Vglume l, lssue 1

Apnl-l993

For Private Circulation Only

ANew ldentity
Welcome to the first issue o/ Altlktter, EQUATIONS' new Wh ile wc u i Il co n t irut e o u r o cu s o f t ou
f rism c r it iq u e an d r espo nsfu c
publication. With this, we also enil the publicntion of the action, ute wiII actiaely seek lhe inttokrement, etpertLse nrul
ALTERN ATNE NETWOR K LETTER / NL in brief
- which suyrport of ucademics anrl othcrs concerned utith the issue.
we brought to our renders since early
'1986. -
Additionally, communication will be combined with campaign
As some of you who were with us back then might remember, ANL acti<tns. Seuer aI such camlnigns are planned for lhe year, on isx rcs
was first published following the'1984 Workshop on Alternatiae Iike Tourism and Indigenous People , GoIf Touri^sm, Tourism and
Tburbm held at Chkng Mai in Thailand. EQUAT/ONS was set Structural Adjustnrcnt, and so on.
up in'l 9 8 5, par tly as a result of Ch ian g Mai, anil t nk rap onsibili ty
for puhlkhing ANL from its second issue. Ciuen thnt tourL<nr is an internalional issuc,ute plnn to strengthcn
our link utith grou;n u,orkingwith similar ualues,and especiallq
Anewpublication signifies a change: in this case,it represents the those in South Asia. We shnll do so through the existing
changes that haoe taken place at EQUATIONS wer the past year ,ANTENNA network,and a meetingis plnnned during'1993.
or so, and those that are planned t'or the next couple of years.
Ohuiously, such changes cannot take plnce without appropriote
Our role in the past has mainly been as a resource and informtion hunnn and structural re-rtrganising,, and
ute hope to hnae n t'ant
centre on Third World tourLsm bsues, focussing on India. A new fates nt thc officc stnn!
n!7: 'n'trt of our wor\ centered around our drcumentation
ai,. ."r,.!hich prouided the basis for workhops, campuigns, A N Let ter will re.flcct thc new f trus of our efforts , nul int'onn our
publicni'ions nnd audio-aisunls, and collnborations with actiuists
readers of ei,ents ,n,1 flngktpments at EQU,ATIONS md Ltllrcrs
and acadenics.
inoofued in tourLqm critique and response . Your contrihutians in
By enrly '199'l
, there was a clear sense that ghanges were needed, tlrc form of nrticles , nppeals ,lctters or neus items arc most wclcome ,
giaen thcchanging context of tourbminlndia. We inztitedsome
network partners in April that year to share with us their palues Finally, n pcrsorral niote. I hnac cnjoycd being nt the hclnr ol uffairs
and aiauts, their assessment and future expectations of us. since '1985, nnd uill continue tolte assuinted with EQUATIONS.
I am sure ottr readers nnd ynrtners aiII continuc to support nnd
This pr trc ess c ontirurcd with the setting up an internal Task F orce enciluoge tryr zuork in the t'uture, in pnrtiarlnr thc le.ndcrship thnt
'l
in late 1991 . During the latter part of 992, we uere able to retsicw Sureih prot'idx to this phase.
the progress in these efforts, anrl arrioed at a number of decLsions
regarding the future.

Starting this year, we will proaide aaried anil multi-t'aceted Paul Gonsalves
Iearning experiences on tourLsm doncerns in lndia. A national
seminar is scheduled for May, to be folluaeil up by a training
programme inDecember.

Alongside, will work towards rsetting up a Touism Policy

zne
Group in
India, consisting of wdlthrum people t'rofi uried
backgrounds who would collcctiae$ be in a paition to influence
poltcy.
 lssues
Glimpses of a Culture of dependency
JEREMY SFJBROOK
ftt"rrpu, sikri in Uttar Pradesh is a
lr!'""r oi merancnorrc granoeur. Tne
I capital of Emperor Akbar in the
16th century, it was abandoned after only
14 years and no one quite knows why. lt
is an evocative, eerie place; the palace
has a vast red sandstone courtyard
surrounded by high crenellated walls. A
llock ol parrots on the Chhatris looks like
an eflorescence ol vivid green
leaves.
The fretted marble and the tomb- stones
in the mosque are dazzling in the
alternoon sun; the rools of the towers are
covered with lichen, while purple and
orange bougainville has invaded the
crumbling edge of the city. The dust and
grit swirl in the courtyard, polishing the
stone till it shines like glass.
ln the shadow of the abandoned city,
visited now only by tourists, a culture of
mendicancy and servility has grown.
Children who live in the poor village at
the foot of the palace have acquired the
accomplishment of touching the hearts
of visitors by saying, "No mother, no
{ather", and to ask lor money in all the
principal European languages and
Japanese. Around lhe monument,
vendors of shiny novelties, trinkets and
mementoes; the degraded village in the
shadow of the majestic ruin is a curious
metaphor for India. The ruins of a
civilisation inhabited by its own
estranged descendants is always a
poignant spectacle; in lndia, it is tragic.
Fatehpur Sikri is some 40 kms lrom Agra.
At Agra, there is the contemporary
equivalent of the old Mughal capital,
another expensive folly, which suggests
that histoiy does repeat itself. This is in
the lorm of the Mughal Sheraton Hotel.
It, too, is an enclosed fortress, a
defensive architecture, a place of
sequestered privilege, and within, it
replicates some of the excesses of the
Mughal emperors whose name it flaunts.
Only this time, the invaders, who must be
kept lrom any disturbing contact with the
people who live here, are tourists, whose
sojourns at the lavish hotel is of even
shorter duration than that o{ Akbar at
Fatehpur Sikri.
In the service of mass tourism, people
have come lrom all over India; the sad
boy {rom West Bengal, living in a single
slrared room with three others for the
privilege of earning Rs. 500 a month in a
restaurant, so that he can send some
money home to his mother and three
young sisters;the stone- masons, whose
ancestors built the Red Fort, chipping
away at slabs ol red sandstone in a work
ol skilled and loving restoration for Rs.
60 a day; the young man who is a
security guard at the Jewel House for Rs.
1,000 a month; the cycle-rickshaw men
from Bihar, Orissa and other parts of
Uttar Pradesh, fighting each other at
Agra station for the privilege ol driving
tourists and their baggage to*the
sheltered luxury of five-star hets' '.rd
the tourists, who may be paying $ r50
per night, will haggle over the Rs. 10
which the cycle-rickshaw drivers ask:
such thin men, prematurely aged, with
wasted bodies, the sinews ol their legs
taut as they pedal up the slight incline
from the station.
Enjoying the super-rich
The tourists think they are being brave
by travelling in the lragile vehicles,
perched on the leatherette horse-shoe
and jolted by the potholes in the road.
The drivers do not even own their
vehicles: They pay Rs. '15 a day to the
owners. some of whom have a fleet of 50
or more. There are too many of them,
and the work is fiercely competitive;
many have no shelter but their
rickshaws; and at night, they can . rn
in the unlit side- roads, thdlu'ucidy
perched on the crossbar, their leet on the
handlebars, their back resting on the
seat.
None of this disturbs the tourists who will
find a 'welcome'spelt out in iasmine and
red rose-petals on the lloor ol the lobby.
Some will be garlanded with marigolds
and escorted to the Mughal Chambers;
for them, a lantasy is being enacted that
makes Akbar's games ol hide and seek
in his palace with women from the harem
a reality, the use of slaves as pieces on
a giant outdoor chess-board as nothing,
compared to the self-importance ol these
parties of westerners, who are decked
out in velvet waistcoats, and caps with
glittering tinsel designs, kurta and kamiz,
or diaphanous gold-edged robes belore
proceeding to their banquets o{ "secret
recipes from the Emperor's kitchen", or
"the appropriate complement to
Jehangir's table".

The hotel lobby flashee and explodea
with people taking photographs of each
other in their exotic wear. Here are being
staged memories to last a lifetime, an
experience to cherish, as befits a day
when they have seen the Taj Mahal;
monument to the wife of Shah Jahan.
who died giving birth to their 14th Child.
They have seen the Red Fort where
Shah Jahan was imprisoned by his
grandson, lrom where he could look out
from his marble jail inlaid with
semi-precious stones and diamonds,
across the Yamuna. lt is only fitting at the
end of such a day.to be processed by a
hotel chain that bears as its mendacious
log, 'We Enjoy People', when all they
really enjoy are the super-rich.
Anl yet, those who must at all costs be
f lved from the derelict culture of
dependence, poverty and dust outside
are also, in their way, mendicants, avid
{or some new experience, some fresh
sensation; there is a deep sadness in
them too; perhaps they have been
touched by the melancholy of Akbar, the
ghost o'f Shah Jahan. Or perhaps they
know that this kind ol tourism, imposed
upon a society where 40 per cent of the
people are malnourished, whose
purchasing power is too leeble even to
register in the same marketplace in
which the rich display their prior claims
of their whims over the necessities of the
people. lt is argued that this kind of travel
brings foreign exchange to the country,
and is therefore justifiable, even
desirable.
hational Action Plan
The National Action Plan for Tourism formally released by the Minister for Civil
Aviation and Tourism, Mr. Madhav Rao Scindia on Sth May, 1992, projects the
ambitious expansion plans for lndian tourism. Following is a summary of this 2O page
document.
lncreasing employment opportunltles
Employment opportunities should. be at
least double the present level of 13-14
million persons before the turn of the
century.
Development of Internatlonal tourlsm
and optlmlsation of foreign exchange
earnings
Tourism will be so developed that foreign
exchange earnings increase from
Rs. 2440 crores to Rs. 1O,OOO crores by
the end of the century.
Understanding the exile
Yet, in the hotel, the foods, and
especially the drinks, consumed by the
guests are imported: Black-Label whisky,
Cointreau, Napoleon Brandy; French
cui6ine in the restaurants; and, where
local produce is used, money is no
obiect, which means that the best of it is
consumed here: this distorts the local
economy and places even basic
nourishment out ol the reach of the
people who live in Agra. The easy
spending of tourists raises the price ol
transport; it attracts desperate people
whose lives have been scarred by
casteism, communalism and monstrous
social injustice; and who have been im-
pelled to travel 2,OOO kms to earn
something to send home that
precarious and vital remittance that is
Diversiflcation of the tourism product
Diversification of the tourism product
would continue, particularly in the lield of
leisure, adventure, convention and in-
centive tourism.
lncrease in lndia's share In world
tourlsm: One objective would be to
increase lndia's share to 1% within the
next five years, from the present O.4% (oI
global tourist arrivals).
Accommodatlon: The interest subsidy
to all 4-5 star hotels will be discontinued.
lssues
the only thing standing between so many
villages in India and utter destitution
as rickshaw driver, kitchen boy, or that-
peculiar form of histrionics required by a
servitude that lights up tired faces, as
though the arrival of each new stranger
were the culminating experience of a
li{etirne.
We have heard recently rnuch abor-rt
ecological tourism, about not ruining the
beaches and polluting such
'unspoilt'corners as remain in the world.
But we should perhaps also consider
what might be the meaning of a tourism,
or lorms ol travel, that do not exacerbate
social iniustice; a kind ol interaction,
where the lives of the people are not
simply an adjunct to our own fantasies,
but where we begin to understand our
relationship to them, where they might
begin to receive rewards commensurate
with the tasks they perlorm. But that
would mean following them back to their
hutments, the hovels and letid rooms
where they receive the letters with the
pictures of their own children whom they
have not yet seen; it would mean
witnessing the griel of those who labour
overtime to pay for a father's medical
expenses, or to help a sibling through
school; it would mean understanding the
exile from which. unlike the tourists
whose fast coaches will taken them to
the airport or the station lirst thing in the
morning, there is no going back. t
The Pioneer, B Decemher 1992.
Tourism Policy
In special areas and specilied
destinations, the interest subsidy will be
increased lo 5"/" lor 1, 2 and 3 - star
hotels to stimulate their growth, as well
as on loans advanced lor construction oJ
new heritage hotels. Heritage hotels will
also receive a capital subsidy of Rs. 5
lakhs or 25o/o ol the cost.
Pilgrim tourism: The central govern-
ment will earmark an annual sum of
Rs. 5.OO crores for this purpose.
Travel Trade: Streamlining and
liberalising rules and procedures for
recognising travel agents and tour
operators.
(Continued on page 7)
 Upcoming Conferences
"TheWorld NoGolf Doy"
At present, about 24,000 golf courses
are operating in lhe world, with further
lew lhousands under conslruclion or
planned. Which means more than 2.4
million heclares of land are assumed lo
be occupied with golf courses. (The
avsrage area of one golf course is about
100 hectares.)
The largest golf country, U.S.A., has
more than 13,600 golf courses, more
than a half ol all the golf courses in the
world. Hawaii, California and Florida are
the most crowded slates.
Though Japan is a small and
mountainous country, it is expected to
e accordingly.
lO
a
e'
o One of the proposed actions, which
"\. {-"i:
^g
have 2,000 golf courses in near future.
Escaping from such a heavy
concentration in its own counlry, the
Japanese developers are going abroad
lo seek for the cheaper land such
Hawaii, Australia, South East Asia, etc.
Also in olher areas like Europe, Oceania,
Pacific islands and Central America, golf
course conslruclions continue to spread.
Golf course conslruction results in
serious problems for the local society
near the sile including destruclicln of
f orests, f armland and wetlands, and
Lcts Make a World Wide Anti-Golf
environmental pollution from runolf of
silt, pesticides, chemical lertilizer and
other toxic chemicals such as soil
hardening agents and soil improving
agents, as well as skyrockeling prices lor
land and homes, corruplion in local
government in adminislrative, repre-
se'ntalive and judicial branches, and
social disruption such as an increase in
homeless persons and incidence of
crime.
In a world today beset by serious global
environmental problems, there is no
room for environmental deslruction
caused for the sake of a mere game.
as
We, GNAGA, (The Global Network for
Anti-Golf Course Action), organized on
April 29, 1992 has begun networking
with citizens around the world who are
opposing golf course development. And
through informatlon exchange and
networking with others abroad, we hope
to be able to slop the development of goll
courses abroad by Japanese companies
Course Action
In order to raise a world wide public
awardness on golf course issue, we
hereby propose lo our friends in the
wdrld an international action of "The
World No Golf Day"on April29th 1993 of
GNAGA'S anniversary. Each people of
sach lcountry are expecled to make
feel-free actions simultaneously such as
opposition campaigns or rallies to the
golf courses, developing companies or
administrative branches, or holding
symposia and olher meetings on goll
cours€ problems.
At the Third World Tourism Forum i i
People's Plan for the 21st Century, h-eld
in Phuket/Thailand from November 29th
to December 4th 1992 and organized by
the Phuket Environmental Protection
Group (PEP), the Thai Network on
Tourism (TNT) and the Ecumenical
Coalition on Third World Tourism
(ECTWT), the participants conlirmed the
declaration of the "The World No Golf
Day" and agreed to initiate activities
emerged from the PP21 Third World
Tourism Forum, is by a joint initiative of
Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM, Friends ol
the Earth), the South East Asian branch
of lhe Asian Tourism Action Nerwgrl
(ANTENNA) and the Global Netwc )r
Anti-Golf Course Action (GNAGA) lo
hold a Workshop on Golf Course and
Resort Development in the Asia-Pacific
Region in Penang, Malaysia, on lhe
occasion of the "the World No Golf Day"
between April 26-29, 1993.
The first lwo days will be organized
around exposures, presentation of case
sludies and working.group sessions. The
ihird day will be reserved for strategy
discussion. The workshop will end with
an action day on April 29th 1993, the
I
'World No Golf Day".
on 2914193
 Conference Reports

Starting over:
Wofiing Conftrence on Rebuilding Kauai's visitor industry
Tourism, Culture and Hawaii, February ll.-13, 1993

Development I{ui l{o'Okipa O Kauai, a new l-Iawaiian group hosied a

conference <ln the rebuilding of Kauai's visitor indu-stry fronr a
native I lawaiian persprective following the devastation of
|v[ay ?A - 29, 1993, Eguations, Bangalore
I{urricane Iniki. Co-spon-rcred by the l-Iawaii Ecumenical
Coalition, repr€Eentatives fronr the native l-Iawaiian community
and the visitor industry global tourism activists etc. also
One of the initiatives during 1993 at EQUATIONS is an
Participated.
experimental forum that would bring tqgether a group of
individuals and organisations who have worked with tourism
related issues or are con-sidering working with the same. The
purpose of this workshop is both e(pository and exploratory: an HUI HO'OKIPA O KAUA'I
attempt te generate and transmit learnings in tourism through an
,t-\action between research lindings and action experiences. Hul Ho'oklpa O Kaua'|, a new non-profit, grassroots organization
, -..,icipants will therefore be drawn from activist groups, tourisnr has been formed to provide, for the first tinre on Kaua'i, a unified
practitioners, academics, the press, etc. voice of influence for the NaLive Flawaiian conrmunity in visitor
industry affairs.
The expository content would seek to familiarisg participants with
existing and conllicting perspectives on tourism and their Composed of Native l-lawaiian leaden fnrm around the island and
limitations. These perspectives will be drawn from development fircm representativesegnrents of the l-lawaiian community on Kaua'i,
economics, history, anthropology, sociology/ecology and membership is opren to all Native Flawaiian households on Kaua'i as
postmodernism. The divergent perspectives on tourism as an well as otlrcr supportive island residents.
instrument of development would l'relp us examine tl're protentials
and weaknesses of such strategies as alternative tourisnt, Mlsslon Staternent (Atlopted 1 Decentber 1992)
sustainable tourism, etc.
We are an organization that has enrerged from Hurricane Iniki to
At the exploratory level the programme begine with case studies of assunre a key role in the rebuilding of Kauai's visitor industry so lhat
destination regiors and action groups (both within the industry and it is at least nrore responsive to thegoalsof ourl-lawaiiancomnunity
oulside it). It is hoped that the experiences of these case studies will and, as a result, the whole of the people and island of Kaua'i. The
assist in modifying tlreoretical perspectives or even perhaps in guiding principles for our organization sl:nllbe ho' okipa, ho' omaopoyo,
reformulating tlrc questiors that theory asl.s. andho'omalca'ikni'.

By ho'okipa we mean a shared respon-sibility to create an autlreutic

preative process will be largely through interaction - srructured
;7-
\;:.i
non-structurcd. The pnogramme will therefore be designed so and hospitable cultural experience for visitors, and we will work to
as to encourage non-structured,exchange between persons of dirrectly channel visihrr industry rcvenues into support for our
common interesls and so also informal n'reetings between persorrs community's own cultural and educational progmnN. By
across interests. The principles guiding this workshop are : Ity'omaopolro we mean a conrmitnrent to help our I-lawaiian
community rediscover and showcase our cultural heritage, and we
1. The workqhop would privilege the role of the host in tourism. will work to mole responsibly intqgrate the values of our Hawaiian
2. A creative proaess directed towards examining and changing people with tl're ntarketing and operation of Kauai's existing visitor
perceptions. facilities. l3y h o' otnala' ika' i we nean a wi l l ingness to s hare our land
and hed tage with visi tors, and we will work to crea te our own visitor
3. To explore the possibility of generating knowledge through an
interaction between the practice of tourismand its negation, the facilities and ventures.
text and the field.
For deta lls, co ntach Kal n P st t erson, I Iu i I' Io' okip a, O Kau a' i 450 4 Kukul
4. To offer a forun
to generate and debate theoretical perspectives
Sh'et, Naa Pacific llous,e,.Suite - 16, Kapg'a, Ilazoaii 96746, LISA
on tourism and related issues.
5. To offer a forum for a dialogUe betlteen industry, academia,
aclivistsandothers interested ih thedevelopments of and within
tourism.

For detalls, contach KT Surcsh, EQIIAilONS.

 Conference Reports
The Phuket Statement
Peoples h-orum on the Inrpuct oJ'Iiurisnt,
29th Noventber to 4th December 1992, Thailand
II
I hirty-eight participants from Thailand,
II the Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan,
Hong Kong, India, Sri Lanka, Japan,
the USA, ltaly, Germany and the UK, took
part in the Third World Tourism Forum of the
Peoples' Plan lor the 21st Century, held at
the Phuket Teachers Training College,
November 29 to December 4, 1992. The
Forum was organised and hosted by the
Phuket Environnrental Protection Group
(PEP), the Thai Network on Tourism fl-NT)
and the Ecumenical C.oalition on Third World
'Iourism (ECT\
/D.
The forum brought together tourism
activists, sonre 'victims' of tourism from
Asian nalions and other concerned people
to share their situations, vievres and insights,
based on personal experiences and
cornnon struggles, to expose the
consequences ol tourism, and raise global
awareness and concern through this lorum.
Case studies were presented, and issues
relating to the impacts and causes ol tourism
analysed and discussed. The purposes of
the {orum were to strengthen the networks
ol concern, to support popular action at
various levels, and to initiate a critical
dialogue with policy makers.
On tlre lirst day, we were exposed to the
reality of tourism in Phuket, with one group
examining issues relating to goll course and
resort developrnent, and another visiting
various luxury beach resorts.
The next day, we met with local activists,
teachers and a woman caddy, who shared
lirst-hand experiences on the impact ol mass
tourism on people and the environment of
Phuket. We also heard lrom a village
headman lrom Koh Samui on the etfect of
tourism on his island and marine resources.
Their presentations highlighted land
encroachment, water resources depletion,
problems related to garbage and sewage
disposal, sea turtle extinction, coral and
mangrove lorest destruction.
The social effects were seen in the
exploitatlon of Chao Lae (Sea People) as
tourist attractions, the increase
prostitution, and the adoption ol materialistic
lilestyles. In addition, big multinational
hotelaus have denied people access to
beaches, public land and even public roads.
In terms of response to the problems created
by tourism in Phuket, the Phuket
Environmental Protection Group (PEP)
works to create awareness and identify
priorities lor urgent action, and calls for
international support and solidarity.
We were enriched by presentations made by
participants lrom Malaysia, Philippines,
Taiwan, Sri Lanka, Goa, India, Thailand and
Japan. Reports were also heard from
existing networks on tourism such as the
Third World Tourism European Network
OEN), and the Asian Tourism Action
Network (ANTENNA).
Conmon issues affecting Asian tourist
destinations include the development ol
luxury goll courses and resorts, tourism
prostitution, commercialisation ol
indigenous cultures, acquisition ol land and
other natural resources, violation ol human
rights, insensitive government policies and
plans, and the hegernonic role played by
international multilateral and bilateral aid
agencies, including the World Bank and the
lnternational Monetary Fund.
We concluded that the local people have
been left out of the development process,
and deprived of their rights. Social and
cultural values have been undermined,
natural resources depleted, and the
environment ravaged. While tourism claims
to promote understanding and harmony
between people and cultures, its present
form does not generally allow a hunrane
relationship between tourists and local
people. The relationship between golfers
and caddies is a clear example of
neo-colonia lism.
Tourism has economically benefitted just a
minority ol already atfluent people, while the
majority ol the population have to suffer the
eflects of inllation and the indigrrity of servile,
lolrv-paid forms of employment.
We realise that there is a close collusion
between the real estate developers, the
tourism industry, local and national
governments, often including the police and
even the judiciary. When local people have
soughtto asserttheir rights, they have laced
harassment, and even repression. The
co-existence ol islands of aflluence in a sea
ol impoverishnent is an assault on the
dignity of hurnan beings, a conrbination ol
racism, iniustice and exploitation.
I
ol
As we close our lorum, we resolve to oppose
and act upon touris m's destructive impact on
society, economy, culture and environment.
We support all initiatives that aim to liberate
our peoples from the shackles ol this global
phenomenon, and will endeavour to
cmrdinate and integrate these etforts, and
continue to place tourism on the agenda ol
other social movements.
Recognising the importance of transborder
networking, we agree to work with global and
regional networks, such as the Ecunen;-e(
Coalition on Thiril World Tourism (ECT\ *i
the Global Network on Anti-Goll Course
Action (GNAGA), the Asian Tourism Action
Network (ANTENNA), the Thhd World
Tourism European Network OEN) and the
North American Coordinating Center lor
Respons ible Tourism (NACCRT).
We demand that corporate bodies, the
tourism trade and related industries stop all
exploitative and oppressive practices in
tourism.
We call upon the United Nations and related
agencies, and our respective governrnents,
to abide by and enforce existing international
conventions, treaties and agreements,
especially as they relate to tourism
development issues. Furthermore, we urge
these bodies to consider the voice o1
communities atlected by tourism in the Third
World, as witnessed by and testilied to br
participants ol this forum. -'
In particular, we address these concerns to
the World Tourism Organisation, the UN
Environnental Progranme, the UN
Development Programme, the Worldwide
Fund lor Nature, and intergovernnental and
non-government agencies implementing
plans emerging from the Rio Earth Summit.
Finally, we express our solidarity with the
gentle and brave people of Thailand in their
struggle against mass tourism, as well as
all dehumanising and undemocratic
practises. I
l. The Third Woild Tourism Forum Statement wa6
presented at lhe main forum of the People's Plan tor
lhe ztst Century, hed al Chulatongkom Univetsily,
Bangkok, Thaitand, 6-10 D@nber 1992.
2. The lnternational People's Forum on the lmpact of
Tourism was organizad by Phuket Envionmental
Prctection Grcup (PEP), Thai Network on Tourism
tNT) and the Ecumenicat Coalilion on Thnd World
Touilsm (ECTWT)

Philippines National Forum
(Ererpts fian tlu StAement of tlu Naianal Peoplcs Forum onTburism, Manil4 May 1992)
Jn the se\renti€s a phenomenon called
I mass tourism emerged. It was
.trvigonrusly promoted as a source of
hard currency, asurewayof getting foreign
exchange to pay the rising external debt of
Third World Countries. It is no secret how
the World Bank and the IMF used this
strategy in the Philippines and Thailand.
In the eighties the Philippines hit the
millionth mark of tourist arrivals, mostly
/ :s and during the Aquino
auministntion the very sane
'development" plars of the Marcns era
promoting tourism were curreritly being
implemented in the nineties.
It is unfortunate that this kind of
'dcvelopment' fails to address the basic
nceds of our people for iobs, food, housing
and a clean environment. The poor and the
powerless get nrore and morc marginalised
being nroved and pushed in both urban and
rural areas, losing the sea and land, sourc€s
of livelihood, to give way to industrial
conrplexes, gol f courses and infrastructures
that serve big business, the foreign investors
and their clientele.
They are the main beneficiaries of Third
World "development". Together with the
lcral elite who can buy their way to power
in Government, the rich and mighty in the
tran-snational conglomerates have many
pawns to protect and promote their
interests. One such pawn is the military.
And thus nrass tourism would include
hundredsof thousands of military mery
mainly Americans, who prolice the ocean
lanes and land in porLs like Olongapo and
Pattaya to restand recreateat theexpenseof
local women and girls.
Sex tourism is a phenomenon blatantly
underscoring the North and South
problems of iniquities on one
-domination
hand and subservience on the other. After
reaping a windfall fronr cheap labour in tlre
Third World, the people of the North come
back for a second round of exploitation
- lravcr. Cultural valucrs have been cnrdcd.
sex tourism. The problenrs of the North are
exported to the South gender
-unresolved
conflictt stress fronr lhe rat race of business,
alienation and loneliness; all these are
supposed to be eased by sex tourisln and the
narriage nrarket.
With money as tl'le powerful factor, virtue
becomes meaningless for poverty-stricken
people of the S<luth. Innate dignity is sold
for a pittance. Persons are degraded and
culture bastardiz.ed.
More culpatrle than tlre local partners in
business and govcrnnrent are the tyculns
behind the tourisnr industry a vertical
- facilities. A scheme {or giving Assistance for
integration of airlines, lrotels, travel agents,
tour guides that siphon out the dollars from
a Third World Country.
Also culpable are the founders, the
providers of loans for socalled
Conference Reports
"development" projects. One striking
exanrple is thc "aid" faciliaterl try JICA
(JaPan IntcrnationaI Co-opreration Agcncy)
to convert hundreds of hectares of prerious
agricultural land into unproductive golf
cours€s for theenjoymentof tlrefore'ign few.
lhis is an cxperience comnlon to the'l hais,
Filipinos and Goans.
Displacenrent, dislocatiory shifLs fr<lnt
traditional c,conomic activities kt plovide
tlrc hurrtanpxrwer ftrr the tourisnl
infrastructures have disrupted lives. 'l'he
incursion of consumerism lus wnlughl
And we could go on enumerating an
endless list of socio-crconclnric and
etologiorl costs. All these out-weiglr
whatever positivevalues mass tourisnr nray
bring.
For furlher lnformation, contact: CST,4/U
Guadalupe Bllss, Makatl, Metro Manlla,
Philipptnes.
(Continued from page 3)
Destlnations ldentified for lntenslve
Development
1. Lakshadweep lslands
2. Andaman lslands
3. Manali (Solang - Nalah)
4. Bekal Beach
5. Muttukadu Beach
6, Kangra (Pong Dam)
ln addition to these destinations. 9 travel
circuits have been identilied lor
concentrated developnent.
Speclat Tourlsm Areas (STA)
Special Tourism Areas (STA) will be notified
for integrated developnrent ol tourism
Specified Tourism Areas (ASTA) will be
started to provide financial assistance lor
equity and other tourism related activities in
such areas.
 Understandlng Tourism
AFAILEDQUEST
EQUATIONS organisql a two4ay sasion (August 29-30, 1992) tofamiliarise participants with
perspaclives that uplain tourism as a modern phenomenon. C.K. MEEryA, who also attendd,
summarises the discussions, led by Alito Siqueira of Goa Uhiversity.
T tt First World family packs its casual cottons, its suntan
I lotions and its anti-diarrhoea pills, and gets ready for a two-
week Third World vacation.
It may remain ensconced in a five-star enclave. swimming, golfing
and surfing. Or it may decide to be more intrepid and brave the traffic,
the natives and the dubious food.
lf a beach is a beach is a beach, what drives the tourist to reach out
for one half way across the globe?
Adequate answers cannot be found in simplistic categorisations such
as lhose of lhe World Tourism Organisation. According to it, a tourist
is "anyone visiting a country other than his place of residence lor
more than 24 hours but less than one year". He travels for four
reasons: for business or pleasure, to go on pilgrimages or to visit
friends and relatives.
Such facile definitions leave several aspects of touristic behaviour
unexplained. For instiance, if people wish to relax on a holiday, why
do they tire themselves out sight-seeing? lf ihey want to experience
a different culture, why do they seek laniliar conrforts? Why are
holiday resorts popular lor business conferences as well?
Sociologists have explored the 2oth century phenomenon of mass
tourism and corne up with lascinating theories. The three main
research traditions in the qualitative sociology of tourism were started
by historian D. J. Boorstin, sociologist Dean MacCannell and
anthropologist Victor Turner.
Boorstin's is an ironic, one-sided critique of the modern mass tourist.
He argues that contemporary tourists thrive on "contrived
attractions"' and do not experience "reality', only "pseudo events'.
One can find exanples here, of the tourism departnent staging
"lairs" and "lestivals' for international visitors, or five-star hotels
recreating a village scene.
Boorstin makes a distinction between the 'traveller" of yore
-
learning and searching for the real, and lhe "tourisf'- a passive
on-looker seeking escape and entertiainment, and observing a
strange environment from the security ol his immediate surroundings
(such as luxury hotels, for instance, which replicate atmosphere that
he is used to).
Sociologist Erik Cohen used Boorstin's insight to construct a typology
of tourist roles. He identified four types, categorised according to the
extent to which they tend to lravel within their faniliar "environnental
bubble".
I
The two conventional types aqe the organised mass tourist, who is
least exposed to strangeneqs (thooe in group tours), and the
individual mass tourist, vtrtro tavels on his own and is slighdy more
in contact wilh the host surroundings, The explorer and the drifter
(the latter corresponds to Boorstin's "baveller') are non+onventional
types. Cohen later elaborated on this idea, using MacCannell's
concept of 'authenticitt'
MacCannell drew a far kinder picture of the modern tourist l,
-
Boorstin dkt wih his negative caricatlre. He talked of he tourist's
quest for authenticity rather than his search for contrived illusions.
Social life constantly reorganises itself in ever-increasing complexity.
The earlier simple division of society into two classes and two sexes
is no longer valid. Modernity is thus marked by shuctural
differentiation which in turn leads to lragmentation, conflict,
contradiction, alienation.
ln an attempt to transcend the anxiety caused by fragmentation,
modern man searches for a unified experience,
This search for totality lies at the heart of the tourist's wanderlust.
lf the present, whatqver is modern, seems false, then the past, the
pre-modern, must be real. ll "hereu (wfrichever societythe tourist lives
in) is lragmented: inauthentic, then "there" (the tourist destination)
must be whole, authentic.
Hence the urge to visit.backward' (pre-modern) nations, and the lure
of historic ruins, museums (the past) or, on the other hand, science
parks (the future).
Getting away lrom it all is thus viewed as an imperative rather than
indulgence.
But are all tourists so anxiety+idden? Cohen's later classification is
based on lhe tourisfs level of alienation from his own culture.
The recreationary tourist (the only non-alienated type) is
strongly-centred, merely wants to relax, and is least interested in
broadening his understanding of a foreign culture.
The experiential tourist wants to lind meaning elsewhere and is
curious to see, to know about, the host surroundings, though not to
merge with it.
The experimental tourist is like a hippie, looking for an alternative
centre. He lives and dresses like a native, eats ordinaryfood, travels
by local transport, and obviously, stays on longer than the previous
hrvo types.
 Understanding Tourism
The exislential tourist is not Reintegration -- a relurn lo
only alienated from his own tlre communily, oflen with a
culture but has conpletely higher social slatus,
shifted his centre. He is accompanied by greater
transplanted on loreign soil (a social responsibility (more
missionary a Hare Krishna respect is given to a haji or a
devotee). The diversionary swamy).
lourist is tolally alienated ard
has no centre. He is The theory suits tourists in an
constantly shifting, restless, amazingly apt manner. There
unable to strike root are rites of inlensificalion
anywhere. (weekend holiday, annual
vacation) and passage (a
They are striving, in various honeymoon trip, a break
degrees, lor authenticity. belore taking up a new job).
MacCannell draws a
;<tinction between "front" The vacationer doffs his
.r "back". Just as people formal attire and dons
put on false fronts in social Bermudas, keeps odd hours,
life and hide what is allows his children lo choose
unpleasanl (visitors to a where-the family should go
home see the living room but and what lhey should eat
not lhe kitchen), the tourist is (role reversa ls,
only shown lhe front. anli-st ruclure), mingles easily
with fellow-tourists who are
Not only is the back hidden, perfect strangers (com-
but a f alse brck is often put Thc clichc image of ururists. Thcre is hanlly a catcg(ny of pcoplc nrorc laughcd at tn munilas). On re-enlering his
up. Authenticity is staged ridiculcd. And Truriss are nevcr oursclvcs. communily, his social esleem
(like pre{aded jeans, ethnic is increased (narrating
fashion, or the politician's man-of-the-masses image). A reslauranl experiences abroad to an admiring audience). And instead of
in a five-slar holel may slage a kitchen, with kababs being grilled in prasadam, he brings back sowenirs, gifts, pholographs.
lront of you, but the actual cleaning of the meat, lhe dirty work, is
done in the real kitchen lhe back. Br.rt the tourist never experiences the deep salisf aclion that a pilgrim
- does.
The lourist is not fooled. He sees through the staging. Let's say he
'"'ldes to wander through the town or village ard enter houses. He keeps travelling, keeps yearning for his elusive dream of
authenticity and tolalily.
'r,,ere loo, people will ar.lomalicitty put up a lronl. Even if he
manages to batter down so rne of their defenses, I here will always be He lries lo penetrate lhe front (go where there are no olher tourists,
areas he cannot access. The back will be pushed further and lurther bask on an unlouchEd beach) bul he never knows if he has reached
back. the bact.

Thus the tourist is on a never-ending journey to authenticity, as it Tourism, lherelore, becomes a failed quest. T
were. The process may be likened to a secular pilgrimage, if one
Deccan Herald,6 November 1992
uses Turner's work on pilgrims in lhis context.

A religious prccess usually conprides periodic rites of intensification

(weekly last, Sunday church seruice) and rites of passage which "Hey Pal,
mark lile cycles (thread ceremony, entering priest- hmd). Can I take your picture ftrr the people back home?
Could you ask your kid to smile please?
In the rites of passage, the individual goes though three slages. Sorry what exactly do you mean?
Can you say it in English?
Separation
- both spalial and social - lrom his ordinary social group
(change in dress, food habits, even name). 'Cause we're the.
Jet Set - get out ofour way.
Liminalily the threshold, of his laniliar vrprld, into a state We got a lot of things to see..."
-crossing
of "anti-structure" in which his norm,al role and status are suspended
(rich and poor, old and young, are ncrt differeiliated during a Joe Jrckson, "Jet set", reprodtrced
pilgrimage). He experiences "oqrmunitas", which is a feeling of by kind pumission of Warner Chqpll music.
oneness with lhe rest ol the group ilrdeqoing the ritual.
 From Our Networks
Update onGoa
Goa ls rarely out oJ news when lt comes to tourism. The pastJew months haue seen a serlesoJ deuelopments
ranglngrt'onropposition lo casinos. lllegal hotel constructlors, Japanese holldag ulllages, golf courses and more.
September 1991 :
Goa to be'Speclal Tourlsm Area'
"Goa is a very beautiful place and shall
delinitely figure in the list (of Special Tourism
Areas to be notilied by New Delhi)", Union
Tourism Minister Madhavrao Scindia is
quoted as saying by students of the Dempo
College Planning Forum. who spoke to him.
Deccan Herald September 18, l99l
October 1991 :
Feud ltl the Cablnet over Caslnos
Goa Deputy Chief Minister Dr. Wilfred de
Souza has favoured the setting up of casinos
in Goa "exclusively for foreigners and non-
resident Indians to
augment foreign
exchange reserves" (UNl news agency
October 25,1 991). But Goa Tourism Minister
Pandurang Raut said he was opposed to any
such proposal. Raut opined that Goan lile,
which was already westernised " in a wrong
direction" due to tourism would be lurther
worsened with casinos. Gomantak Times,
October 31, 1991.
December 1991 :
Cidade De Goa Faces Suit
Environmentalist group Goa Foundalion
announces plans to file a writ petition in court
against Hotel Cidade de Goa for illegally
conshucting an eight foot high rubble wall
around its property, and thereby blocking all
access to the beach permanently.
January 1992 :
Problem of too many Hotel Protects
Goa is facing no dearth of hotel proiects, and
on the contrary the problem is to "somewhat
curb iheir (hoteliers') enthusiasm" in setting
up too many hotel projects, State Tourism
Minister Pandurang Raut told a recent Delhi
conference.
Peat Claims He's a vlctim....
Freddy A. Peat, a suspected loreigner who
claims to be an Anglo-lndian trapped in a
strange case involving the sexual abuse of
orphan and other children, writes to the local
media saying he was falsely blamed and
beaten by police oflicers. He had in lact
"cone lo the rescue of suffering kids", he
claimed. Goa Post January lO-16.
Luxury Hotels Battle lor Tourlsts
Writes Mario Cabral E Sa in 'Blitz'
Bombay
"The hotels, the starred ones, began the
season on a jittery and ugly note with the
-
by now famous North-South divide. The
North Goa luxury properties decried in
lavishly paid and gigantic ads in the national
media the shortconfngs (which indeed are
many) of the South Goa upstarts. Predictably
the South Goa hoteliers gave a fullthroated
response with the redoubtable retired army
captain Nair, of the Leela Lace legend,
leading from the front on behatf of his own
venture in South Goa and his neighbours
Rannda and Majorda. There was more
arsenic than lace in the battle lor the beds
(to sell them, that is) but the truce was
sornewhat restored when they all realised
that there were going to be, this )rear, rnore
tourists than all the hotels in Goa put
together and multiplied by three could
fiossibly shelter."
dantzers'Campalgn ln Local Press
From Blitz again
10
uHugh!
and Colleen Gantzer, the veteran
duo, hhve unleashed a campaign in the local
press,i with Lutheran fervour, to convert
Croans to their point of view. The High Tide
Une, they say, is a fraud and it must be
ignored, and they have been generous in
their pampering of the locals. They also offer
free advice, bythe barrel, all tothe effectthat
touris4, the Gantzers'specialised lield and
their bread and butter for the last few
decades, is such a good thing there could he
nothing befter."
Japs Choose Arambol tor Hollday
Vlllage
Japan has selected Arambol (Pernem
taluka, northern most Croa) as a site lor its
'holiday village' project, Chief Minister Ravi
Naik was otficially quoted as saying. They
did so after surveying diflerent places in
Maharashta, Rajasthan and Coa, he said.
Ban on Beach Partles, Say Cops
North Goa police have decided to ban night
beach parties conducted along the north
Goa coast, especially at Anjuna, by tourists
with immediate effect, reports The Navhind
Times (Jan 19). Police said the number of
house breaking and theft cases shoot up
when such parties are organised, while the
peddling ol drugs is also evident. Parti-..
cause a public nuisance and disturb pe
and tranquillity, according to Dy.
Superintendent of Police l.D. Shukla.
Call to'Curtall' Low Budget Tourism
Tourismauthorities appear at a loss on how
to handle the hordes (sic) ol low-budget
tourists entering the State and are making

attempts lo limit srjcfi anivals, Goa Tourism
Developnnnt Corporalion then chief V.A.P.
Mahaian was quoiled as saying, by Herald
(Jaruary 2.) Mr. Mahajan has since begun
working for a luxury hotel in South Goa.
February 1992:
Iourlsfs bmplaln of l^ackot Facllltle.s
European toufists visiting Goa have
conplained of a lack of beach-side lacilities,
and the 'harassment' by over-persistent
hawkers and corrupt policemen, says a
newspaper repofl qrcling a prwramme
aired by lhe official All India Radio. Deccan
Henld, Hubll, F&ruary 15, 1992.
Konkani poet Manohar Rai Sardessai also
lermed as'repugnant' the idea of welcoming
e foreigner only for the sake ol his foreign
hange, in the same programme.
'South Europe-. Much Less
Expenslve'
Goa has been described in the Swedish
media thus: "This is not India," explains (sic)
a retired Finnish missionary, who has 13
years of experience in the East, "this is Sorlh
Europe, but warmer, friendlier, far more
exolic and much, much less
expensive. Wee k en de r 23. 2
March 1992 :
Protets over Hotel ly'e,arTemple
Reddents from Taleigao (Tiswadi taluka)
slaged a large prctest march against a hotel
construction coning up near a village
temple. lt was felt the hotel-cum-bar would
"destroy the sarctily of lhe temple premises"
"trhind Times March 9, 1992.
ineaders may note the significance of sr.ph
developments, which efiectively put pajd lo
lhe tourism lobby's claims that protests on
tourism are solely a catholic, middle-class
phenornena.)
April1992:
lntlux of Kashmlrls
Newspaper reports quote unnarned Crime
Branch officials from the Goa Police saying
there was a possibility of terrorists being
arTpng Kashniri youth who have "been'
flocking to Goa under the pretext of selling
carpets, American stones, and some similar
items."
May 1992:
11,32,4(n fi.m tor Golf Cour*g
Governrnent of Goa invites otfers, ii;t varlous
cenlres including Bangalore, from pronnters
(Contirad on pqe l9)
From Our Nelworks
Elephant Size Mockery
In a frce market scricty everything is up
for salc. Orrly moncy matters. Evcrr if thc
country is going thnruglr a carnagg it
desn't matter to the powers that tre in
business. lf it is government servants it is
the desire to be in the limclight antl the
incremcnt that mattcrs.
The ever incrcasing financial lt*scs of tlre
Great Elcphant March'celebrated by the
tourism departmcnt of Kcrala has not
deterred the govcmment from
conducting it this year tm. Addc<l to this
was the thc governmcnt's need to show
the people abroad that all is wcll in the
country and bring in the tourists. At that
time Bombay was in the grip of violcnce
a sccond timc. Gujarat was erupting
again. ln Kerala, an uncasy calm hid
concealed tcnsions in thc pmplc's minds. rlistrit.rutet.l panrphlcts toLxrth lrrals as well
This cultural mcrckcry has bcrn grring on for as tourists. Rcgistering their protcst dircrtly
the last 7 years. This ycar the governmcnt with thc foreign tourists thc gJoups sought
expectcd 5(f,1 foreigncrs but lcss than '15() tlreir hclp to inform thc people atxrut the
furned up. The 4<lay ct'lcbrations has c<xt way the tourism industry works.
the govcrnment Rs 14 lakh frtm which it Tlre activists conducted group intcractirxrs
reccivcd Rs 4 lakh by way of returns. Even with thc local population to cliscuss thc
tourists wondcred at tlrc cxtravagance thrcat facetl by the nrassivc tourism
when the country was strappcd for cash. promotion in Kcrala statc. The gtroups are
now trying to work out a round the ycar
Raising their warnings against thc cvils of campaign.
five star tourism and cultural scll<ruts likc I
the'elcphant marchcs', environmcntal
K C Santlrosh Kurnar
groups in Kcrala protested under the (Acliaist in Keraln working t'or ALCOM,
banner of k{,roups, kralam near the
venue. They cxhibiterC pmters describing Stnlfurch Kumnr :aoas also part of lhe Equations
meating organixd in Kernla)
the evils of the krurism industry and
Extracts from an open lctter
DearTourist fricnd,
Kerala was once rich in natural resources. Cradually due to our short lerm uLsion, the*
resourcesdwindlerl. Notothestnleisshortof ebclricity,shortofwater,shortofgrains,short
of uegetnbles, short of all necessities. Our agriculture is stunted. Industial grouth is
stagnant. Only the terliary sector is expnnding.
The statc instead of trying lo sokse the social and econonic issues thot haunt the people , nake
the people more luls anil ask then to sing and dnnce to untimely culturnl calls. This is in the
name of culture, in the name of touism ! The stnte lies to hide the renl state of the people lty
staging Great Elephant Marches.lt is a ltetraynl of lhe. people and peopb's c.ulture.
The tourism inilustry, as you knuu, has an adwrse impact on our society. lt pollutes not only
ourculturebutalsoourenaironment.Fulher,canyouimaginethecrueltie.sinllicte.don dumlt
creatureslike the elephants? In the nnme ol touriw, lhey nre forccd to pnrade under unhealthy
conditicms. Pnhnps, if they had the intelligence to ranlt , lhey utouLln't haoe sparei thc
s<alled promotzrs of tourism
DearTituistfriend,ue re4uest you lo note the real moliaefuhind lhe GreatElephnntMnrches.
Pleas takc pains to explore the real state of our people ond culture. Only thn ,nay rn
transcend racial and nalional lnundaries and enter inlo a nan dawn of cioili*tion.
K Arouindhaskhan
for ECOGROUPS KERALA, clo Keka Nalure Presenntion Society, Kunnalh Mnna
Buildings, Shornur Rd , Thissur - 680 00'l ,Koala .
11
 From our Networks
Tourism and Human Rights inNagaland
The Indian State "opens up" the North-East to tourism
have not bcen a tourisnr activist.
I lowever, I havc becn in the North
Iiast for the past fcrur yearu as a lawyer
rcpresenting a Naga hrrman rights
organization in a case against the arnred
forcex; ftrr cronrnritting atnrcilics in Naga
inhabited areas in Marripur. It was during
lhese years that wc noticcd the Indian
State's efforts trl "opcn up" lhe Norlh liast,
spccially Nagaland and Manipur.
'l'hc first step was to relax lhe Inner
Linc Ilcgrrlations. Indian citizens
reqrrire Inner Line ltermits to visit
alnxlsl all tlre. Nolth East States.
Thoe pernrils were to clreck the
inflow of non lribals lo thcse areias
and .
to protca-t the indigenctrus
pmplcs frrm econonric exploitation
and cultural donrination.'fhere are
spccial laws which prohibit the
trarufer of land lo non tribals and
constitutional safeguards to prolect
thc socicty and culture.
The' px-'o1'rlc's 1rf Nortl'r F.rst have bcen
able to protect tl'reir natural
resourcr.ls frrxn exploilation and
sonrc of thc thickcst fore;ts are to be
firund in the North llast. This has
lxu pxrssible partly due to tlu lcgal
and ctln-stitutional safeguards but
mostly due to politically powerfull
nrovenrcnls for nat ional self- deternrination.
'the Indian State has trierl to crush thr:;e
movenlenls by brutal military reprcssion
and relentless prsychological warfare. The
history of the crrrelty and pain inflicled on
the' pcoplc of North liast try lhc Indian
arntetl forcts has slill t<l lre writlen. Naga
inlnbitcd areas have bee'n undcr virlual
arnry rrrlc (rrr three decades. Alnxxt every
penple living in the Nortl't liast have lived
trndcr nrartial law.
The finst Parliament of Independent India
1:asscd the Arnrcd lrorccs (Special ltowers)
Act in 19511.I'his Actallows lheGovernnrent
lo dcclarc any part of the North Lrasl as
distrrrhd ft'rr inde'finite periods of lime
withotrt a provision of revicw or even a
statuk)ry duty to inform thc Parlianrent.
NAND]TAHAIGAR
One an area is disturbed the security forces
t4ke over civil administration and theyhave
powers to search, seize, raid, destroy
property and even murder, In the name of
counter-insuryency nranoeuvres the Indian
Stateallowed its amrc'd forces toburnNaga
villages and even to bomb Aizwal. This is
not a part of past history but the present.
I.arge parts of the i{orth East are even today
under army rule.'flrc Indian State l'ns not
allowed any real econonric developnrent to
take place in the North East as a part of their
deliberate policy of keeping the area
econonrically backward. This policy has
resulted in the increase in poverty and the
bcginning of landlessness among peoples
wl'ro have never known hunger.
'flre new generation has grown up without
knowing their hiskrryor their language. The
Indian State deliberately promoted
slereotyped negalive inrages of the North
East peoples as head hunters, savages and
primilive peoples. The youth in the North
East have often bccome victinr of this
psychological warfare. It is in this
background that we must see the latest
attenlpt of the Indian State to nopen upn the
North East to tourism. The Indian State has
't2
not controlled the influx of outsiders into
the North East and in many parts the
indigeneous people have become
minoritiep.
And now the Indian State is trying to
pronrote tourism. Every part of Naga,
Meitei or Mizo culture is being marketed as
a comnrodity. The Governments are
promoting "festivalsn in which the
indigeneous people are told
perform inImphal and Kohima and
these festivals are inauguratcd by
the Chief Ministers and patlrnized
by the Governors. A poster brought
out by Nagaland Department of
Tourism states "Conre to Nagaland
where life ts one long festival".
-The Tourism Departments are
concentrating on attracting potential
Japanese tourists, and panrphlets are
being specially designed to attract
them.
Japanese businessmen ar€ not
waiting for invitations. They have
alrmdy opened a Naga-Japanese
l'rotel in Kohima. They are also
lobbying hard for pernrission-'".
construct a war memorial
memory of the ]apanese who died in
the North Ea-st during the Second World
War. It is not only theJapanese. Foreign and
Indian nedia people are busy producirg
glossy books on "tribal culture" with photos
of shawls, jewellery, baskets and monoliths
from their context or meaning.
-divorced
Most peoples of North East believe that
tourism will promote development by
genemting jobs and money. They do not
connect the tourlsm industry with
unscrupulous businessmen dreanring of
fivestar hotels and contractors ca,qting their
evil eyeon the tinrberand natural resources.
The people of North East do not know
tourism can mean the death of their culture
and civilization.

ENDANGEREDSPITI
SpiE, uhi&lrcrettminalrcldioely inlded ofu',being m
Kaushik zrzifes nlnt
his sunmer I went on a long and
extensive journey in the
Himalayas. And different. This was
as close to the ideal of bavel as I have got in
my decade or so of Himalayan visits so far.
Which is one of the reasons why I want to tell
you about it.
I was out for two months, moving on foot
most ol the time, tucking and bussing sonre
' e time, or simply looking around in sone
iiiic'6 meadow or village. The annual festival
was on at the gompa in Lamayuru. Saw the
lanas dancing, with the tourists doing their
own kind of dance with still and video
caneras; the lamas vrr:re literally bipping
over them in the confusion
- no, I am not
exaggerating! Got disgusted wilh the tourists
and the commercialisation there, so I hurried
on. I intended to cross over into Parbati
valley via the Bara Shigri glacier and the
Sara Umga pass. Changed my plans
because of bad monsoon weather and made
a last ninute decision to go to Spiti instead.
So I walked over the Kunzam la into Spiti.
Stayed in Spiti for close to a week. Four of
those days I spent with some lamas at Ki
gompa, the biggest of five gompas in Spiti.
A lestival was on there too, and was it
dilferent! No tourists, except lor a package
J^'- that swooped in on a rehearsal, created
: -lc for a while. then drove off in a cloud
dust because they had a schedule to keep.
Around this time | finally ran out of money, so
I had to return. During these two months of
tanping around, I had not carried a tent or
a stove, only a leaky bivouac sack to cover
my sleeping bag. I stayed with villagers
wheretherewas a village, orwith shepherds,
or else out in the open. Food was with
villagers or shepherds wherever possible, or
else the meagre dry rations that I was
carrying.
Harmonising with the villagers cane quite
easily after the {irst few days of getting used
to down-to-earth, happygoJucky kavel,
soon developed the confidence to bb able to
knock on a door and say, "Hil I'm hungry give
me some {ood", and come out bf there
burping in satisfaction and waving goodbye
to newly made friends. lt was an easy going,
matter-ol-fact hospitality that I expgrienced
out there, hospitality with a small 'h'i nothing
inna'lir mya, is nmulrcing tlnrnun
his impra"{ons ani cur;":nr t'u auillry tlat
sentimental or contrived about it. Maybe
gathered more of it because I was alone and
ill-equipped, but it was reassuring
nonetheless.
Spiti is a valley bracketed between Kinnaur
on one end and the Kunzam pass and
Lahaul on the other. A road runs right
through the valley, coning from Kinnaur (and
Simla) and going over the seasonal Kunzam
la to Lahaul and then over the Rohtang la to
Manali and beyond. The population ol just
under 1O,OOO is essentially Buddhist, except
for the government employees in and around
lGza. Five major gompas, twelve gram
sabhas each representing a cluster of
villages -and a surrealistic mountain desert
terrain, not very different lrom neighbouring
Ladakh and Zanskar.
And $iti is nowhere near being sdf+eliant.
It relies on an annual government subddy of
Fh 1 crore @ross), beddes what isspent on
date government projcts like roads and the
ultra-modern hydro-power project (2rnw;
0.5mw pre*ntly operational) that s.rpplies
year-round dectricity to all villages in the
valley. The Cenkal government has a
seemi ngl y acti ve desert-devel op ment proj ect
on in the valley with an expenditure of Fb.'l
crore annually. The pea crop, which $iti
famous for, is not enough to make the people
of seltreliant and the subsidence cultivation is
inadequate. Hardly any handicraftsare made
for sale. Very little wood, and little gass for
livedock.
Unlike Ladakh and Zanskar, Spiti
remained relatively isolated so lar because
of being an 'innerline area'. This past
surmer, Spiti has been thrown wide open to
outsiders and to tourism - it is no longer an
inrirerline area. So the mad rush lor yet
/=-a\..
<Y-Y\\
ry
V ^----\
I with this valley. I intend to collaborate
13
From our Networks
opatfa'tourisn. Shubendu
is raaly t'a' mnssanrlsunqtiot
I another 'newly discovered land' has begun.
Spiti is ready for mass- consumption. The
lines I wrote in reaction to my lirst Zanskar
visit nny well be apt {or Spiti soon enough:
'fhought uc zoould m*lding
go far ltom thc
a'cnod,
Tlnught
s<t the mudding ct'Lnud tott.
Thought Zmsknr toas tt'trctu ,lix.,twa'cd'
land,
Tlwught s: the mad,ling a'rxurl, too.
While I was in Spiti, I net the SDM at Kaza
and expressed my fears to him. I told him that
Spiti oughtto prepare itself for tourism be{ore
things got out of hand. The people of Spiti
should make sure that il tourism is inevitable
as it seenrs to be, its ill-eflects should be
minimised, and its good etfects (money, that
is) should not be siphoned off by outside
agencies. Above all, the people of Spiti
should be involved in lhe evolution and
implernentation ol any such 'strategy lor
tourism'. And so on. The SDM shared my
concern and said that if I had any concrete
solutions to offer, his administration would
lend all possible support. So I decided to get
in touch with EQUATIONS to work out
'something concrete'.
is
I want to get going on this right away. The
intention is to study the tourism potential of
the valley and its possible impact on
resources, on lifestyles, on the economy and
the ecology. And then to act as a catalyst,
among the people and the administration, in
has evolving and implementing a sound strategy
for handling tourism in the valley. In addition,
I want to also examine how Spiti can move
towards self-reliance. and of how it can
attempt to step directly into the matured
sophistication of the 'solar era' with a
minimum ol messing around in the crude and
simplistic insensitivity of mainstream
industrial civilisation.
In short, ari open-ended association of sorts
extensively with individuals and
organisations that have the in{ormation
knowledge or expertise that I might need as
I go along, but I want to work essentially
alone and in my own way, which is
characterised by down-to-earth informality,
by freedom from strict schedules and quite
 Action Alerts
importanlly, a lreedom from arcountability to
ary organisation or individual. In tho
process, I intend to visit the valley in all
seasons, walk up and down its trade and
trekking routes, interacl variously wilh lhe
people there, possibly learn the language -
all this in a disorganised ('nonorganised
reads better) way, going essentially by feel
and making, breaking or changing plans al
will.
The lunding forthis wort should ideally come
in some way from the people of Spiti
lhemselves, or otherwise f rom an inleresled
individual (or individuals), but not from any
organisalion or institution. And again, the
lunding source orsources will have to rely on
my integrity, for I do not intend lo have
anything lo do with accounls. All this might
sound quite strange, even unreasonable, but
that is how it is.
Now let me make nry motives lransparenl.
Firsl the selfish ones. These include the
opportunity for extensive travel in Spiti and
the opportunity to make some sustenance
money out of work that I will ouile obviously
enjoy. Secondly, I hope to use this exercise
lo sort out, evolve and if possible test out my
ideas on wholesome developnrent. And
thirdly, a deeplelt love f or the mountains and
their people, a deepfell empalhy with what
their way of living stands for, and deeplelt
pain al what is happening to them all over.
All lhree sets ol molives are clean and
heahhy and perhaps even necessary for
something worthwhile to emerge out of such
work. r prrblicly cliscusscrl. Nor has it bt'en clcaricl
Note to our Readers
Ifor those who would like to linnncially or
otherwise assist with this project, please
write to Shrlbhendu directlv.
Shubendu Kaushik, C-404, Somvihar
Apartments, R.K. Puram, New Delhi-110022
Phone-676957
On a wayward highw€l/......
THE EASTCOASTROAD
A major highway, callcti thc East Ccnst
Rrud (ECR), is bcing built along thc East
Coast from Madras to thc southcrn tip of
India at Kanniyakumari, a distancc of about
700 km.
Although callcd a road, thc ECR is
practically a new major highway cutting
through fragile ccesystcms, villagcs,
sometimcs houscs, and disturbing wildlifc
habitats. ln many places it is within 5fi) m
of thc high-tidc linc and only 2-3 m above
mcan scil ltvcl. Rt'sidcs t ncouraging
industrics with high water dcmands and
polluting potcntial, a busy hig,hway along
an ecologically dcvasta tcri routc is not
to cncouragc tourism, which is onc of thc
statctl reas<lns for thc nud.
Thc cntirc strctch is likcly t<l cost morc than
US $ 2m million. Thc Asian flevt'lopmcnt
Rank is lcnding (t07o <tf thc moncy. Thc rcst
is from public firnds. llul is this rmi renlly
necessnry? Atxlut 10-30 km inland, an
almost p,rralltl national highway (NH 45)
alrc.rdy r.xists. This is bcing tviticnccl and
upgratlc.l with World &rnk funds.
Thc plans for thc ICII havc not tncn
Ity tllr officials of thc Ministry of
Fnvironment and Forcsts, n'ho havc bntn
told that an cxisting ro.rtl is jrrst bcirrg
improvcrl anrl widcnctl from 10 to 12 m!
Thc only rcason to prrt this roacl ckxc to thc
coast sct'ms to t'rc th,rt cconomically ahd
srxially u'n.rkt'r scctions of srrir.ty will bc
affc.ctt'd. Tht'y arc not infrlrmcd or
organiscd cnorrg,h to protcst and land
ac<lrrisition will thcrc[<rrt tr chcnpcr.
C)r.rr appcal is:
* to suspend tree cuttingand corctruction
work on the ECR hetween Madros and
Cuddalore until an Enaironmental
Impact Assasment is prepared.
* to drop ECR behueen Madras and
Cuddalore as it is a duplication of NH
45.
* to imprwe and widen the existing
coastal road with minilnal tree cutting
and dlsruption of uillages.
* to explore the feasihility of an inlo-a .
highway at a distance of '10-40 lo, l', . ) -
the coast.
likclv
Petitions may be senl to:
I lonourable Chief Minister, Dr Selai l
kcrelariat, Fort St. Ceorge,
Jayahlitha,
Madras 6m 009. His Exccllcncy, Lt
Covcrnor of Pondichcrry, Sri Harswarup
Singh, Raj Nivas, Pondichcrry 505 fi)l
I ol Enuironment awl
lonourable Minister
Forests, Si
Kamal Nath, Paryaoaran Bhaoan,
CCO Complex, Ldi Rmrl, Nau Delhi 110 00i.
Mr K Taru Mizu, Prestlent, Asian
f)eoelopment Bank, P O Box789,'l(D9 Manila,
Philippines.
For more information, write to: lndirt .
National Trusl for Art and Cultuial llei\ l
(INTACI D,14,Church Street, Pondicherry 6b5
0'12, lndia FAX: C[.].914'13 86-2116 I TEL
w914't3-86-2258.
According to latest reports, the Madras
High Court has issued a stay order on the
felling of trees, follouring a utnt petition
filed by INTACH, the Aurmsille
Dettelopment Croup and Consumer Action
Group (CAG), Madras.
 Action Alerts

I.ATE PRESS
SAVE
According to latcst rcp()rts, thei
'lhnzanian governnrcnt lras g(ntc
OUR ahcarl arrcl allrrak'd thc sports fitlcl to
lvl/s Tantruss Ltd (thc l<rirl Partrrt'rs
-llotrgh
SPORTS o[ Shcratr>n I krtcl). tlrc
rnattcr is still pcndirrg irr court under
an intcrirn in junctir>n, Danish
FIELD contract<x, M/s. C J Jcnscn has
alroatly tregun construction work.

Rtprrts say that thc Worlcl Bank has

This is an urgent appcal to international
-cnvironmcntal and othcr pressurc groups.
'govcrnmcnt of Tanzania has allcratcd
a sports-field<um-greencry to Shcraton
Hotels to build a luxtrrious five-star hotel in
thc city of Dar-Es-Salaam.
With thc rapitlly expanding population, a
number of ope'n spaccs earmarked as
recrcation spots havc bcen g<ibblcd up by
propcrty devclopcrs. The last rcmaining
sports ground is not trcing spared cithcr.
The govcrnmcnt of Tanzania, n'ith a vicu'to
rcvamp its cconomy has tx'cn inviting
foreign invcstmcnt without having a
clcar-cut policy on environmcntal
protection. Tixlay, it is the Shcraton,
tomorrow it will be five othcr hotcls
wanting another patch of grecrrerv.
Mormvcr, thcre'arc varit)l-ls plots clrxe
opr: n
to thc controvcrsial sitc which arc also
owncd by the govcrnmcnt anc'l can bc
allrratcd for thc hote.l-
All c<lnccrncd groups arc renue'stctl to
respond and hclp save our sports field.
Petitions may be sent [o: Pres. Ali Ilnssn
Mutinyi, Clo The Stntu I bu*, P. O. llox 9120,
Dnr -ES -Salaam, TANZ AN I A.
Appeal received from: Nizar I]. Fazal,
Box 5-l 65, Dnr -Es- Salnnm, TANTANI A.
also joinecl the' project throrrgh thc
I'refcrcntial Tlade Agreement Ilank
set trp for East and Sotrthern African
countrics. Othcr partncrs arc
Thntruss Ltd of Thnzania, Ovcrseas
I)rivate Invcstment Corporation
(Shcraton), USA, C C Jcnscn of
Dt'nrnark, lrrdustrializa tion Fund for
Dcvt.l<ping Countrics (lFU),
f)enrnark, ancl J'cchnrxxport, Iirssia
(converting USSR nrilitary rlclrt
untlcr IMF conditionalities).
P. O.

Do €r 'f'l -f
HE Stc,AlS
^t
gS 'f HL c-lttL-D "Boycott l,auda Air"
Thus ran somc of thc placards
carrid by dcmonstrators protesti ng
against a controversial advcrtise-
mcnt that apporrcd in thc airlinc's inflight UP magazinc. Thc ad
showed four mcrk postcards. Onc said, "From Thailantl with
Love." with a picturc of a young girl in thc nudc. The rcverse of
thc card had four Ccrman tourists boast of Thailand as the land
of sin and womcn, referring in particular to a place callctl thc
Baby Club.
Reacting to thc ad, the TECST (TaskForce to End Child Sexploitation
in Thailand\, an umbrella organization of 24 non- governmcnt
and scrial groups working for the rights of women and chilciren,
has demandcd an apology to thc Thai peoplc, the withcirawal of
thc Junc cditions of UP and thp publishing of Thai anti-chilcl
sexploitation laws in thc magazinc. So far, Lauda Air has
withdrawn all June/July crlitions. The f<rur people responsible
for the ad have also bcen bannccl from entering Thailand. But
despitc a month of protests, thc Austrian-based chartcr airline
has failcd to takc responsibility for the picture.
Niki tauda, the airline oh'ncr was qtrol.cd as saving that thc
prxtcarcl was thc work of a farnous Austrian cart<xrrrist irr a vcry
stylc which thc Austrian people wcrc usctl to. It is
spreci.rl
howcvcrclcarthat thcchild isbcingyiqwctl asa svmkrl of Thai
tourism. Whilc thc ac'l ust cl kangarcxrs for Ar.rstralia, for Thailanrl
it trscd a picturc of a young girl nakccl from thc waist trp.
Thc Tlr.ri govcrnmcnt is to blame too for not putting in cnough
cfforts to curb tlrc gorvth of chilcl prrxtitutiorr ancl allowing this
to btromc part of thc natiotral irnage. According to a survey
c(nducted this year by the Foundation t'or Children, therc are
roughly two million prostitutes in Thailand,600,(X)0 of which arcr
undcr 1 8.
This is not the first timc that the tourism industry has promoterc'l
child scxploitation in Asia. There are many similar cases in
Europe, according to TECST. In Switzerland alonc, l0 airtickct
agencies promoting chilcl scx tours has trecn lcr-atcd folkrwing
which all 10 agencics cl<xcd down.
Mc.anwhile, the TECST has callccl for a boycott on tlrc airlinc and
clcmandcd that lcgal action bc takcn up.
It is impcrative that the Thai governmcnt tnake it clear kr the
world that it is not thc country's policy to use scx tours to attract
tourists. Otherwise Thailand will continue to trc vicwecl as thc
world's brothcl.

I.ocal politicians like Churchill Ale'nrao
have stated, for the record, that tourisnr
provide; jotx to may[x-'a few lakh people in
Coa. Orrr pcnrly-educatcd youtlt lcxrk to
thissectorwith lxrpc. YOt, even todayIuxury
lxrlels ad vertise frrr conl ractcd c'nrployeeri
who will carn L'rarcly lts. 3tt0 per nronth for
thret yrrrs on'apprenticesltips'.
Jolrti have beren a major bait while justifying
the irrational growth of tourism and luxury
l'urtels in Goa. Still, few worry to look at the
type of john or the salaries lr>urisnr offers, or
torrlisnt's negative inrpnql on existing
occupali()n-s. Zcbrcgs, a young Dutch
rcscalcher, laker on sonrc srrch issucs even
if not qrrite getting l<l tlte bcrne of the issue.
Reing an acadcmig his work is naturally
entanglcrl in nruclt economics-relaled
tccllnicalitie's. Ilut even if clcar<ut answers
are nol openly visilrlc', his wrlrk gives sonle
r.rscful malcrial and clues to unravclling
Coa's lourisnr enignra.
Zcbrcgs work nrainly z.eroes inon the'large'
versus 'surall' hotels issrre. For sonleone
crrnring flonr tlrc leisurc-oriented societies
o[ liur'ope, this issue ruay lrc crucial. [:or, if
lrolidays ale an unquestionable nced for a
large scction of tlte [npulace, lhen one
sinrply must work out tl'rc bcst tourism
option.
But for Goa, or any post<olonial Third
Wodd srciety, the more vital question may
indeed [re: slrould tourism at all be givenso
nurch priorily vis a vis other sectors?
Wc rnrrst raise ntorc fundanrental issues. Is
earning foreign exchange going to fill
hrrngry slonlachs? Is it ntoral for the
Covcrnmenl lo sulnidise the rich ntan's
lullidays, undcr whalever cxcuse? What
nceris of thc pcoplc should be given first
priority?
Dcspite this, I'larrrr's study brings out some
rrscful facts.
The Economic effects of Tourism in Goa
(with a Micro-Study on Emfloyment In the hotel sector)
by Harm Zebregs,
Catholic University of Tilburg, Holland.
September 1991. PhD Thesis 54 pD + dppendices
By G Martn
For in-stance, he reveals that Goa has the
highcst foreign cxchange earnings per
capita of all Indian States. But these earnings
acrnte not to the Slate treasury, but are
rcdistributed to all States after being
lran-sferrcd to the Centre.
Residcs, its 'snull
ecnnonric base' makes
Goa bring in substantial of ils tourism sector
inputs fiom other States. Thus, an important
part of tourism generated income will not
accrue to Goa, but to other states or even
foleign countries.
Zcbregs reports that caste and social
background (or class) strongly influence
onc's career possibilities. Even in the
srrpposed ly nrodern tourism sector. Despite
a reluctance try sonre respondents to talk of
lheir casle, he notes that a 'low' caste birth
nrakes entry into a hotel executives ranks
not possible.
Of late, this 'glass<eiling' seems to be
increasingly taking ory unfortunately, a
regiornl sl'rape too. In large hotels quite.a
large proportion (40%)of people fronr States
other than Goa occupy managerial
pt'rsitions.
Unskillcd workers in large hotels earn an
average of Rs. 645 per month, and just Rs.
436 in small hotels on average, Zebrqs
snall hotels studies had
cirlculates. Many
owners previously employed in the Gulf,
who saved enough to start a small business.
One useful contribution of Zebregs to tl're
Coa debate is on tourism's econonic
bcnefits to Goa. Considered a highly
'tecl'rnical'sutrjert, few dare to touch it.
Ilut tl'ris work makes tlre point that two
earlier Governnlent- spronsored studies, by
the IIPO (lndian In-stitule of Public Opiniory
New Delhi 1987) and the Tata '1975-76
reporls ovenimplify, and exaggerate, the
plus sides of klurism.
76
Note, for instanc€, the way the Tata study
works out employment created. For every
Rs. 1O000 of gross earnirgs per year in
restaurahts and bars fields, one job is
estimatd tohcreatd.
Then, the total (estimated) expenditure of
tourists on food and drinks is taken. This
figure itself is not an actual, please n-'r.
later this estin'tate is multiplied by .. t
above estimated ratio. And, this is the
number of jobe we are supposed to have.
Pro-tourism lobbylsts, above all official
ones, have hardly bothered to check the
actual number of jobs existing, and the
terms offered. We prefer to bluff ourselves
with estimated estimates.
It is also significant that the foreign
exchange earnings of tourism in Goa are
only estimates again. Does this foreign
exchange really reach government coffers?
In fact, the Govemnrent admit.s it has no
figures to accr)unt for this.
Costs for promoting tourism are also
nowhere taken into account. For exaq ' \
expenses made for the tourists but pait ,.1
by the local population in terms of
environmental pollutiory maintenance
costs for tourist attractions and
infrastructure.
Zebrrys study, even if it enrphasises is-sues
which may really be not so important in the
Goa context, reopens nany an important
subject linked to the whole tourisn debate
herc. I
Weekenda', Goa.
Beyond the Maek, Toward a transdieciplinary Approach of
Selected Social Probleme related to the Evolution and Context
International tourism in Thailand. Waltcr Mryer, Seial Scbnce an intr<xlucti<rn to tourisrn. The secondary kit, "Misgufuleil Tours"
Studbs on International Problems, Band 134, Verlag'breitenbach examines the impact of tourism on developing countrics with a
Publkhers, Memeler Strass 50, 600 Saarbruecl<en, Germany, frrus on srrial, culttrral and cnvironmental issues. An adult kit,
1988,533 pp. titlcd, "Goirg lhe Extra Mila" has alsobern pr<xluccc.
A study of international totrrism sct within its larger context in
Thailand, this brnk aims at broadening the view on tourism- related
problems in order to show the interrelations that exist between
various elements of the tourist system and general developments
within host and guest countries.
Selg Money and Morali$r: Prostitution and Tourism in Soutlreast
Asia, Thanh -DamTruon g, ZED Bools LttI ., 57 Caledon ian Razd, London,
1990,227 pp
Contributing to thc on6oing debate on prostitution, this b<xrk
focuses on thc factors underlying thc phenomenon, its
'rlsformation and convergence with one maior industry, thc
international tourist indushy. Breaking away from thc common
conccption of prostitution as promiscuity and crimc, thc study
formulates thc problematic of prostitution froln the anglc of thc
political economy of women's labour and scxuality.
The Tourist Gaze, Leisure and Travel in Contemporary Socielies,
lohn Urry, Sage Publications Ltd.,28 Banner Street, Lonilon ECIY 8QE,
1990,'176 pp.
Outlining thc dcvelopment of, and historical transformation in, the
tourist gaze, thc author elaborates on the prrcesres by which the
gaze is constructed and reinforced, who or what authoriscs it, and
what its conscquences are for the placcs which are its object, and
how it interrclatcs vr'ith a varicty of other scrial practices.
Sustainable Tourism Newsletter Eco lnstituk of Cosla Rica, Aylo
8080 11 0N, San lo*, Costa Rica, triannual, 4pp
Launchcd in May 7992, the Sustainable. lourism newsletter scts out to
shape a new tourism order that fits with world concern about the
-r'.:rzi1enrnon, and cultural rights. WorkinB towards thc crcation of a
,tainablc Ttrurism Profile for Central America, thc Ncwslettcr
covers all ma jor rcgional developments besides promoting the work
of the Sustainablc Tourism Initiatives (STI) at the Eco Institute
Beyond the Green Horizon - Principles for Sustainable tourism,
ed, Shirley Ebrs, WWF UK, Panila lloux, Weyside Park, Ctf,alming,
Surry CLIT IXR,'1992,'I -54
Beyond thc Crecn Horizon aims to provide a tool f<rr discussion
about tourism, the environment and development. Thc first section,
aimed primarily at the tourism industry, scts out principles for sus-
tainablc tourism development while the case studics which follow
highlights various attempts to put such principlcs into practice.
TDE-DOC Spcial issue, ECTWT,':P.O. Box 24 Choral<hebua, Bangkok
10230, Thailnnd, N ooember 1992, 1 -53
This special issue on Resort anil Golf Cour* Deoelopmmt includes
statements on the environmental, srrioetonomic and political
implications of the golfing busincss by both golf promoters and
critics as well as a selection of materials on Japan, Hawaii and
Southeast Asian Countries.
One World Teaching Kits 1992 Australian Catholic RelieflAustralian
Co un c i I o f Ch u rches, 37 9 Ken I S treet, Sydney 2(N0.
Intended f<rr the upper primary level, the primary kit, "Our l,acific
of Neighbours" which focusses on thc Pacific island c<runtries, acts as
Asian Consultalion on Tourism and Aboriginal Peoples,
Comnrunity Control, Cultural Dignity & Economic Value erl,
Yaonne Lin Mei- jung,lluadong Community Deuelopnwnt Cenlre, #7,
I Isiang 87,Tie llua Street,Taidong95008 Taiwan, (089) 327-754,1-134
Rccording the prcrecrlings of the consultation hcld in Taiwan in
November 1989, this collection includes articlcs on alternativcs to
commcrcializcd tourism and a statement on tcnrrism fr<lm the 19t19
Darwin International Indigenous Peoplcs Seminar. Wth Country
rcports from Taiwan, Fiji, I-Iawaii,Japan, I'hilippincs and Tlrailand,
thc thcme ccnters around what an ab<rrig,inal community can clo to
managc the tourist industry in order to lcssen the destrrrctive
influencc tourism brings kr thcir scx'iety ancl culture as wcll as to
cnsure that thc cconomic lxrncfits accrue to thcm.
E-pty nreeting grounds, The tourist papers Dean Mnc Cannell,
Routledge,ll Lane,London EC 4P 4EE,'1992,'l-346.
Ne:lu Fetter
This trxrk e'xa mincs sornc of thc ncw ctrltural fornrs and c<lrnnrunity
arrangeincnts that accompany thc dcvelopmcnt of global tourisnr.
In particular, it examines the new stagings of 'primitivism' for
tourists antl the totemism of the pmtmoderrrite. The thcsis of thc
b<nk is that human kind has alrcacly arrived at thc historical
momcnt of thc invcntion of a new kind of commurrity, but we are
not capatrlc <lf facing the implications of our collective invention.
Written in the spirit of thcoretical activisrn, theauthor lras takcn carc
to grouncl his theoretical cliscussion in practical examplcs.
Children in Prostitution, Victinrs of Tourism in Asia ed., Ron
O' G rrul y, ECP T, P.O. Box 1 7 8, Klong{han, Ilangkok 1 0240, Thai ln n d,
't992,'t-62.
This report of the International Confcrence organisctl try ECI'AT
contains some of the majtr spcechcs krgether with the confercnce
statcment and a summary of the ECPAT activities in sorne Asian
ccruntries. Examining some of thc challcnges and stratc.gics for
action in rclation to the t<rurism industry and child prostitutitn, this
c<ilection uncovers the cxtcnt to which childrcn havc been s<id,
ab<luctecl, cnslaved and sexually abused all over Asia.
The Itepercussions of Luxury tourism in Goa, India /. Lobo,
Mi rii th u P ubl ish in g I I o use, Ban gnlore, I n d in, 1 99 "1, 1 -7 3 .
Intendcd to compliment an earlier study byMcnezes and Lotxr trn
" Luxury llench-ResortTburism in Cm: The Dark sfule ol Darclopme,nt and
Crowth", this report evaluatcs the dccper structural dimen- sions of
thegoan tourism indush/s 'development orientation'and it's links
with 'world capitalist development'. The author clcarly illustrates
the irregularities within the hotel and travel trade and its
-
envircm mental, srrio-;xrli tical repcrctrssions. I
 About Equatlons
Meetings organised by
Equations
29 -30 August 1992
A two-day ses-sit)n examining the
on tourisnr was
theclretical perspcrtives
held for a small group corsisting of
EQUAI-IONS staff and troard, and a few
fi'iends from Karnataka. Led by Alito
Siqrreira of Goa University, the discussions
offe'r'ed insights on lhe tourisnt industry,
will.r scrio- antlrolmlogical inputs. C K
Mccrra's arlicle based on this nrecting
appears elsewhere in this issue of ANLetter.
26 - 27 September 1992
A trvo-day cunfcrcnce on "lourism
in Kerala. Its Implications
Develclpnrent
was oryanised in lrichur by
IIQUATIONS togetlrcr with Praihikarana
Sangl'ranr, Sahyadri, Prathikarana Vcdhi
and INFACI'(all actiongroups in Kerala).
llestrlting fnrm the merlin& a coordination
conrurittcr: has bcen set up with the Kerala
Nature Prcservalion Clrrlr steering the
district lcvel cornmittee at Ti'ichur.
l)re'senlalittrts were made by Prof
Cangadharan, Srrjatha Devi, Mohankuntar,
Paul Consalves, K K Vijayan, Roland
Martin-s and othes.
A set of posters produced by Dhanaraj
Keczhara, especially comnrissioned ftrr the
Kcrala meeting, wcre displ2ys6 at the
workshop venue, and later nrade available
for a state-wide travelling exhitrition.
10, 16 October 1992
NGOs, churchr:s, acadenrics and nass
media were represented at two meetings
especially organiserJ to discuss current
sro-ial issues in India, in an historical
c()nlcxl, as a background lo llle prcpamtion
of an "lnditr I'rofile" for the Catholiclnstitr.rte
for lnlt:r'nirlional l{elations (CIIR), lrascd in
London. I'.rul Corualv(s was invited lo
tlraft tlrc 'prrrfile' by the Scottish Gtholic
International Aid Frrnd (SCIAF), on trehalf
of CllR.
30-31 )anuary 1993
Ameeting was hcld at EQUATIONS to look
at the design, metlndolcgy and scope of the
Natiorual liaining Programnte, resulting in
plans for a Working Conference in May
193, and the Main Event scheduled for
December this year. Morc information
else'where in this issue.
16 February 1993
A half-day mceting .was organised to
disctrss lhe issue of Child Prostitution and
its links with the tourism industry.
Participants from backgrounds such as
psychia tr y, state social welfare institutions,
the legal profcssiory social work and
journalism nret wilh EQUATIONS staff and
network partners to review the
psycho-social and legal dimension-s of Child
Plostituticln.
Visits of Network / Funding
Partners
llon O'Grady fiom ECPAT @nd Child
Prostitition in Asian Tourisnr, New
Tealand), visited EQUATIONS to explore
avenues of setting up an ECPATlndia
group. ECPAT has committees in 15
counlries.
Raincr Kruse from Bread for the World,
Cernrany, met withstaff and menrbersof the
Roard to discuss IQUATIONS prsrent
activities and future strategicrs.
Judith Lim from YMCA, Solq Indonesia, a
nrc'nrber of the ANTENNA Southeast Asia
branch, visited EQUAflONS to discuss the
possibility of organising a training
progmmme for Indonesian tourism
activists, in collaboration with
EQUAIONS and the Thai Network on
Tirurisnr.
Dr Ulrich Dorntreqg, fTom MISEREOR, the
Gernran Calholic Church's centre for
development cooperation, visited
IIQUAION$ for discussions on the
proposed national training prqyanrme.
Ulrich, in his earlier capacity at the Asian
Cul tural Forum on Development (ACFOD),
llangkok, was a resource pemonat the Asian
t8
Tourism Activist training programme in
March 1991.
C-atherine Schumperli, a member of the
French section of the BerneDeclaration,
Switzerland, visited us to dlscuss their
plans to do a programme on Tllird World
tourism during 1993.
The BBC World Service is featuring
EQUATIONS in a half-hour programmeon
tourism and technology in India. K T
Suresh and Paul Gonsalves were
interviewed by Dr Stephen Hedges, senior
producer.
Jueqgen Hammelehle, Information Offi -:'{
Bread for the World, Stuttgart, gave J.
brief visit, together with Christine Pluess of
the Swiss group, Arbeitskreis Tourismus
und Entwicklung (AkTE). Juergen was
formerly on the staff of ZEB, our network
partner in Germany, and both ZEB and
AkTE are active members of TEN the Third
World Tourism European Network. Apart
fnom general discussions on the wolk of
EQUATIONS, Christine also updated us on
the Swiss campaign against , Child
Prostitution. She expressed a keen interest
in the Tourism and Child Prostitution study
conducted by EQUATIONS.
Hilary Blume, fron Charities Advisory
Trust, discussed the proposal to establish a
"Green Hotels" project in India. Set on the
lines of an alternative tourisnr-rele '
facility, the project would
incomegenerating. She was acconrpanied
by H Ranjeet of KOLAM, an alternative tour
operator based in Madras.
Research students
Wendelin Kuepers, from the University of
Wtten-Herdicke in Germany, spent about
two n'ronths at EQUAflONS consulting our
library and for discussion-s on his research
on tourism in India and perceptions of it.s
implications . He took part in the faculty
meeting held at the end of January, and
vlsited Kerala together witl'r Suresh and
Dhanaral during tlre Theyyam festivities at
Kannur District.
Christian Stock, a student from the Social
Geography department of Freiborg

University, is doing research on ffird
World Tourism as part of his graduate
studies. He visitcd EQUATIONS on several
occasions to refer to our dcrumentation,
and to discuss thc scope of a pcsible future
field study in South India.
Other Visitors
A group of Sri Lankans representing a
variety of NGOs in their country were in
India as part of an expoeure visit. A
discussion on EQUATIONS was lcd by Paul
and Suresh, at thc invitation of the Indian
Social Institutc, Bangalore. (14 September
1e92\
Two groups of students of Friends World
Programme, an international proglamme,
visited EQUATIONS for learning scssions
on the issnc of tourism in India. Surcsh and
Michacl Isaac lcd tlre discussions hcld in
Novcmbcr 1992 and May 1993.
IIAM Assaiation, ltaly, which organises
joumeys to mect scrial and cultural BToups
workin$ on human rights in thc Third
World, mct with Paul Gonsalvcs in
Decembcr. Thcy were lcd by Renzo
Garrone.
A group of students of Saial Gcography
from Fricborg University, Ccrmany were
introduced to EQUATIONS and tourism
.;"-r1,nqin India at a meeting with Paul
\ -n3'-{vo, in March 1993.
Global Villagc, a group from Japan, visitcd
EQUATIONS in March 7993 for a brief
discussion on Asian tourism and Japanese
interests, espccially the proliferation of golf
I Wrile to Equations for a cory.
courscs.
From our Networks
(continued from page ll) displaed du€ to recenl tourism expaflsion
plans at Cotva beact, South Goa. He gare
for "devebping and running" golf clurses at lhe name of the owners of lhe six hr.rts ard
Verna (Salcete) and Amnhane (Bicholim) for one stall thus uprooted. (Starred qn. no.
which lartd of 6,40,000 Sq.m. and 4,92,400 1027 dated July 31, 1992).
Sq.m. respectively has been acquired.
MLA Fladharao Gracias called on the
T.A.D.A lmposed In Goa: Government to provide ahernate space, as
Row over lts lmpacl on Tourlsm the fishermen needed lo work on the shore
lor their livelihmd.
The ultra-slringent'Terrorist and Disruptive
Activities (Prevention) Aci of 1987 was But Mr. Raut only answered that 'no
introduced in Goa. lt provides for detenlion objections' had been brought forward when
withor.i lrial. lhe acquisition of land was nolified through
the Press, and said the Government "will
Goa Depdy Chief Minister Dr.Wilfred de look inlo the issue".
Souza was quoted as warning that such
sleps urould scare away lourists from Goa, During past months, other related issues
by projecting the place as a violence-ridden
have also come up here. The Indian Travel
place. Congress, the annual convention of TAAI
(the Travel Agents'Association of lrdia) was
tsut Goa Tourism Minisler Pandurang Raut
organised in Goa in September 1991. More
reportedly argued lhat TADA would in fact serious developments came in the form of
put fear into the guilty, and make the place the controversy over the Konkan Railway
safe lor lourists. roule in Goa, and opposition from diverse
quarters to the proposal to site India's first
July 1992 :
'Free Port' in this State. These lwo
Flshermen Displaced at Colva Beach
proposals, it is believed, if implemented
could have a very strong impac{ on Goa's
State Tourism Minister Pandurang Rzut
adnitted in the Goa Assembly that
environment ard her people
- making
fishermen had been dishoused ard
tourism seem as a very tiny issue indeed. I
Tourism Alternativea Exchartge, Occassional document Issue No 3, Equations,
B angal o re, M arch 7 993, 7 -7 I P r ic e : Rs.25.0 0 I $ 5.0 0.
The latcstissueof TAE fr>nrsscson thcstrugglcof theadivasisof Tlroovaipathy,
threatencrl with tlrc planncd take-over of their tribal forcst lands by a private
zoological park. Includcd are also a discussion paper on Tourism and the Ncw
Economic Policy, and a response to thc dcbate otr coastal constmctiotr
regulations.
*{1
19
 w
Ecotorrrisrn Developing an Action Strategy November4-6, 1992
The BanffCentre which is hcrt toa seminaron Ecotourism each Fall
organised a thrc.e day seminar on thc planning and management of
ecotourism operations. Through involvement in concentrated
planning exercises, case study analysis and group discussions,
participants worked through a structurcd prcress enabling them to
develop an ecotourism product and operations plan. Faculty were
representative of North American and International ccotourism
organizations.
Banff Festival of Mountain Films, November G8,l%t2
Now in its 17th year, thc festival showcases the world's bcst moving
pictures on mountain subjects, featurirrg continuous film and vidcrr
screenings, exhibitions and fairs. "Best of thc Fcstival" tour begins
Novembcr 15. For furtlrer information, contact: Carole Stark, The
Banff Cenlre for Managerunt, Ilox 1020, Statkm 45, knff Aherta,
Canaila TOL OCO; Phone: (403) 762- 7327 , Fax: (403) 762-422
95th International Conference of theAIl March 20-25,1993,Delhi
The 95th International Confcrcncc of thc Alliance International de
Tirurism (AIT), will inclucle post-confcrcnce tours to3 dcstinations,
including Ccn. Thc Ceneva-b:rscd AIT promotes international
tourisrn ancl traffic managemcnt and has constrltative status with
the UN. Thc confcrencc will attract dclegatcs from over 100 membcr
counlricrs.
"Golf Courses are not Earth-Friendly", April 29lh,l992,Tokyo
The Clobal Netrvork for Anti4olf Ct>ttrsc Action (CNACA) was
launchccl on this day rvith thc ol.rjcctivc of opposing golf coursc
construction rrndcrtakcn by fapancsc companies. CNAGA has
already bc5'un to network internationally cspccially for golf-course
rclatcxl surveys and sitc inspection tottrs, information exchange and
putrlication, mutual support trctwccn citizcns g<lups and
crnrdinatcd actions, and initiativcs for systematic rcform. Sez
elsewlrcre in this issue t'or World No Co$ Day, April29,1992. Contact:
CNACA, Internntionnl liason: Cen Morita478 Katnikohra
Knnrogautn-shi, Chiln l'ryan 296-0"1, TeI. 0170-97-'/0'/,1, Fax. 04V0-
97-'tzt5.
Regional Meet ing on Border Parks and Resewes, Costa Rica, 1992
Over 30 incliviclrrals inclucling park and reserve managcrs, non-
governmcntal conservation grorrp activists, Indian leaders, and
planning ministry and donor agency representatives, met in the first
regional workshop on the thcme of transformation parks ancl
rcserves. Participants reviewcrl progrcss in establishing, protecting
I\rblishc<l by: Iiquitablc Tourism Options (EQUATIONS),168,8th Main Road, Near Indiranagar Club, Eangalore-560 0S. INDIA
I'hone: 812-5tt2313, l;ax: 812-582527 (Attrr. (20), Telex: 084t8$0 CSCI in (Attn (D7), Cable: EQUATIONS BANCALORE
Illustrations by Dhanarai Kcezhara and Ty;resetling by: Verba Network Services, 139, 5th Main, l2th Cross, Malleswryam, Bangalore 560 03, Phone: 3465!2.
and managing such parks and reserves, including the Maya
Biosphere Reerve in Guatemala and adjoining res€rves in Bclize,
Mexico etc. Contact: F elip Mata, Coorilinatar, Natural Resourca Area,
Uniuersity t'or Peace, P.O. hx 138, Cindail Colon, Cwta Rica.
Children in Prostitution: Victims of Tourism in Asia, Bangkok,
March 3l-April3,1992
More than 150 represcntatives comprising of educatcrs, NCO
representatives, law enforcement officials, ecumenical
rcpresentatives from twenty-six countries in Asia, North America.
and Europe attended the conference,.organised by ECPAT f' '1.
Child Prostitution in Asian Tourism). The conference was desigrarl
to formulate active measures for children's rights and welfare.
Contac t : EC I"{f , P.O.h x 1 7 8, Klongthan, kn gkok'l 0240, Thaihn d-
Tourism Education:f ob Opportunities and Training needsin Goa,
Goa University, April 15,1Y)2
Thc Tourism Rcsearch Group of Goa University, organised a
workshop attended by participants representing indushy, academic
instifutions and thc govemment of Gm for chalking out a ccmrsc of
action for meeting the diverse manpower needs of the tourism
industry in Coa. Contact: Cu Unioersity, Taleigaum Plateau, P.O.
Banrbolim, Gm 40i202.
Sustainable use and the conservation of Wetlands, Rainforests
and Biodiversity, between December 1,1993 - February 1994USA
Thc Association of State Wctland Managers has called for
submission of papers for the 4th International Sympcriumo- ' '
-'
,,
Ecotourism and Rcsource Conservation Proicrt. The symposirr,..
will cxplore spccific assessment, planning and management
tmhniques for both protecting wctlands, rainforests and
bi<xiivcrsity, while providing sustainablc economic uses including
thc possible rolcs of forcstry, agriculfure, mining, nature-based
tourism and othcr economic activitics. W?ite to: Association of
Welland Managers, Box 2463, krne, NY 12023-9746; 5'1,8-872-1804 or
fax to 5'l 8 -872 -2'17'l .
COADESC
An activist initiative in Dncumentation, Education and Solidarity
on issues of dcvelopmcnt and democracy has been set up to
dissem i na teformatioh, empower through trai ni n g program mes,
i n
workshops etc. and support shuggles for justice through
networking, campaigns and lobbying. Address: GOA DESC,No.11,
Librty Aprhnents, Feira AItn, Mapusa, Gm403507,India. I