ABSTRACT
Tourism is a socio-cultural event for both travellers and people living in destinations. This chapter discusses the reasons for the emergence of alternative forms of tourism and their institutional supports as well present a variety of alternative tourism (AT) sub-categories that currently exist. It explores the role of AT in addressing developmental issues and poverty alleviation in the Global South and continue by exploring the different expressions of 'social and solidarity tourism initiatives' (SSTIs) by bringing examples of the diverse nature of activities that are currently taking place across the globe. The chapter presents four case study examples of SSTIs from the Global South, particularly from Vietnam, Cambodia, Palestine and Colombia. It explains the rationale of using the concept social and solidarity tourism, explores the main differences between 'AT' and 'SST' and presents the spectrum of current SSTIs around the globe. The chapter concludes with recommendations for future research within the SST sector in the Global North and South.
