An Important Indicator of the Role of International Tourism - Essay Example

Seeing Both Sides of World Tourism and Recreation Introduction Tourism and recreation sanctioned and advised by the United Nations, World Tourism Organization, World Travel and Tourism Council, and etcetera, is a necessary goal to accomplish in the furthering of the world's economic development. While the cause and effect are both noble, it is easier said that done. Blueprint for New Tourism On July 10th, 2003, the World Travel and Tourism Council issued the following call to action, "The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) today revealed its Blueprint for New Tourism, which issues a call to action for both government and the industry to make several long-term commitments to ensure the prosperity of Travel & Tourism - one of the world's largest industries, responsible for 200 million jobs and over 10% of global GDP" (Tarsh 2003). The relevance of this Blueprint for New Tourism is very significant in the struggle to boost tourism and recreation, which in effect boosts the jobs and economies of many nations across the globe. Jean-Claude Baumgarten, President of the WTTC, said, "There is now a new consciousness amongst governments that they cannot leave the growth of Travel & Tourism to chance. What is needed is a new vision and strategy involving a partnership between all stakeholders - public and private to turn future challenges into opportunities. The Blueprint for New Tourism spells out how that can be achieved" (Tarsh 2003). The Blueprint does give a very well-structured idea for giving the world an economical boost complete with jobs and opportunities. Tarsh goes on to write, "WTTC's latest projection for the industry is that a quarter of a billion people will work in Travel & Tourism worldwide by the end of the decade, with the prospect of sustainable growth in to the future. This projection is supported by WTTC's latest economic research that indicates consistent growth, at 4.6% pa, over the coming decade" (2003). The previous projection gives a decent image for the future of the tourism industry, but to see exactly how that would be reached by the WTTC, one must observe the blueprint itself. Tarsh writes on and gives the three fundamental guidelines of the blueprint that fundamentally say, "1. Governments must recognize Travel & Tourism as a top priority 2. Business must balance economics with people, culture and environment 3. All parties must share the pursuit of long-term growth and prosperity" (Tarsh 2003). The state of "New Tourism" is of the utmost important as the future of the world is to be debated. Luis Correia da Silva, Portugal's Secretary of State for Tourism, said the following, "The strategic importance of Travel & Tourism to our economy can not be underestimated. I am fully supportive of the Blueprint for New Tourism and am delighted to have the opportunity of talking to so many of the industry's top people about how we can respond to the challenge" (Tarsh 2003). Mr. Correia da Silva's statement is very correct in calling the achievement of such goals a "challenge". The Blueprint is noble and seems efficient, but turning it into a reality from this idea will take a lot more ideas just like this one before anything close to perfection is realized. World Summit on Sustainable Development This is another plan, similar to the blueprint, that is designed to do the same thing, increase tourism, and make sure that tourism is environmentally safe, but profitable. The following comes from the World Summit on Sustainable Development's Plan of Implementation, "Promote sustainable tourism development, including non-consumptive and eco-tourism, taking into account the spirit of the International Year of Eco-tourism 2002, of the United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage in 2002, and of the World Eco-tourism Summit 2002 and its Quebec Declaration, and of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism as adopted by the World Tourism Organization, in order to increase the benefits from tourism resources for the population in host communities while maintaining the cultural and environmental integrity of the host communities and enhancing the protection of ecologically sensitive areas and natural heritages. Promote sustainable tourism development and capacity building in order to contribute to the strengthening of rural and local communities. This would include actions at all levels to: (a) Enhance international cooperation, foreign direct investment and partnerships with both private and public sectors, at all levels; (b) Develop programmes, including education and training programmes, that encourage people to participate in eco-tourism, enable indigenous and local communities to develop and benefit from eco-tourism, and enhance stakeholder cooperation in tourism development and heritage preservation, in order to improve the protection of the environment, natural resources and cultural heritage; (c) Provide technical assistance to developing countries and countries with economies in transition to support sustainable tourism business development and investment and tourism awareness programmes to improve domestic tourism, and to stimulate entrepreneurial development; (d) Assist host communities in managing visits to their tourism attractions for their maximum benefit, while ensuring the least negative impacts on and risks for their traditions, culture and environment, with the support of the World Tourism Organization and other relevant organizations; (e) Promote the diversification of economic activities, including through the facilitation of access to markets and commercial information, and participation of emerging local enterprises, especially small and medium-sized enterprises" (2002). While the blueprint is a very strong idea to assist with tourism, it seems that the plan set by the World Summit takes more into account. Money will always be a chief concern to every government in the world, but the World Summit's plan concerns itself with issues other than just money itself, which can say a lot about an organization and it's motives. Increments of the Solution The United Nations Conference on Tourism and Development says the following on E-Tourism, "Linking sustainable tourism and Information and communication technologies (ICTs) for development, UNCTAD has developed this Initiative to help developing countries take charge of their own tourism promotion by using ICT tools. Generating 11 per cent of global gross domestic product (GDP), tourism is one of the worlds largest industries. For many developing countries, and particularly the least developed ones (LDCs), tourism provides a significant potential for poverty reduction, economic growth and development. But at the same time, leakages (repatriation of profits) in the tourism sector are extremely important (up to 85% in some African LDCs). Well used, ICTs can make developing countries more autonomous and self-sufficient in constructing their own brand images and promoting their own tourist attractions. In maximizing their comparative advantage in this sector, developing countries can adjust their tourism services to suit their own development strategies and become better integrated in the world economy" (Guigue 2005). While the subject of tourism is the actual problem that needs a solution, it seems that ICTs are a variable that could help in the composition of said solution. As the world of technology grows it is necessary for competing LDCs to incorporate that technology into the image of their country, as well as using the ICTs to promote their tourism areas over the internet and via other means throughout the world. In 2000, The Tour Operator's Initiative, who between them account for 27 million tourists, said the following, "Members of the Initiative have made commitments to adopt good practices in the management of their internal operations, in working with their suppliers and at destinations with regards to environmental, social and economic aspects of tourism. Through the Initiative, member tour operators are able to share information on best practices and explore new tools addressing environmental, cultural and socio-economic issues; they also gain a stronger voice in promoting more sustainable practices amongst all the key stakeholders involved in tourism (Staal 2004). Like the ICTs, the Tour Operator's Initiative is another small increment that is very helpful in defining the solution to problem of growth in tourism. While both of the parts cannot complete the desired task, they can show that the world's democracies are working in the right area. Another incremental part of this solution deals with the preparation of small towns for tourism. The following is a summary of the PREPARE model that was designed by David M. Bruce; "Prepare possibilities for sustainability, Prepare responsibility and resources, Prepare eco-awareness/communications and training, Prepare programs of action with objectives and indicators, Prepare audit procedures and reporting, Prepare review of policy" (2000). Bruce discusses the possibility for diffusion of the PREPARE project, More generally, regular monitoring of the policies and actions covered by each of the PREPARe segments could become a critical part of incorporating tourism into an environmental management audit system (EMAS) for a destination area. This, in turn, could justify a type of desti-nation eco-label, where progress and com-mitment to positive change are judged sucient. Seven years on, each of the four towns studied in 1993 could be a candidate for the award of a WTFC hallmark. While all of these increments of the solution are on the right path, it seems that the results from them will take quite a while to be seen. These increments are either plans or projects that are in progress, but not close to realizing their potential, if that is possible. Economic Impacts The tourism industry brings in much needed money to host countries and the tourists' home countries. In developing countries it is one of the primary motivations of economic improvement for a region to promote itself (UNEP 2001). "According to the World Tourism Organization, 698 million people traveled to a foreign country in 2000, spending more US$ 478 billion. International tourism receipts combined with passenger transport currently total more than US$ 575 billion - making tourism the world's number one export earner, ahead of automotive products, chemicals, petroleum and food (UNEP 2001)." Though tourism gives an economic boost and is essential to the growth of many nations, it does also have an economic downside. "There are many hidden costs to tourism, which can have unfavorable economic effects on the host community. Often rich countries are better able to profit from tourism than poor ones. Whereas the least developed countries have the most urgent need for income, employment and general rise of the standard of living by means of tourism, they are least able to realize these benefits. Among the reasons for this are large-scale transfer of tourism revenues out of the host country and exclusion of local businesses and products" (UNEP 2001). The production and consumption branch of UNEP talks about leakage, "The direct income for an area is the amount of tourist expenditure that remains locally after taxes, profits, and wages are paid outside the area and after imports are purchased; these subtracted amounts are called leakage. In most all-inclusive package tours, about 80% of travelers' expenditures go to the airlines, hotels and other international companies (who often have their headquarters in the travelers' home countries), and not to local businesses or workers. In addition, significant amounts of income actually retained at destination level can leave again through leakage" (UNEP 2001). Leakage is a problem for any country dealing with tourism, but especially for struggling countries that do not have airlines, cruise ships, or other means of helping their economy via transportation, and ultimately nations other than their own. "A study of tourism 'leakage' in Thailand estimated that 70% of all money spent by tourists ended up leaving Thailand (via foreign-owned tour operators, airlines, hotels, imported drinks and food, etc.). Estimates for other Third World countries range from 80% in the Caribbean to 40% in India" (UNEP 2001). Also, another negative economical effect that can cause a decrease in tourism is the impact of another industry. Economic crises, like the Asian crisis that hit Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia a few years ago, can be devastating to inbound tourism flows. The financial turmoil triggered a sharp fall in tourism flows to affected countries during 1997 and 1998. In the Philippines, the crisis and the temporary closure of Philippine Airlines affected inbound arrivals significantly as there was a decline of almost 3.3% in 1998" (UNEP 2001). Economic Conservation The positive impacts of tourism relate to the economic contributions that this industry gives to many different parts of the host nation. Foreign Exchange Earnings are important recipients of contributions. "An important indicator of the role of international tourism is its generation of foreign exchange earnings. Tourism is one of the top five export categories for as many as 83% of countries and is a main source of foreign exchange earnings for at least 38% of countries" (UNEP 2001). Another important recipient are government revenues. There are both indirect and direct revenues. "Direct contributions are generated by taxes on incomes from tourism employment and tourism businesses, and by direct levies on tourists such as departure taxes. Indirect contributions are those originated from taxes and duties levied on goods and services supplied to tourists" (UNEP 2001). Along with employment generation, which is easily explained, another recipient of these contributions are the local economies. "Tourism can be a significant, even essential, part of the local economy. As the environment is a basic component of the tourism industry's assets, tourism revenues are often used to measure the economic value of protected areas" (UNEP 2001). World tourism is not over, but the implementation of all of these new assistance programs indicates that it is struggling, or at least, that it can be improved greatly. The past few years have not helped the Tourism industry. Terrorist attacks all over the globe and war in the Middle East have not exactly been catalysts for those who wish to see different parts of the world, but there are bright spots. In specific areas, some nations are getting attention that they haven't gotten in years. South America is seeing increases in tourists showing up to many of it's countries' eco-tourism conferences and associations. "Development agencies, foundations and environmental groups have combined forces to promote ecotourism in the region, with some success. Information about these efforts in the planning stage or analysis or project reports afterwards could be placed on the Web for global access. International environmental groups -- The Nature Conservancy, Conservation International, World Wildlife Fund, to name a few -- have been culpable of hoarding information" (2005). Tourism may only be doing very well in specific spots, but with worldwide organizations shedding light on smaller groups, one may observe that attention is being brought to the masses, on these subjects and areas, more than ever before. Conclusion People will always be going places. There will always be tourists going to extravagant resorts and well-publicized towns and cities, but that is not the issue being confronted. The issue deals with smaller areas that must compete with those larger ones. Large nations are always going to get more of the economic gain, because of their larger, corporate transportation groups. Yes, large nations will make more money, but their incomes don't have to be so different when compared to LDCs. Nations like America, Britain, France, and Japan will always benefit from the tourism trade, but the rest of the world will not as long as they have so much control over what goes on. The wealth of the world is given to the larger nations whenever tourism is concerned, but the world would be wealthier overall if smaller nations were able to get their "piece of the pie" via tourism. There are advantages and disadvantages when getting in such an industry, but if properly assisted and constructed these smaller countries could promote themselves, appreciate themselves and their native land, and in turn offer what they have to the rest of the world for its own prosperity. Works Cited "Economic Impacts of Tourism (2001)." UNEP. www.unep.com. "Plan of Implementation (2002)." World on Sustainable Development. Google. Accessed 9th August 2005. Bruce, David M (2000). "Prepare." Tourism and Hospitality Research. Vol. 3. No. 1. Guigue, Muriel (2005). "E-Tourism Initiative." UNCTAD. www.unctad.com. Mader, Ron (2005). "Exploring Eco-Tourism." Latin American Ecotourism. www.planeta.com. Staal, Franz (2000). Tour Operator's Initiative on Sustainable Tourism. www.unep.com. Tarsh, David (2003). "Blueprint." WTTC. www.wttc.org. Read More