Ponderance

Sarah asked me today if I was enjoying my stay in India. Of course I am, but there are some caveats.
If she had asked me a few days ago, my answer would have been a resounding yes.
But since then, I spoke briefly to a woman in the lift at the Taj in Mumbai. She was off on a "Slum Tour", which made me think. Yes, dangerous I know.
Most of these countries we visit have a level of poverty. We don't plan it that way, but that is the reality for most countries in the world. We don't know how lucky we are in New Zealand.

I actually find the idea of a slum tour to be quite distasteful. Using poverty as a form of entertainment. Just like the ladies who would sit and knit while watching madam guillotine doing her work in revolutionary Paris.

From this I start to wonder how much tourism helps or hinders the people at the bottom of the food chain. Sarah tells me that in India, there are government supported souvenir shops that get their goods from local artisans. That is a very good idea.
Other shops, and other countries probably all get their merchandise shipped in from China.

So do the poor get any benefit from the presence of tourists? Oh sure, those entrepreneurial types will make a buck from the misfortunes of their neighbours. Come see the poor people in their natural habitat, just USD20 each. Roll up, roll up, roll up.
The family might see that figure in their own currency, if they're lucky. 20 pesos, 20 ringets, 20 rupees.

Are there any ways that tourists can give a direct benefit to the locals of any country that they visit?

There are always the hawkers, that nag you to death trying to barter with you for trinkets. Even if you pay their first price, you are getting a good deal in your currency. Paying their best price will still assure them a good return on the product. The problem with hawkers, is that once you show an interest, all the others come out of the woodwork. If you can't cope with the madness, then you need another outlet.
Those government approved schemes seem a good idea. Assuming they are honest, and are not involved in the bribery that seems to infest third-world governments.
Maybe the slum tours aren't such a bad idea after all. As long as those people you see are also the beneficiaries of what you have spent to be there.