Rethinking Tourism Post Tsunami

In Thailand, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Indonesia and other areas affected by

the tsunami, the rebuilding of tourist hotels and infrastructure is

already beginning. If tourism is to be sustainable for local communities

they must be part of the decision making process. They must be fully

consulted so that their needs are taken into account, the group Tourism Concern believes.

For the past fifteen years Tourism Concern has been representing the

interests of people in tourism destinations and working to ensure that

local people benefit when we travel. Tourism has, for the past fifty

years, been something of a gold rush. It is said to be the world´s

biggest industry but its development has generally failed to take

responsibility for its impact on local people and their environment.

Tourism generates huge wealth, and can be a force for good for millions

living at destinations, but often they receive little. Most of our money

goes back to the tourism sending countries. Tourism Concern campaigns

for changes in policy and behaviour – of governments, tour operators and holidaymakers - to put money into local pockets and share resources fairly.

Tricia Barnett, Director of Tourism Concern, believes that the crisis offers an opportunity: “The tsunami highlights the over dependency of many governments on tourism but also presents an challenge to begin to correct what has been so skewed for too long. Already people are filling the sex bars of Phuket. We must move quickly to ensure that people can earn a fair living from tourism without having to sell their bodies and their children.”

Tourism Concern is advocating a new process which is aimed not just at

clearing up the beaches but the tourist industry. We welcome the Thai

government´s desire to rebuild with an emphasis on environmental values but also urge attention to human rights, people´s development and their opportunities to receive a fair share of the revenue.

As the countries elaborate new and necessary regulations to move buildings at a safer distance from the shoreline, will local people have a say in these and other issues? Already there are reports of local people in the devastated areas expressing anxiety about being moved from their homes for new developments.