Abstract
The importance of dignity in tourism employment and the positive impact of Indigenous tourism activities are increasingly acknowledged. Nevertheless, the dignity and well-being of Indigenous people in urban tourism workplaces have received limited attention. Drawing on Indigenous Mexicans as a case study, we use cross-disciplinary concepts of dignity and humanistic management to address this gap by developing recommendations for restoring dignity to Indigenous groups through tourism employment in urban destinations. We explore how tourism employment has resulted in violations of the dignity of Indigenous peoples and illustrate how changes in employment practices across economic, sociocultural, and psychological dimensions can contribute to dignity restoration. By doing so, we advance a conceptual understanding of dignity and guide its practical implementation in tourism employment and management, and policy. Finally, we argue that dignity-restoring practices may also result in improved company performance and reputation as well as contribute to the sustainable development goals.
•Poverty, climate change, and other pressures have forced Indigenous people migrate to cities in search of work opportunities•In urban areas, many Indigenous people are trapped in precarious forms of work that violate their dignity•Changes in tourism employment practices can contribute to dignity restoration of Indigenous people•Dignity-restoring employment practices can improve organizational performance while contributing to sustainable development goals