tourism development, based on an Input-Output framework. The findings suggest that when these factors work together, tourism can become more sustainable and generate positive social and economic outcomes for both communities and the broader national economy. The analysis finds that Costa Rica has strong economic and community benefits, Bhutan focuses on protecting the environment and empowering local people, and Kenya performs moderately with room for improvement. Projected trends for 2025 show that leisure travel, volunteer programs, and wellness tourism are the main contributors to community and environmental benefits. The study shows that when managed well, sustainable tourism can support economic growth while also helping communities and protecting the environment, offering useful lessons for other emerging destinations.
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