Who really benefits from tourism?

altThe Ecumenical Coalition on Tourism (ECOT) was founded   in 1982 by ecumenical organizations worldwide as   a response to the profound impact of tourism on the third world communities. It works in collaboration with faiths-based and secular groups to promote socially, ecologically and ethically responsible tourism that benefits all.

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 raising substantial income for shareholders and the economy.  

     

But is tourism really a motor for development? Do local communities really benefit from it or do they live off the breadcrumbs from the corporate table?

     

Most holiday-goers see tourism as a harmless, pleasant and benign activity. But there are always two sides to a coin. Tourism is a very demanding industry. It is notorious for its higher than average usage of electricity, natural resources and land. The infrastructure developed to cater for tourism threatens local livelihoods, displaces local people, endangers ecosystems, causes depletion of natural resources and has an overall negative social and cultural impact on the host communities.

Tourism also raises challenges regarding climate change, human trafficking and sexual exploitation of women and children, spread of HIV/ AIDS, and it also contributes to many other injustices and human rights violations.  

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

*Photo: Tim Silverwood
 
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 935 million in 2010 and are expected to rise to more than 1.6 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: 

-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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