Sustainable Tourism for Eliminating Poverty, often referred to as the ST-EP Initiative, is a global framework pioneered by the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) to leverage the tourism sector as a direct tool for poverty alleviation. This approach focuses on ensuring that a significant portion of the money spent by tourists actually reaches the hands of local, low-income communities rather than leaking out to international corporations. In 2026, ST-EP projects emphasize seven key mechanisms: employing the poor in tourism enterprises, sourcing local food and handicrafts, establishing small-scale tourism businesses run by locals, and using tourism-generated taxes to fund community infrastructure like clean water and schools. By developing "pro-poor" tourism, the initiative aims to create stable livelihoods in developing nations while preserving the local environment and culture, ensuring that the economic growth driven by travel is both equitable and environmentally responsible.