If you live at a popular travel destination, like say, Shimla or Badrinath, you might have often got irritated by the incessant flow of tourists walking into your streets. The traffic jams through the day, the littering of neighbourhoods, the noise, the pollution, and everything negative that comes with the tourists. And yet, we all travel. We travel for work, and we travel for leisure. We all contribute to that mess. So, we must think. Can we make each other’s life a little better by being mindful of our action while being at someone else’s place? Let’s talk a bit more about this issue; let’s talk about Responsible Tourism in-depth. I will share my thoughts on Responsible Tourism practices, especially reflecting on why they are so important today.
Though the concept of Responsible Tourism has been in use since three decades now, not many seem to have inculcated it in their regular travel habits. This is especially true for developing countries like India. Because tourism is still a new economy sector in these countries. With increasing purchasing power in recent times, domestic tourism has started a north-ward trajectory. But responsible practices are yet to catch up with the pace.
{For practical tips of responsible tourism, here’s a suggestion: 12 ways of Responsible Tourism}
Negative impact of mass tourism:
Before discussing responsible tourism practices, let’s reflect on the problem a bit more. Mass tourism is here to stay, and perhaps for a long time. Along with its economic benefits, it has brought with it a number of serious issues. Without going into the details, here are a few pointers.
You must have noticed littered streets, and got irritated by spitting on the roads everywhere in India. But that’s not all. From pollution to traffic jams, congested streets/ restaurants, price rise and resource crunch, tourist destinations bear the brunt of mass tourism. More the crowd, more is the mess.
Wherever I go, I see plastic pollution, even in deep forests! A deeply saddening aspect of tourism, especially in India is the disfiguring of our monuments. Why do the tourists feel the urge to write their names on carefully conserved heritage monuments!
Besides, cultural pollution at destinations is a reality too. More and more locals are taking to wearing dresses that the tourists wear. They are liking the pizzas and burgers more than their own traditional dishes. While some of these influences come from movies, and general mobility and globalization, tourism has a more direct impact.
Responsible Tourism: What does it mean
Though Responsible Tourism became a point of discussion at the turn of the second millennium, a more serious discourse started at the Cape Town Declaration alongside the World Summit of Sustainable Development in 2002. As per this declaration, Responsible Tourism is about “making better places for people to live in and better places for people to visit.”
Practically speaking, Responsible Tourism essentially aims to reduce the negative impacts of tourism, and focuses on creating positive experiences for the tourists, and local communities as well while keeping the natural and manmade heritage unharmed.
Responsible tourism practices have two major aspects: responsibility towards society, and responsibility towards environment. In order to dispel any confusion regarding similar concepts, here’s a further reading suggestion: “Sustainable Tourism is the order of the day“.
Whose responsibility is it?
Moreover, Responsible Tourism Practices require that all stakeholders in the tourism industry, from operators to hoteliers, and from governments to local communities and tourists take responsibility, take action to make tourism more sustainable. Though it’s not too difficult to understand, some confusion arises because of similar concepts such as sustainable tourism, ethical tourism, ecotourism, etc.
Responsible Tourism Vs. Sustainable Tourism:
“Responsible Tourism”, as a concept has its origin in the concept of “Sustainable Tourism”. However, people often talk of both the concepts interchangeably.
To make the comparison simple, let’s put it in the words of Nombulelo Mkefa (Director of Cape Town Tourism): “While responsible travel is a journey, Sustainable Tourism is the destination”. In other words, Sustainable Tourism is a broader concept that encompasses smaller concepts like ecotourism and ethical tourism.
While Sustainable Tourism entails a complex set of activities and actors, Responsible Tourism is inward looking. It appeals to everyone to look inwards and ask themselves how they can contribute to sustainable tourism. Though government and private sectors can play important role at macro level, the individual’s role at micro level is paramount.
Responsible Tourism is not boring:
Some people think responsible travel is boring. I assume, this perception comes from the word ‘responsible’ itself, which kind of sounds preachy. In reality though, responsible tourism planned well, can be much more interesting than otherwise.
“Responsible Travel is not only better for our world; it’s also more interesting and memorable. Responsible Tourism is the future of Travel.”
– Simon Reeve | Explorer, author, TV presenter
My own experience:
Let me share my own experience of how I realized the importance of responsible tourism practices. In my earlier days of travel, I was hardly aware of the consequences of over-tourism. However, in course of time, as I started working on issues of sustainable development, I began to see how travel and tourism contribute to global environmental issues. Determined to reduce my carbon footprints, I started planning my trips in a way to minimize consumption while maximizing quality experiences.
Now, I consciously try to consume products and services which have local origin. While planning for activities at the destination, I ask myself whether they lead to any harming of the local cultural or natural heritage. The answers to these questions are often simple, and they provide me immense satisfaction. Plus, I often realize that going for sustainable travel practices also means budget travel, making me save some money as well!
I no longer look for fake experiences like artificial (arranged) hunting scenes in forests, or cheap cultural shows at destinations. I do a bit of research to differentiate authentic local experiences from artificial tourist centric experiences. Read more on my travel perspective: Travel is the essence of life.
Responsible Tourism Practices: Why are they so important today
In a way, the significance of responsible tourism practices came from the negative impact of mass tourism. As mentioned in a section above, tourism has not spared any sphere of life today. As people earn more, they travel more. And it’s no secret that the world economy is in a north ward direction for quite sometime now. So, our cities, mountains, and even villages and forests are getting crowded. In the past, people used to travel in certain seasons. But now, quite literally, every season is tourist season.
Thus, the negative impact of tourism has spread not only spatially, but also temporally. Its adverse impact on global warming is significant; as per certain estimates, it’s around 10%! Before it gets worse, we must act.
Growing realization across the globe:
Countries across the globe are slowly but steadily realizing the flip side of mass tourism. So, they have started restricting, and are also contemplating banning all tourism at some destinations.
Bhutan, the Himalayan kingdom has been restricting tourist arrivals through hefty taxes and other charges. Venice, already facing the brunt of climate change, is realizing that mass tourism is aggravating the issue. Bali, a lush paradise is under immense pressure from over-tourism, with clogged roads, water scarcity and pollution. So, the authorities there are thinking of limiting the number of tourist arrivals.
Government of Peru has realized that large number of tourists are damaging the sensitive Machu Pichu ancient heritage site. Same is the case with Santorini (Greece), Iceland, Spain, islands of Thailand, Maldives, etc.
So, what’s the way out? If we don’t choose a better mid-way, these amazing tourist sites are going to close their doors on all of us. Yes, the government must act with appropriate policies and infrastructure (read more: Role of government in sustainable tourism). But the role of individual tourists cannot be overemphasized.
This is where the concept of Responsible Tourism gains importance.
Benefits of Responsible Tourism:
There are two sides of an argument in favour of promoting Responsible Tourism Practices. First, it wards off huge negative impact of mass tourism on the society and environment. Second, it benefits various stakeholders, who don’t benefit by default, from the huge opportunity that tourism sector comes with. I would put all the benefits of Responsible Tourism Practices in five separate buckets (as below).
1. Wholesome travel experience:
Let’s start with the individual travellers themselves. Conscious travelling can be immensely satisfying. When you visit a place after researching a bit about its history, culture and environment, you can contribute effectively to its preservation. After coming back from the destination, you will feel like you have become a better citizen.
Staying with locals, eating traditional food, or travelling by public transport are not only responsible travel practices, they also give one a better experience of the place than otherwise. Now-a-days, more and more travel agencies are provide their clients such authentic experiences.
2. Benefiting local community:
Benefits to the local community can flow from all stakeholders through responsible tourism practices. Individual tourists can proactively look for homestays run by locals, or eateries that sell traditional food. I often have better experiences of staying at homestays than hotels. {To learn more such tips on accommodations, check out: Choice of lodging and travel experience}. Similarly, buying souvenirs from local artisans/ entrepreneurs is a better idea than going to a shopping mall. Further, travelling in pubic transport will mean less vehicles on the road.
Travel companies/ agencies can curate interesting village experiences like farm-tourism, village-camping, fishing with locals, eco-tourism and many other experiences that engage locals in economic activities. Instead of importing expensive interiors, the hotels can procure interiors from local market.
If local community benefits from tourism, they will ensure that the tourists get a great experience at the destination. Plus, they will have the resources to take care of their environment, which in turn, gives the tourists a clean place.
3. Positive impact on the environment:
One of the major results of responsible tourism practices is a positive overall impact on the environment. If an entrepreneur builds a resort somewhere, they should plant the same number of trees that they cut. They would construct the building in a way that allows natural lights inside. They should use solar energy to meet their energy requirement as much as possible.
Similarly, responsible tourists would always carry a refillable water bottle. They would switch off the lights while leaving their rooms. Being mindful while using water means less pressure on water sources, and energy consumption. Irresponsible tourists throw garbage everywhere. But responsible tourists do take care the garbage goes to the trash bin.
4. Heritage site conservation:
While travelling across India, I see a lot of vandalism around heritage sites. This is absolutely painful. In contrast, look at Europe, how meticulously they take care of their ancient and medieval heritage sites! Shockingly in India, we have tourists writing their names on and disfiguring precious ancient ruins! The other day, I was at Dholavira, one of the oldest sites of Indus civilization. And I was appalled by the authorities allowing tourists standing/ walking over those absolutely fragile walls!
If everyone adopts responsible tourism practices, they would be conscious not to touch or damage our ancient heritage. Government would come up with apt regulations to educate people and not allow them to denigrate these sites. In fact, Responsible Tourism Practices entail responsibility on both sides.
5. Preservation of cultural traditions:
Mass tourism has resulted in dilution of cultural traditions at major travel destinations. Once in Port Blair, I saw the tourism department organizing a festival to attract tourists. Would you believe, majority of the artists and performers came from far away states of India! Couldn’t they have put in a little more effort to promote the local artists, even if they mightn’t have qualified their standards? This was not an isolated thing though; we see such things everywhere we go.
Following responsible tourism practices, the authorities should promote local art, craft, music and other cultural traditions. This will add immense value to the destination. Instead of modern dance and music festivals, one should choose traditional cultural events. As you choose, so you get.
Concluding Thoughts
Being responsible while travelling is not that difficult or boring as seems. Ask any full-time traveller; they will vouch for it. Responsible tourism practices are both interesting and budget friendly. So, why do people engage in irresponsible practices?
I think, it’s more to do with our consciousness, education and awareness than anything else. So, government, civil society and travel bloggers must write and speak about it as often as possible. Along with certain appropriate regulations, the government must run large scale campaigns at major tourist destinations. Let’s make it a habit for everyone rather than an effort.
Jayvanti Einjen
Nice
stampedmoments
Thanks a lot!