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Lack of coordination a challenge to responsible tourism: expert

KOCHI: Lack of coordination between players in the private sector, local bodies and local community is the greatest challenge to responsible tourism initiatives, Harold Goodwin of the International Centre for Responsible Tourism, Leeds University, has said.

Talking to presspersons on the sidelines of the ongoing second international conference on Responsible Tourism in Destinations here on Saturday, he said there was no fixed recipe for acting responsibly. “Each stakeholder in the tourism sector must assess the difference of situations in urban and rural tourism locales and act with commitment. They should have a genuine engagement with the local community. They must also conserve the land and the wildlife there, for the tourism trade to thrive,” he said.

Asked about the progress made by responsible tourism initiatives since the Cape Town summit of 2002, he said many more organisations integrated responsible tourism practices into their business. “But much more needs to be done, more rapidly. Talking alone is not enough, affirmative action is required.”

Mr. Goodwin said there was plenty of irresponsible tourism going on in the U.K. and South Africa. “The Web site www.irresponsibletourism.info is aimed at exposing such practices,” he said.

“We are encountering similar difficulties while engaging governments of different countries. The governments can play the lead in cleaning beaches, ensuring better usage of land and making available good water and sewage facilities.” Referring to the role of the media, he said the media could create awareness on many issues. “But most travel writers in countries like the U.K. are not very critical of tourism practices,” he said.

To a query on whether mass tourism would sound the death knell for tourist destinations, he said people travel more, as the standard of living increases. “Each destination is owned by the local community and their government. They have to decide on tourist arrivals. Responsible tourism cannot be developed in isolation. Each one has to be an equal partner in the endeavour,” he said.

Reflecting on the case of the alleged rape and death of a minor girl in Goa after she was drugged, Mr. Goodwin said such things happen around the world. The local government, society and the police should intervene in such issues, he said.

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