No Country Ever Got Rich from Tourism

https://www.palladiummag.com/2025/07/18/no-country-ever-got-rich-from-tourism/

by seydor • 1 year ago

20 8 1 year ago

duxup• 1 year ago

I don't disagree with the article generally. I will say that when it comes to these topics about how a country gets rich I have one gripe.

no country has ever reached the ranks of the global wealthiest countries by relying primarily on tourism

There's also no magical path where you wave a wand and your nation simply reaches "the ranks of the global wealthiest". I don't disagree that the numbers don't work for just tourism and that to some extent opportunity is lost if you're reliant on tourism. On the other hand you don't just suddenly chose the right path, I think it is far more complex than that. If it was that simple, nations would likely just make it happen...

rurban• 1 year ago

He forgot Austria. Its main income is from tourism, and it's very rich.

stockresearcher• 1 year ago

According to the Austrian government, tourism accounts for 4-5% of GDP:

https://www.statistik.at/en/statistics/tourism-and-transport...

tomale• 1 year ago

In general I wouldn't dispute the point that a large country can't make all that much of its income from tourism.

The logic is a bit flawed though as GDP based on just about any single industry is going to look disappointing by this logic. I think money from an export or something that functions similar to an export like tourism is actually represented over and over in an economy as it flows through the economy and becomes savings that finance things, etc. I don't think rich country incomes can make any sense in terms of goods and services exported unless considered from the lens that most people spend or invest the majority of their salary every month in a way that is already moving into the explanation for many other salaries.

indit• 1 year ago

many countries highly dependent on tourism remain very poor. Jamaica, Bali, the Maldives, and Fiji are globally recognizable, name-brand destinations that are as or even more dependent on tourism than Southern Europe. All four are also unenviably poor by European standards, despite having small or even tiny populations to share in the incoming tourism money.

The post makes some valid points; however, Bali is not a country but a province of Indonesia with a population exceeding 4.5 million. Additionally, its economy is diversified beyond tourism.

tuatoru• 1 year ago

Tourism jobs are inherently low productivity. So of course your country can't get rich from it.

darth_avocado• 1 year ago

Rich is also relative. If I make $30k annually but live in a 4 bedroom house on a beach, can afford healthy food and have access to healthcare, am I really poor?

lazylizard• 1 year ago

the thai pm should read this eh? becoming vietnam is what they should be doing!

No Country Ever Got Rich from Tourism

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