Why tourism?

 

Did you know that tourism is one of the biggest industries in the world, estimated at ten per cent of the world’s GDP? The tourism industry and most governments see it as an easy means to raise substantial income for shareholders and the economy. 

Most holiday-goers too would see tourism as a pleasant and benign activity. But there is an underside in tourism that confronts local people in Asia, Pacific and elsewhere. 

The high energy, land and other demands of tourism projects as well as the infrastructure provided are threatening local livelihoods, displacing local people, endangering ecosystems,stretching drinking water resources, and having negative social impacts.

Tourism also raises challenges regarding climate change, trafficking and sexual exploitation of women and children, HIV AIDS…

ECOT was funded in 1982 by ecumenical organizations worldwide. It works in collaboration with faiths-based and secular groups to promote  socially, ecologically and ethically responsible tourism.

The Ecumenical Coalition On Tourism aims to:

Respond to the impact of tourism on communities in the Third World, and provide a voice for their concerns.

Advocate and act against unfair practices in tourism to change them.

Empower indigenous and traditional peoples and support them in their efforts for a fair return in tourism.

Lobby against the violation of Human Rights linked with tourism development at a national and international level.  

Advance responsible and ethical tourism to promote a just participatory and sustainable world.

Undertake research and disseminate information on the impact of tourism.
 
ECOT: the beginnings

As the era of mass travel took off in the mid-seventies thanks to aircraft such as the 747s and DC10s, churches and concerned groups from Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, Fiji, and similar destination countries began to realise that tourism was becoming a serious threat to vulnerable communities. In 1982 they formed the Ecumenical Coalition On Tourism (ECOT).


Since then, tourism has become one of the fastest growing sectors worldwide. According to the statistics of the World Tourism Organisation, international tourist arrivals reached 924 million in 2008 and are expected to rise to more than 1.5 billion by 2020. With the growing demand for resources like water, energy, land and cheap labour, as well as the contribution of travel and tourism to global warming, this is an alarming situation.
The negative impacts on host communities, their people, cultures, economies and environment will continue to grow.

ECOT is a coalition of Regional Ecumenical Organizations constituted by their member churches and individuals within them. ECOT also brings together like-minded organizations, groups, and individuals. Interested organizations and people can subscribe to ECOT’s publications and newsletter, and participate in the activities ECOT is organizing.

 

The ECOT assembly, the governing body, comprises: 

Christian Conference of Asia (CCA)

Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC)

All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC)

Caribbean Conference of Churches (CCC)

Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC)

Consejo Latino Americano de Iglesias

Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)

United Church of Canada

Uniting Church of Australia

The Assembly appoints ECOT's Board of Directors.




 
 


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