There is no single definition or set of standards where local tourism is concerned, instead it’s an ideal with a lot of room for interpretation. Local travel means tourism that leaves money in the hands of those living in your touristed destination. This could be on a national level, say if you book a tour operator based out of the capital city who then runs tours into rural regions. Or local tourism means very clearly supporting those business run with a few miles of your hotel — family-owned businesses or social enterprises. The underlying theme of local travel is ensuring that your tourism dollar enters the money transfer cycle.
