TOURISM AS A BRIDGE: HOW TRAVEL FOSTERS INTERCULTURAL PEACE AND SOCIAL COHESION
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21639062Keywords:
tourism, peacebuilding, intercultural dialogue, SDG 16, social cohesion, sustainable developmentAbstract
Tourism is one of the world’s largest industries and is viewed as more than merely a driver of economic
growth. It is also recognized for its ability to foster cross-cultural relationships and promote peaceful coexistence. This
paper examines how travel and tourism contribute to Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions (Sustainable Development
Goal 16) by facilitating intercultural encounters, challenging inaccurate stereotypes, and creating opportunities for
people from different backgrounds to interact with one another. The study applies various theoretical frameworks,
including Allport’s (1979) contact hypothesis, to analyze how tourism promotes social cohesion. It also draws on
recent empirical findings and data collected by the UNWTO to demonstrate tourism’s positive influence on social
cohesion. The findings indicate that, although tourism cannot guarantee a more peaceful world, tourism that is
intentionally planned and developed, incorporates accountability mechanisms, and ensures the participation of local
communities has considerable potential to contribute to peacebuilding. Finally, the paper offers recommendations for
students, organizations, and policymakers on maximizing tourism’s potential to contribute to more peaceful and just
societies worldwide.
References
Allport G. W. The Nature of Prejudice. 25th anniversary ed. – New York: Basic Books, 1979. – 576 p.
Carbone F. Tourism destination management post COVID-19 pandemic: A new humanism for a humancentred
tourism (Tourism 5.0) // Turismo Mundial, Crise Sanitária e Futuro: visões globais partilhadas =
World Tourism, Health Crisis and Future: Sharing Perspectives / coord. L. M. Figueira, L. Oosterbeek.
– Tomar: Instituto Politécnico de Tomar, 2020. – P. 43–56. – ISBN 978-989-8840-45-5. – URL: https://
www.cda.ipt.pt/download/ebooks/CRENT-ebook-17.6.2020-turismo-crise-global-.pdf (murojaat sanasi:
07.2026).
Carbone F. Peace through tourism: The role of tourism in the achievement of SDG 16 (plus) [Elektron
resurs] // Tourism for SDGs. – 2022. – 4 May. – URL: https://tourism4sdgs.org/research/peace-throughtourism-
the-role-of-tourism-in-the-achievement-of-the-sdg16-plus/ (murojaat sanasi: 27.07.2026).
Chaderopa C. The role of sustainable tourism in peacebuilding and global harmony [Elektron resurs]
// Scholarly Impact. International College of Management Sydney. – 2025. – 13 March. – URL: https://
www.icms.edu.au/scholarly-impact/tourism-hospitality-and-events/the-role-of-sustainable-tourism-inpeacebuilding-
and-global-harmony/ (murojaat sanasi: 27.07.2026).
Farmaki A., Stergiou D. P. Peace and tourism: Bridging the gap through justice // Peace & Change. – 2021.
– Vol. 46, No. 3. – P. 286–309. – DOI: 10.1111/pech.12472.
Higgins-Desbiolles F. The ongoingness of imperialism: The problem of tourism dependency and the promise
of radical equality // Annals of Tourism Research. – 2022. – Vol. 94. – Art. 103382. – DOI: 10.1016/j.
annals.2022.103382.
Institute for Economics & Peace. Global Peace Index 2024: Measuring Peace in a Complex World [Elektron
resurs]. – Sydney: Institute for Economics & Peace, 2024. – URL: https://www.economicsandpeace.org/
wp-content/uploads/2024/06/GPI-2024-web.pdf (murojaat sanasi: 27.07.2026).
Pratt S. A., Liu A. Does tourism really lead to peace? A global view // International Journal of Tourism
Research. – 2016. – Vol. 18, No. 1. – P. 82–90. – DOI: 10.1002/jtr.2035.
Sharma P., Manhas P. S., Singh R., Ashraf F. Tourism for peace and community engagement: A soft power
approach to conflict resolution // ASEAN Journal on Hospitality and Tourism. – 2023. – Vol. 21, No. 3. – P.
–285. – DOI: 10.5614/ajht.2023.21.3.03.
Suriyankietkaew S., Krittayaruangroj K., Thinthan S., Lumlongrut S. Creative tourism as a driver
for sustainable development: A model for advancing SDGs through community-based tourism and
environmental stewardship // Environmental and Sustainability Indicators. – 2025. – Vol. 27. – Art. 100828.
– DOI: 10.1016/j.indic.2025.100828.
Tourism for SDGs. SDG 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions [Elektron resurs]. – URL: https://
tourism4sdgs.org/sdgs/sdg-16-peace-justice-institutions/ (murojaat sanasi: 27.07.2026).
United Nations. Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: Resolution A/
RES/70/1 [Elektron resurs]. – New York: United Nations, 2015. – URL: https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda
(murojaat sanasi: 27.07.2026).
UN Tourism. World Tourism Day 2024: Tourism and Peace [Elektron resurs]. – 2024a. – 27 September. –
URL: https://www.untourism.int/world-tourism-day-2024 (murojaat sanasi: 27.07.2026).
UN Tourism. International Tourism Highlights, 2024 Edition. – Madrid: UN Tourism, 2024b. – 27 p. – ISBN
-92-844-2579-2. – eISBN 978-92-844-2580-8. – DOI: 10.18111/9789284425808.
UN Tourism. World Tourism Barometer: January 2025 [Elektron resurs]. – Madrid: UN Tourism, 2025. –
URL: https://www.untourism.int/node/14904 (murojaat sanasi: 27.07.2026).
World Tourism Organization, United Nations Development Programme. Tourism and the Sustainable
Development Goals—Journey to 2030. – Madrid: World Tourism Organization, 2018. – 114 p. – DOI:
18111/9789284419401. – URL: https://www.undp.org/publications/tourism-and-sustainabledevelopment-
goals-journey-2030 (murojaat sanasi: 27.07.2026).
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 ECONOSCITECH INTEGRATION
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
