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June, 2006 - The Dilemma of Responsible Tourism

Fresh off the plane from France and back at the desk, my head and heart is packed with the sights and sounds (oh, and yes, definitely the aromas and tastes) of that fabulous country. 

France is a tourist magnet. As we drove over 7000 kilometres, mainly on country roads, we couldn’t help but notice the UK, NL, D, B, and other foreign licence stickers of the backs of the cars that passed us. It seems the whole world has a love affair with France – so much so that now the locals are getting worried.

Some of our hosts at the chambre d’hotes where we stayed even complained about the hordes of UK, Belgian, Dutch and German tourists who stream in during holiday periods. Other locals lamented that too many people from neighbouring countries are buying up French properties to use as holiday homes, forcing prices up, then – and here’s the part they really hated – using workmen from their home countries (ie. non-French labourers) to renovate them.

All of this set me thinking about travel and tourism and how hard it is to get the mix right. Too little hurts the economy. Too much (most noticeably in third-world countries) can bring in unwanted elements such as crime and an erosion of the culture.

There is no slick answer. Responsible tourism is so much more than refusing to accept plastic bags in order to help preserve the environment. It goes beyond opposing sweat shops that turn out fake designer gear. There is even an argument for encouraging people to visit countries with oppressive regimes, allowing them a breath of fresh air from the outside world. In addition to this brief glimpse of other cultures, there is the hope that governments might realise that the conditions under which these people live and work is being widely and critically observed.

For this is what travel is really about. The people. 

I like this quote:

“Tourism is not only swimming,  sightseeing, monuments and towns.  It  is also coming into contact with people and cultures different from our  own, understanding and, perhaps, loving each other”.
Giuseppe Berto – renowned Italian author (1914-1978)

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