A critical perspective on A critical perspective on peace through tourismpeace through tourism

Freya Higgins-DesbiollesFreya Higgins-Desbiolles

School of Management School of Management

UniSAUniSA

IntroductionIntroduction

Tourism’s many positive contributions- Tourism’s many positive contributions- economic, social, cultural, ecological & economic, social, cultural, ecological & spiritualspiritual

Contemporary discourse focuses on Contemporary discourse focuses on economic & business domains to the economic & business domains to the exclusion of tourism’s social valuesexclusion of tourism’s social values

As early as Thomas Cook in the mid-As early as Thomas Cook in the mid-1800s, tourism has been noted as “ a 1800s, tourism has been noted as “ a great & beneficial social force” ( Turner great & beneficial social force” ( Turner & Ash, 1976). I am trying to revive this & Ash, 1976). I am trying to revive this view.view.

Louis D’Amore’s Dimensions of Louis D’Amore’s Dimensions of Peace through TourismPeace through Tourism

Inspired by the multiple meanings of the Inspired by the multiple meanings of the Russian word “mir”- which means the Russian word “mir”- which means the universe, the Earth, human race, peace, universe, the Earth, human race, peace, tranquillity, peace between peoples & tranquillity, peace between peoples & states, freedom from war D’Amore seeks a states, freedom from war D’Amore seeks a positive & multidimensional definition of the positive & multidimensional definition of the conceptconcept

Peace as peace within ourselves, peace with Peace as peace within ourselves, peace with other people, peace between nations, peace other people, peace between nations, peace with nature, peace with universe, peace with nature, peace with universe, peace with our God (D’Amore 1988)with our God (D’Amore 1988)

The International Institute For Peace Through Tourism (IIPT) is a not for profit organization dedicated to

fostering & facilitating tourism initiatives which contribute to international understanding & cooperation,

an improved quality of environment, the preservation of heritage, & through these initiatives,

helping to bring about a peaceful & sustainable world. It is based on a vision of the world's largest industry,

travel & tourism - becoming the world's first global peace industry; & the belief

that every traveler is potentially an "Ambassador for Peace. A primary goal of IIPT is to mobilize the travel &

tourism industry as a leading force for poverty reduction.                                              

International Institute for Peace International Institute for Peace through Tourismthrough Tourism

IIPT global peace parksIIPT global peace parks Credo of the peaceful traveller Credo of the peaceful traveller ConferencesConferences Partnerships with industry on initiatives Partnerships with industry on initiatives

like the charity “just a drop”, Pro-poor like the charity “just a drop”, Pro-poor tourismtourism

IIPT Peace awardsIIPT Peace awards World Peace travel agency World Peace travel agency IIPT consultancy wingIIPT consultancy wing

CritiqueCritique Sustainability & pro-poor rhetoric has been diluted as part Sustainability & pro-poor rhetoric has been diluted as part

of a PR offensive by powerful agencies such as World Travel of a PR offensive by powerful agencies such as World Travel & Tourism Council & IIPT seems to be collaborating on this & Tourism Council & IIPT seems to be collaborating on this agendaagenda

Examination of the membership of Board of Directors & Examination of the membership of Board of Directors & Advisory Group suggests it has been subject to corporate Advisory Group suggests it has been subject to corporate capture- it has representatives of tourism boards, tourism capture- it has representatives of tourism boards, tourism agencies & powerful politicians.agencies & powerful politicians.

The second IIPT African Conference on Peace through The second IIPT African Conference on Peace through Tourism received scathing comments from invited speaker Tourism received scathing comments from invited speaker Navaya ole Ndaskoi, Coordinator of Indigenous Rights for Navaya ole Ndaskoi, Coordinator of Indigenous Rights for Survival, who described the gathering as “a brutal freak Survival, who described the gathering as “a brutal freak show for money” in a letter rejecting the invitation show for money” in a letter rejecting the invitation (Alcantara, 2003). Amongst other criticisms, Ndaskoi (Alcantara, 2003). Amongst other criticisms, Ndaskoi challenged the hypocrisy of promoting a pro-poor agenda challenged the hypocrisy of promoting a pro-poor agenda while using a five star venue in Dar es Salaam to hold the while using a five star venue in Dar es Salaam to hold the conference (Ndaskoi, 2003). conference (Ndaskoi, 2003).

My understandingMy understanding

Tourism industry responded to the anti-Tourism industry responded to the anti-globalisation movement through globalisation movement through concerted public relations campaign – concerted public relations campaign – “liberalisation with a human face” in “liberalisation with a human face” in which pro-poor tourism and peace which pro-poor tourism and peace through tourism give them good publicity through tourism give them good publicity to overshadow the exploitation & to overshadow the exploitation & degradation of people & environments degradation of people & environments that tourism brings- this is intended to that tourism brings- this is intended to prevent regulation & limitsprevent regulation & limits

Justice TourismJustice Tourism

Tourism is inherently a justice issue Tourism is inherently a justice issue (Fennell, 2006: 102) with its (Fennell, 2006: 102) with its differential impacts on developing differential impacts on developing and developed communities. Justice and developed communities. Justice tourism has recently emerged as a tourism has recently emerged as a phenomenon worthy of further phenomenon worthy of further analysis.analysis.

Justice Tourism PrinciplesJustice Tourism Principles

Builds solidarity between visitors and Builds solidarity between visitors and those visited;those visited;

Promotes mutual understanding and Promotes mutual understanding and relationships based on equality, sharing relationships based on equality, sharing and respect;and respect;

Supports self-sufficiency and self-Supports self-sufficiency and self-determination of local communities; and determination of local communities; and

Maximises local economic, cultural and Maximises local economic, cultural and social benefits (Scheyvens 2002).social benefits (Scheyvens 2002).

http://www.globalexchange.org/tours/index.html

Example of Justice TourismGLOBAL EXCHANGE’s REALITY TOURS

US-Mexico Border : Day of the Dead/Dia de los MuertosOctober 31, 2004 - November 03, 2004

Ireland - The North of Ireland : A Lasting Peace - with Justice? August 01, 2005 - August 15, 2005

Afghanistan : Women Making ChangeJune 12, 2005 - June 21, 2005

Brazil : World Social Forum 2005- Another World is PossibleJanuary 21, 2005 - February 01, 2005

Palestine/Israel : Fact Finding DelegationOctober 17, 2004 - October 28, 2004

Russia - the Former USSR : Russia - A Changing EmpireJune 10, 2005 - June 24, 2005

                                        

        

International International Society for Society for Ecology & Ecology & Culture: Culture:

Reciprocity in Reciprocity in TourismTourism

See: See: http://www.isec.org.uk/ladakh.html#educationandculturalexchangehttp://www.isec.org.uk/ladakh.html#educationandculturalexchange

Evidence from ResearchEvidence from Research

Kelly’s study of Community Aid Abroad’s Kelly’s study of Community Aid Abroad’s One World Tours “study tours” provides One World Tours “study tours” provides insights into the alternative tourism insights into the alternative tourism consumer- but it is CAA’s Community consumer- but it is CAA’s Community Leadership Tour which is most exemplaryLeadership Tour which is most exemplary

McGehee & Norman’s (2002) study of McGehee & Norman’s (2002) study of Earthwatch argues that these tours provide Earthwatch argues that these tours provide social networks, consciousness-raising, social networks, consciousness-raising, awareness of the concept “the personal is awareness of the concept “the personal is political” and fosters social solidarity political” and fosters social solidarity leading to global citizenshipleading to global citizenship

Justice tourism takes on unfair Justice tourism takes on unfair globalisationglobalisation

Anti-globalisation activists -better called global Anti-globalisation activists -better called global justice advocates- have gathered for a series of justice advocates- have gathered for a series of annual meetings in order to challenge the annual meetings in order to challenge the structures & dynamics of unjust globalisation since structures & dynamics of unjust globalisation since 2001 under the title the World Social Forum (WSF)2001 under the title the World Social Forum (WSF)

The 2004 WSF convened in Mumbai, India placed The 2004 WSF convened in Mumbai, India placed tourism on the agenda for the first time at a Global tourism on the agenda for the first time at a Global Summit on Tourism. The theme was ‘Who really Summit on Tourism. The theme was ‘Who really benefits from tourism?’ The summit issued a call to benefits from tourism?’ The summit issued a call to ‘democratise tourism!’. One NGO participant, the ‘democratise tourism!’. One NGO participant, the Ecumenical Coalition on Tourism (ECOT) called for Ecumenical Coalition on Tourism (ECOT) called for a tourism that is ‘pro-people’ (ECOT, 2003). a tourism that is ‘pro-people’ (ECOT, 2003).

Tourism Interventions GroupTourism Interventions Group

Those gathered at WSF 2004 formed the Tourism Those gathered at WSF 2004 formed the Tourism Interventions Group (TIG) which declared:Interventions Group (TIG) which declared:

““Democracy, transparency and corporate and Democracy, transparency and corporate and governmental accountability in tourism will be governmental accountability in tourism will be placed high on the agenda for concerted action placed high on the agenda for concerted action and strategic interventions. We look forward to and strategic interventions. We look forward to working in solidarity with local community working in solidarity with local community representatives, activists and researchers from representatives, activists and researchers from various parts of the world to strengthen our various parts of the world to strengthen our struggle and develop strategies for a tourism that struggle and develop strategies for a tourism that is equitable, people-centred, sustainable, is equitable, people-centred, sustainable, ecologically sensible, child-friendly and gender-ecologically sensible, child-friendly and gender-just”. (TIG, 2004)just”. (TIG, 2004)

The Promise of TourismThe Promise of Tourism

Before the advent of the neoliberal era, Before the advent of the neoliberal era, tourism was dedicated to establishing a New tourism was dedicated to establishing a New International Economic Order (Asher 1985)International Economic Order (Asher 1985)

The Manila Declaration of 1980 held that The Manila Declaration of 1980 held that ““world tourism can only flourish if world tourism can only flourish if based on based on equityequity …… and if its ultimate aim is the and if its ultimate aim is the improvement of the quality of life and the improvement of the quality of life and the creation of better living conditions creation of better living conditions for all for all peoplespeoples””

It expected tourism to “help to eliminate the help to eliminate the widening economic gap between developed widening economic gap between developed and developing countriesand developing countries””

Inayatullah’s tourism checklist:Inayatullah’s tourism checklist:

How does tourism affect How does tourism affect the distribution of wealth? the distribution of wealth? Does tourism create Does tourism create conditions where conditions where economic growth is economic growth is sustaining? sustaining?

Does tourism reduce Does tourism reduce structural violence structural violence (systemic poverty, ill-(systemic poverty, ill-health and racism ) or health and racism ) or does it contribute to does it contribute to further impoverishment of further impoverishment of the periphery? the periphery?

Does tourism enhance Does tourism enhance individual & social peace? individual & social peace?

Does tourism create the Does tourism create the possibilities for cultural possibilities for cultural pluralism? Can knowledge pluralism? Can knowledge of the Other reduce of the Other reduce intolerance, creating the intolerance, creating the possibility of a possibility of a multicultural peaceful multicultural peaceful world? world?

Does tourism help create Does tourism help create economic democracy? economic democracy?

Is tourism progressive? Is tourism progressive? Does it use resources Does it use resources progressively, from progressively, from physical to mental to physical to mental to cultural-spiritual?cultural-spiritual? (1995) (1995)

The Ultimate Promise of The Ultimate Promise of TourismTourism

Cohen and Kennedy (2000) contend Cohen and Kennedy (2000) contend that tourismthat tourism

“… “… contributes to the growth of contributes to the growth of globalism – a more intense feeling of globalism – a more intense feeling of common membership of the human common membership of the human collectivity. It does this by exposing us collectivity. It does this by exposing us directly to a multicultural world where directly to a multicultural world where the boundaries between societies and the boundaries between societies and between insiders and outsiders are between insiders and outsiders are becoming increasingly blurred”.becoming increasingly blurred”.

ECONOMY

ECOLOGYSOCIETY

Quality of life

Ecological sustainability Equity

Stilwell’s Model: Can we apply this Stilwell’s Model: Can we apply this to tourism?to tourism?

ConclusionConclusion

Justice tourism is about challenging Justice tourism is about challenging this system & engaging with this system & engaging with alternative visions of global order alternative visions of global order that could be more just & that could be more just & sustainable.sustainable.

ReferencesReferences

Ecumenical Coalition on Tourism (2003) Ecumenical Coalition on Tourism (2003) Concept paper for World Social Forum. Concept paper for World Social Forum. Unpublished document. Hong Kong: ECOT.Unpublished document. Hong Kong: ECOT.

Fennell, D. A. (2006) Fennell, D. A. (2006) Tourism EthicsTourism Ethics. . Clevedon, UK: Channel View.Clevedon, UK: Channel View.

Global Exchange (no date) Reality tours. Global Exchange (no date) Reality tours. Online documents at URL <Online documents at URL <http://www.globalexchange.org/tours/index.html> [6 June 2005]. June 2005].

International Society for Ecology and Culture International Society for Ecology and Culture (no date) The Ladakh project. Online (no date) The Ladakh project. Online documents at URL <documents at URL <http://www.isec.org.uk/ladakh.html> [30 June June 2005].2005].

McGehee, N. & Norman, W. C. (2002). McGehee, N. & Norman, W. C. (2002). Alternative tourism as impetus for Alternative tourism as impetus for consciousness-raising. consciousness-raising. Tourism AnalysisTourism Analysis, 6, , 6, 239-251.239-251.

Oxfam Australia (no date) Community Oxfam Australia (no date) Community leadership program. Online documents at URL leadership program. Online documents at URL <<http://www.oxfam.org.au/CLP/index.html> [2 November 2005].November 2005].

Poon, A. (1993). A global transformation. In A. Poon. Poon, A. (1993). A global transformation. In A. Poon. Tourism, technology and competitive strategies Tourism, technology and competitive strategies (pp. (pp. 85-92). Wallingford, UK: CAB International.85-92). Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

Scheyvens, R. (2002) Scheyvens, R. (2002) Tourism for Development: Tourism for Development: Empowering CommunitiesEmpowering Communities. Harlow, England: Prentice-. Harlow, England: Prentice-Hall.Hall.

Sklair, L. (2002) Sklair, L. (2002) Globalization, Capitalism and its Globalization, Capitalism and its AlternativesAlternatives. Oxford: Oxford University Press.. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Stilwell, F. (2002). Stilwell, F. (2002). Political economy: The contest of Political economy: The contest of economic ideaseconomic ideas. Melbourne: Oxford University Press.. Melbourne: Oxford University Press.

Tourism Interventions Group (2004) Who really Tourism Interventions Group (2004) Who really benefits from tourism? Statement of Concern at the benefits from tourism? Statement of Concern at the 4th WSF. Online documents at URL <4th WSF. Online documents at URL <http://www.e-alliance.ch/media/media-4589.doc> [4 April 2005].April 2005].

This presentation is based on the This presentation is based on the academic analysis presented in:academic analysis presented in:

Higgins-Desbiolles, F. (2008) Justice Higgins-Desbiolles, F. (2008) Justice tourism and alternative globalisation. tourism and alternative globalisation. Journal of Sustainable TourismJournal of Sustainable Tourism, in , in press.press.