The Latin America and Caribbean (LAC)region has one of the highest levels of crime and violencein the world. While the average world homicide rate is 11homicides per 100,000 residents, the rate in the LAC regionis 36 per 100,000 (WHO, 2003). Crime and violence are nowrecognized as serious economic and social problems with veryhigh economic and social costs, especially in poor urbanareas. By some estimates, the region loses up to 14 percentof its gross domestic product (GDP) to violence.Particularly worrisome is the fact that youth in the region(typically defined as 15-24 year-olds) and young men inparticular are disproportionately involved in violence, asboth victims and perpetrators. As a case in point, the LACregion has the world's highest homicide rate of menbetween the ages of 15 and 29 (69 per 100,000), withperpetrators of violent crimes most often being young menbetween the ages of 16 and 25. This note provides anoverview of three sustainable tourism initiatives in theregion that seek to link tourism related activities withsocial programs that by focusing on the most common types ofrisk factors help prevent youth from becoming engaged inat-risk behavior, including crime and violence. All three ofthese initiatives were highlighted at the 'learningevent on sustainable and responsible tourism in LAC.'Although the initiatives described in this note have not yetundergone impact evaluations, they do provide promisingideas for future Bank operations that seek to linksustainable tourism and at-risk youth programs.
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