This is a White Paper by Trove's In-House Economist, Dr. Yasha Feferholtz.

As global travel rebounds and competition intensifies, tourism boards are increasingly asking not just how many visitors they attract—but what kind of impact those visitors generate.

Trove’s updated white paper, “From Growth to Grassroots: Reframing Tourism Investment to Benefit Local Economies,” offers a fresh perspective on how destinations can shift from volume-driven models to community-focused strategies. The new edition includes expanded insights, updated data, and actionable frameworks designed for tourism leaders who want to move beyond arrival numbers and focus on maximizing local value.

Drawing on our work with 25+ destinations—including Barbados, Belize, Aruba, and Namibia—the report outlines nine practical actions to increase tourism’s contribution to local economies. From high-value market segmentation and direct-to-local marketing, to product bundling and reducing leakages, each strategy is grounded in real-world applications and measurable outcomes.

Key highlights from the report include:

• How to define and attract travelers that will spend(including MICE, adventure, and cultural segments)
• Proven methods to increase average spend and length of stay
• Tools for measuring tourism leakage—and strategies to reduce it
• Why low-volume, high-impact models matter more than ever
• Case examples from small island nations and emerging markets

This white paper is designed for destination marketing organizations (DMOs), ministries of tourism, and tourism development agencies seeking to make smarter investments, generate more local revenue, and future-proof their strategies.

➡️ Download the White Paper in the Form Below.

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