Transforming Re-Forming Tourism: Perspectives on Justice and Humanity in Tourism
Caesar D’Mello (ed.), Ecumenical Coalition on Tourism

This publication marks the 25th anniversary of the Ecumenical Coalition on Tourism (ECOT), which promotes socially, ecologically and ethically responsible tourism.

The first group of the 29 contributors explores tourism as a tool for building world community, looking at the ethical, economic, environmental and gender dimensions of global tourism.

Others examine tourism and development, faith perspectives and ecology.

There are also regional perspectives and case studies, all interspersed with the poetry of Cecil Rajendra.

ECOT sees most tourism as violating people’s rights, abusing women and children, upsetting natural surroundings, exploiting workers and “based on patterns of global relationships and transactions that are unjust and inequitable”.

D’Mello writes that the experience of the South is that tourism is as much a factor in the impoverishment of communities as war, ethnic conflict and corruption.

ECOT argues that, far from gaining from tourism, the Third World actually subsidises the tourism enterprise.

But, given that many travellers are also believers, there is an opportunity and a responsibility for faiths to link their theological teaching with how they relate responsibly, ethically and justly with the people and environments they visit.

However, there is a conflict between the ideals of tourism — to travel, explore, see, learn and understand — and the reality of tourists who at best expect to be free of stress and worry — and to be immersed in an all-encompassing environment of service and servility — and at worst seek to kill and despoil.

The writers, critical as they may appear, are possibly naïve in hoping that tourism can still be a vehicle for building a “truly world human community”. It is debatable whether any form of tourism nowadays can be ethical.

Hence the pertinence of the Buddhist comment that modern ways of travelling are good for getting to places quickly but not so good for gaining Enlightenment.

We must also wonder at the optimism for “another” tourism, when global warming and the cost of fuel could mean an end to tourism — an unfortunate predicament for economies (and crumbling churches) that depend on tourists for their survival.

A reassessment of the industry forced by environmental change may not so much be a “catalyst for reform” as the cause of agonising, convulsive withdrawal.

Whatever happens, we will still need ECOT to provide a “voice for the powerless”.

Stephen Webb worked for the Christian Conference of Asia, under whose umbrella ECOT was formed when it was known as the Ecumenical Coalition on Third World Tourism.

This book is available from Unichurch Books or office@ecotonline.org.

Stephen Webb