Resources to Learn about Responsible Tourism

"Global tourism and travel has certainly changed in the past decade. Choices regarding security, safety, health, and the environment have greatly impacted our travel choices. On the other hand, we now have amazing new options that seek to help small communities develop sustainably and economically and new choices that allow visitors to better understand the culture and realities of the places they visit. A growing group of consumers want their travel to be less invasive, and emerging fair-trade tourism, anti-poverty tourism, and responsible tourism are changing the face of travel.

The term “responsible tourism” is a bit of a catch-all concept that includes an array of challenges and alternatives to mass tourism. For example, Responsibletourism.com covers efforts concerning fair-trade tourism, ecotourism, and protection of people who work in the travel industry. Responsible tourism is based on ethics and human rights—from protection of service workers and labor rights for mountain porters to programs against exploitation of women and children in tourism prostitution and campaigns against tourist trade in endangered species. It also means support for community-based travelers’ programs—homestays, guest cottages, ethno-museums, and educational programs that bring tourist dollars directly into communities. Agro-tours, like fair trade coffee tours, are a good example.

Fair trade has been increasingly promoted by activists, farmers, business people, and even rockers like Coldplay's Chris Martin, who became a leading front man for fair trade after participating in an Oxfam trip to meet Haitian farmers. According to the group Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa (FTTSA), “Fair trade in tourism is about ensuring that the people whose land, natural resources, labor, knowledge, and culture are used for tourism activities actually benefit from tourism.” In short, it means that tourism has an ethical framework and focuses on fair wages and long-term benefits for locals.

Tourism is not as easy to certify as coffee or textiles because it provides services (not just products) which are more difficult to monitor. There are some fledgling campaigns and projects underway. There are also many tour companies and organizations that link directly with fair-trade businesses and cooperatives and arrange tours to meet with and learn more about those efforts in countries like India, Thailand, Kenya, Cuba, and the Philippines.

Another emerging effort is the anti-poverty tourism movement. Closely linked with fair trade efforts, the anti-poverty campaign focuses on empowering local people to design their own sustainable communities, including tourism. The Eldis Gateway to Development Information (eldis.org/csr/ppt.htm) is a resource web site hosted by several development agencies and includes pro-poor tourism case studies.

There are also anti-tourism efforts that are important for potential travelers to know about. Informed travelers can avoid supporting areas that are blatantly abusing human rights. There are numerous efforts around the globe working on all responsible tourism, and we are happy to report on some of these programs."

—Deborah McLaren, Responsible Travel contributing editor for Transitions Abroad
Author of Rethinking Tourism & Ecotravel

African Indigenous Women Organization (AIWO) is a network of indigenous women working on community issues, including those of tourism. P.O. Box 74908, Nairobi, V6K 1X4, Kenya; Tel. 011-254-2-723-958; iin@swiftkenya.com.

Airline Ambassadors is a group that brings sustainable tourism discussions to the U.N. and medical supplies abroad. Contact: Carl E. Oates, 19 South B St., Ste. 1, San Mateo, CA 94401; Tel. 214-361-1488 or 650-347-3500; info@airlineamb.org; www.airlineamb.org.

Asia-Pacific Peoples’ Environment Network (APPEN) is a regional anti-golf-course and environmental network. Contact: 27 Lorong Maktab, 10250 Penang, Malaysia; Tel. 011-60-422-76930.

Asian Women’s Association, Sakuragaoka, Shibuyaku, Tokyo, 155, Japan; Tel. 011-81-3-346-9752. An anti-prostitution organization promoting responsible tourism.

ASOC. If you are planning a trip to Antarctica, read about ASOC’s Antarctica Tourism Campaign, which supports regulation of commercial Antarctic tourism. ASOC is concerned about the rapid growth of commercial tourism, which presently is not regulated by the Environment Protocol, including size of ships, number of visitors to various areas, on-shore infrastructure development, use of helicopters, and other issues that affect the environment. Note that ASOC is not opposed to tourism but does believe that it should not be left unregulated. Contact: The Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition, 1630 Connecticut Ave., NW Third Fl., Washington, D.C. 20009; Tel. 202-234-2480; www.asoc.org/what_tourism.htm.

Badri Dev Pande is developing a sustainable tourism master plan of the Manaslu region of Nepal. Contact: Environmental Education and Awareness, P.O. Box 3923, Kathmandu, Nepal.

CART, Center for the Advancement of Responsible Travel, provides information on responsible tourism in Europe. Contact: 70 Dry Hill Park Rd., Tonbridge, Kent TN10 3BX, U.K.

Center for Responsible Tourism is an educational group dedicated to informing the U.S. public about the prostitution of children and women in Asian tourism. Contact: D. Donnelly and Virginia Hadsell, 1765-D Le Roy, Berkeley, CA 94709; dodyhd@aol.com.

Center for Seafarers’ Rights provides documentation about workers on cruise ships and publications on the subject. Contact: Seaman’s Church Institute, 241 Water St., New York, NY 10038; Tel. 212-349-9090; crs@seamanschurch.org; www.seamenschurch.org.

Coalition Against Trafficking in Women—Asia Pacific (CATWAP) is a network of feminist groups, organizations, and individuals fighting the sexual exploitation of women globally. Contact: CATWAP, Ste. 406, Victoria Condominium, 41 Annapolis St., Greenhills, San Juan, Metro Manila 1500, Philippines; Tel. 011-632-722-0859; fax 011-632-722-0755; catw-ap@catw-ap.org; www.catw-ap.org.

Coalition on Child Prostitution and Tourism is an anti-prostitution tourism advocacy network. Contact: Christian AId, 35 Lower March, Waterloo, London SE1 7RT, U.K.; Tel. 011-44-020-7620-4444; info@christianaid.org; www.christian-aid.org.uk.

Coalition of Organizations for Solidarity Tourism offers alternative tourism in the Philippines. Contact: P.O. Box 1172, Attn: PH c/o Philcom, 8755 Paseo de Roxas, Makati 1200, Philippines.

ECOT, Ecumenical Coalition on Tourism, is an ecumenical and NGO effort to promote human rights and responsible tourism in Asia. It produces the respected Contours magazine and has organized numerous campaigns. Contact: ECOT, 96 Pak Tin Village Area 2, Mei Tin Road, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong; Tel. 011-852-2602; ranjan@ecotonline.org; www.ecotonline.org/Pages/HomePagelist.asp.

ECPAT stands for End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography, and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes. The offices of ECPAT International are located in Bangkok, Thailand. ECPAT is a network of organizations and individuals working together to eliminate the commercial sexual exploitation of children. It seeks to encourage the world community to ensure that children everywhere enjoy their fundamental rights free from all forms of commercial sexual exploitation. Contact: ECPAT, info@ecpat.net; www.ecpat.net, www.ecpat.net/eng/index.asp.

El Grupo Ecologist de Mayab (GEMA) is a local group working to protect X’cacel, the most important sea turtle nesting beach in Mexico’s Atlantic. Contact: Av. Uxmal 24 Sm. 2A, Cancun, Q.Roo, Mexico; Tel. 011-98-84-69-44, 99-84-98-57; recarib@cancun.com.mx.

Equality Now’s Campaign Against Sex Tourism/Trafficking addresses the commercial sexual exploitation of women. It has been responsible for shutting down sex tour operations, as well as supporting laws such as the enactment of a Hawaii state law prohibiting the activities of sex tour companies. Other initiatives Equality Now has undertaken in the campaign against sex tourism and trafficking include working for the passage of international and U.S. legislation on trafficking. Contact: Equality Now, P.O. Box 20646, Columbus Circle Station, New York, NY 10023; info@equalitynow.org.

Equality Now Africa: P.O. Box 2018 KNH 00202, Nairobi, Kenya; Tel. 011-254-20-271-9913/9832; equalitynow@kenyaweb.com.

Equality Now London: P.O. Box 48822, London WC2N 6ZW, U.K.; ukinfo@equalitynow.org.

EQUATIONS, Equitable Tourism Options, is a responsible tourism advocate; helps travelers locate environmentally and culturally sensitive projects in India. Contact: EQUATIONS, No. 198, II Cross, Church Rd., New Thippasandra, Bangalore 560 075, India; Tel: 011-9180-528-2313; admin@equation.ilban.ernet.in.

Euroter publishes principles for developing green tourism in European villages. Contact: Euroter, 82, rue Francois Rolland, F 94130 Nogent-sur-Mer, France; Tel. 011-33-1-4514-6421.

FernWeh Tourism Review is a tourism-watch and -advocacy group in Germany. Almost all information available in German only. Great resource on “best of” responsible tourism groups around the world. Contact: fernweh@iz3w.org, www.iz3w.org/fernweh/.

Freedom from Hunger brings innovative and sustainable self-help solutions to the fight against chronic hunger and poverty. Together with local partners, it works to equip families with resources they need to build futures of health, hope, and dignity. Go to Freedom from Hunger’s web site to take a virtual journey; learn more about the history and economic background of 16 countries around the world including Haiti, Mali, and Uganda. See color photos of the various plant and animal life native to each country, and find links to other useful web sites. Contact: Freedom from Hunger, 1644 DaVinci Ct., Davis, CA 95616; Tel. 800-708-2555; info@freefromhunger.org; www.freefromhunger.org.

Friends of the Earth (Amigos de la Terra) is a research and networking organization on tourism industry activities and impacts. Contact: Tourism Campaign, c/o P.O. Box 19199, 1000 GD Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Tel. 011-31-20-622-1369; foei@foei.org.

Friends of PRONATURA is a network of ecological groups working in Mexico. Contact: 240 East Limberlost Dr, Tucson, AZ 85705; Tel. 602-887-1188; closfree@aol.com.

Global Anti-Golf Movement and Global Network for Anti-Golf Course Action (GNAGA) is an anti-golf initiative that works with grassroots and indigenous groups throughout Asia and the Pacific displaced by golf development. Contact: 1047 Naka Kamogawa, Chiba, Japan 296-01; Tel: 011-81-470-971-001. GAG’M, 27 Lorong Maktab, 10250 Penang, Malaysia; Tel. 011-604-227-6930; aatzor@tin.it, www.antigolf.org.

Green Globe Asia Pacific supports environmentally sustainable management for the travel and tourism industry. Contact: GPO Box 371, Canberra ACT 260 Australia; Tel. 011-61-2-6257-9102; customerservice@ggasiapacific.com.au, www.ggasiapacific.com.au.

ISEC/Ladakh (India) Project is an educational program that supports innovative grassroots development efforts of the Ladakhi people, who live on the western edge of the Tibetan Plateau in India. Good resource materials. Provides Westerners with an opportunity to work on a Ladakhi farm in the summer. Contact: P.O. Box 9475, Berkeley, CA 94709; Tel. 510-548-4915; isecca@igc.org, www.isec.org.uk.

Green Globe 21 Americas, Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism. Contact: 1000 Ponce de Leon, 5th Fl., San Juan, Puerto Rico 00907; tel: 787-725-913; fax: 787-725-910; herawford@caribbeanhotels.org, www.cha-cast.com.

Green Tourism Association is an NGO committed to developing and cultivating an urban green tourism industry in Toronto. Contact: 590 Jarvis St, 4th Fl., Toronto, ON M4Y 2J4 Canada; Tel. 416-392-1288; greento@city.toronto.on.ca, www.greentourism.ca.

Indonesia Resources and Information Program (IRIP) fosters active links with Indonesians working for change. Contact: P.O. Box 1326, Collingwood 3066, Australia; Tel: 011-61-3-481-1581.

Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID) is a Philippine NGO that campaigns for responsible tourism. Contact: 27d Rosario Townhouse, Galaxy St., GSIS Heights, Matine, Davao City, Philippines; Tel. 011-63-822-992-574; iid@skyinet.net; www.iidnet.org.

Indigenous Tourism Rights International is dedicated to collaborating with Indigenous communities and networks to help protect native territories, rights, and cultures. Contact: Indigenous Tourism Rights International, P.O. Box 4657, Saint Paul, MN 55104; Tel: 651-644-9984; deborah@tourismrights.org; www.tourismrights.org.

International Institute for Peace Through Tourism (IIPTT) facilitates tourism initiatives that contribute to international peace and cooperation. Contact: Fox Hill 13, 685 Cottage Club Rd., Stowe, VT 05672; www.iipt.org.

The International Porter Protection Group (IPPG) works to improve the conditions of mountain porters in the tourism industry worldwide. This means porters carrying for individual trekkers, organized groups, climbing expeditions and those who supply lodges. Contact: Dr. Jim Duff, 53 Dale St., Ulverston, LA129AR Cumbria, U.K.; Tel:/fax: 011-44-0-12295 86225; info@ippg.net; www.ippg.net.

Okologischer Tourismus in Europa (OTE) is a responsible tourism organization; resources in German. Contact: Bernd Rath, Am Michaelshof 8-10, 53177 Bonn, Germany; oete-bonn@t-online.de, www.ote.de.

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Friends of the Earth Malaysia) works on tourism issues. Contact: 1 No. 27, Lorong Maktab, 10250 Penang, Malaysia; tel: 011-604-227-6930; smidris@tm.net.my, www.surforever.com/sam.

Respect (Austrian Center for Tourism and Development) is an organization that stands up for responsible and sustainable tourism in developing countries. Contact: A-1150, Vienna, Diefen-bachgasse 36/4, Austria; Tel: 011-43-1-895-62-45; office@respect.at, www.respect.at.

Third World Network produces a magazine and other information about development issues in the global south, including tourism. Contact: 228 Macalister Rd., 10400, Penang, Malaysia; Tel: 011-604-226-6728, 011-604-226-6159; twn@igc.apc.org, www.twnside.org.sg.

Sustainable Travel—Travel Without a Trace is an organization focused on promoting global sustainable tourism development and providing eco-certification for U.S. tourism providers that incorporate financially viable, environmentally and socially responsible practices into their operations, so consumers can buy and book with confidence. Contact: Sustainable Travel International—Travel Without a Trace, 3250 O’Neal Cir., Ste. H-11, Boulder, CO 80301; Tel: 303-544-9836; info@SustainableTravelInternational.org, www.SustainableTravelInternational.org.

Tourism Watch, Church Development Service, coordinates a European network of responsible travel organizations. Contact: Ulrich-von-Hassell-Str. 76, 53123 Bonn, Germany; Tel: 011-49-0-228-81010; tourism-watch@de.org; www.tourism-watch.de.

Transverses promotes responsible tourism and has a resource center on tourism and the Third World. Pre-Travel Information on human rights, fair labor, etc. Contact: 7 rue Hayrault, F-92100 Boulogne, France; Tel. 011-33-1-4910-9084; transver@club-internet.fr, www.chez.com/transverses.

“I’m Not Going to Burma: Speak out about tourism to Burma” More than 70 celebrities and politicians are backing this new public awareness campaign asking people not to holiday in Burma because of human rights concerns. In Burma many human rights abuses are directly connected to the regime’s drive to develop the country for tourists. More than one million people have been forced out of their homes in order to "beautify" cities, suppress dissent, and to make way for tourism developments, such as hotels, airports, and golf courses. “Burma will be here for many years, so tell your friends to visit us later. Visiting now is tantamount to condoning the regime,” says Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Contact: www.burmacampaign.org.uk/tourism.php.