Tourism, development and corporate social responsibility in Livingstone, Zambia

Abstract

The city of Livingstone has experienced rapid tourism growth over the past 20 years, as Zambia has attempted to diversify its economy that has been traditionally driven by copper and natural resource extraction. As tourism has grown in Livingstone, the importance of the industry in providing more than just economic progress and growth has been debated, in line with changing global priorities for tourism development. Tourism, as a means for community growth and upliftment is now commonplace within tourism discourse, an issue which is reflected in discussions about poverty reduction and developing sustainable tourism in Livingstone. The potential of corporate social responsibility (CSR) as an agent for positive tourism development, however, remains largely unexplored. This paper examines different levels of CSR commitment within Livingstone, demonstrating that significant positive impacts among local communities have resulted from some CSR initiatives. Consideration is also given to possible future measures that might ensure that CSR becomes more commonplace in Livingstone and elsewhere, as an essential part of community empowerment and development associated with a growing tourism industry.