Chapter 3 Responsible Tourism in Destinations

Abstract

To experience a different place, to see other peoples’ places and how they live there, is a major generator of travel and tourism. The celebration of, and respect for, diversity are fundamental to Responsible Tourism. Article 1 of the UN World Tourism Organization’s Global Code of Ethics for Tourism asserts the importance of an “attitude of tolerance and respect for the diversity of religious, philosophical and moral beliefs”, as “both the foundation and the consequence of responsible tourism”. It calls on stakeholders in tourism, including the tourists, to “observe the social and cultural traditions and practices of all peoples”. The world’s destinations reflect our planet’s ecological and socio-cultural diversity. Responsible Tourism places importance on all three pillars of sustainable development – economic, social and environmental – and accepts that the priorities will vary from place to place. We take our holidays in other peoples’ places, their places; it is for the people who live there to determine their priorities. Unfortunately there is often an imbalance of power, and the interests of the tourists and the businesses which cater to them can distort local priorities in favour of the visitors over the visited, in favour of the travel and tourism sector over other groups.