SUBMITTED TO: SUBMITTED BY:DR. SAHIL GUMBER DEPTT. ROLL NO. 19 OF TOURISM R.H.

TAXAK

MTM 4TH SEM.

DEPARTMENT OF HOTEL MANAGEMENT & TOURISM KURUKSHETRA UNIVERSITY KURUKSHETRA

CONTENTS

Responsible Tourism Key characteristics of responsible Tourism Empowering community through Tourism Community based Tourism development Poverty elimination and other major issues of national importance.

RESPONSIBLE TOURISM
Responsible Tourism can be regarded as behaviour. It is more than a form of tourism as it represents an approach to engaging with tourism, be that as a tourist, a business, and locals at a destination or any other tourism stakeholder. It emphasises that all stakeholders are responsible for the kind of tourism they develop or engage in. Whilst different groups will see responsibility in different ways, the shared understanding is that responsible tourism should entail an improvement in tourism. Tourism should become better as a result of the responsible tourism approach. Within the notion of betterment resides the acknowledgement that conflicting interests need to be balanced. However, the objective is to create better places for people to live in and to visit. Importantly, there is no blueprint for responsible tourism: what is deemed responsible may differ depending on places and cultures. Responsible Tourism is an aspiration that can be realised in different ways in different originating markets and in the diverse destinations of the world. (Goodwin, 2002).

WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE TOURISM?

Responsible Tourism was defined in Cape Town in 2002 alongside the World Summit on Sustainable Development. This definition, the Cape Town

Declaration is now widely accepted and was been adopted by the World Travel Market in 2007 for World Responsible Tourism Day. Recognizing that Responsible Tourism takes many forms, that different destinations and stakeholders will have different priorities, and that local policies and guidelines will need to be developed through multi-stakeholder processes to develop responsible tourism in destinations.

CHARACTERISTICS OF RESPONSIBLE TOURISM

Minimizes negative economic, environmental and social impacts. Generates greater economic benefits for local people and enhances the wellbeing of host communities, improves working conditions and access to the industry. Involves local people in decisions that affect their lives and life changes. Makes positive contributions to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage, to the maintenance of the world's diversity. Provides more enjoyable experiences for tourists through more meaningful connections with local people, and a greater understanding of local cultural, social and environmental issues. Provides access for physically challenged people. Is culturally sensitive, engenders respect between tourists and hosts, and builds local pride and confidence.

How Responsible Tourism differs from Sustainable Tourism

Responsible tourism and sustainable tourism have an identical goal, that of sustainable development. The pillars of responsible tourism are therefore the same as those of sustainable tourism environmental integrity, social justice

and maximising local economic benefit. The major difference between the two is that, in responsible tourism, individuals, organisations and businesses are asked to take responsibility for their actions and the impacts of their actions. This shift in emphasis has taken place because not much progress has been made on realising sustainable tourism since the Earth Summit in Rio. This is partly because everyone has been expecting others to behave in a sustainable way. The emphasis on responsibility in responsible tourism means that everyone involved in tourism government, product owners and operators, transport operators, community services, NGOs and CBOs, tourists, local communities, industry associations are responsible for achieving the goals of responsible tourism. Responsible Tourism is not a product; it is an approach and one which can be adopted by travelers and holidaymakers, tour operators, accommodation and transport providers, visitor attraction managers, planning authorities, national, regional/provincial and local governments. An integrated approach is required, involving many stakeholders in any place or space which attracts tourists.

EMPOWERING COMMUNITY THROUGH TOURISM

Tourism is one of the most effective ways of redistributing wealth, by moving money into local economies from other parts of the country and overseas. It brings income into a community that would otherwise not be earned. Economic benefits Economic benefits resulting from tourism can take a number of forms including: 1. Jobs

Employment may be associated directly, such as tour guide or managerial positions; or in supporting industries like food production or retail suppliers. 2. Increased spending Increased spending in the community generated from visitors or tourism businesses can directly and indirectly promote the viability of local businesses. 3. Economic diversification Tourism operators can play a role in highlighting the broad prosperity that tourism can bring to a community and will contribute to a greater understanding and respect for the value of tourism. Economic diversification is, for many communities, an insurance policy against hard times. By offering an additional means of income, tourism can support a community when a traditional industry is under financial pressure, particularly where that community relies heavily on a single industry. Case Study: Farmers markets The popularity of farmers markets is increasing becoming a key driver of economic development in regional areas. Activities such as visits to farms and farmers markets, fruit picking and agricultural farm accommodation may provide important supplemental activities to struggling rural areas. Some of the benefits of Farmers Markets seen include:

Showcases local produce and local products Encourage visitors from other areas Showcase the local and regional areas Allows for community events to be incorporated Provides distribution opportunities for small businesses

Valuable contribution to the economic development of the area as money is spent locally

4. Infrastructure Infrastructure including roads, parks, and other public spaces can be developed and improved both for visitors and local residents through increased tourism activity in a region.

Social benefits Community identity and pride can be generated through tourism. A positive sense of community identity can be reinforced and tourism can encourage local communities to maintain their traditions and identity. Environmental benefits Providing financial or in-kind support for the conservation of the local environment and natural resources will enhance the reputation of any tourism business. Tourism, particularly ecotourism, can place a greater focus on the conservation of natural resources through the recognition of their importance to visitor experiences and their economic value to the local community.

COMMUNITY BASED TOURISM

A community by definition implies individuals with some kind of collective responsibility, and the ability to make decisions by representative bodies. Community based tourism is tourism in which local residents (often rural, poor

and economically marginalized) invite tourists to visit their communities with the provision of overnight accommodation.

The residents earn income as land managers, entrepreneurs, service and produce providers, and employees. At least part of the tourist income is set aside for projects which provide benefits to the community as a whole.

Community based tourism enables the tourist to discover local habitats and wildlife, and celebrates and respects traditional cultures, rituals and wisdom. The community will be aware of the commercial and social value placed on their natural and cultural heritage through tourism, and this will foster community based conservation of these resources.

The tourist accommodation and facilities will be of sufficient standard for Western visitors, albeit those expecting simple rural accommodation. The community will be required to have continuous access to a phone (which might be required for medical assistance) and daily access to email (which will be required by operators to confirm bookings). The community may choose to partner with a private sector partner to provide capital, clients, marketing, tourist accommodation or other expertise. Subject to agreement to the ideals of supporting community development and conservation, and to planning the tourism development in partnership with the community, this partner may or may not own part of the tourism enterprise. Core Elements of CBT CBT activities and services have been developed through a 'bottom

Up' process, engaging a broad range of local community members. Local people are empowered to define and represent their own Communities, and also to direct how tourism should benefit them. CBT is managed by a formal community group rather than individuals. CBT projects support community development, and try to balance the Goals of economic, environmental, social, and cultural sustainability. Activities are based on local natural, cultural and human resources. CBT is a bridge for hosts and guests to share their knowledge and experience. Creating respect for their cultures and the environment. CBT is active and proactive its a lot of fun for hosts and guests!

What do you actually do on a CBT Tour? CBT programs are hands-on explorations of local life, guided by local community members. Local people chose activities by identifying the defining elements of their lives that they want to share. Programs usually run for between a day and a week. Guests join together in typical activities; enjoy cultural exchange; and experience nature and the relationships between the natural environment and the community. Guests may have the opportunity to stay in local homes with indian families; cook and eat local food; try their hands at fishing, farming, natural dying and weaving; trek through the jungle; or learn about a communitys unique history and achievements. How Do Local Communities benefit from CBT?

To be considered successful, CBT must deliver benefits to the economic, social Environmental and cultural health of participating communities. Benefits include: Community skills development, planning, cooperation, reaching consensus, Communication, management, accounting and green product production; An advocacy platform for local rural cultures and traditional practices. Increased awareness and commitment to maintain the balance between healthy environments and healthy communities among hosts and guests. Additional income Community based Tourism has contributed up to a 10% Increase in the yearly income of participating community members. CBT is also a vibrant forum for cultural expression, and cross-cultural Exchange which has boosted the self-confidence of local people.

COMMUNITY BASED TOURISM IN INDIA

Community based rural tourism is gaining popularity in India. The The Ministry of Tourism and Culture (MoT) defines rural tourism as, any form of tourism that showcases the rural life, art, culture and heritage at rural locations, thereby benefiting the local community economically and socially as well as enabling interaction between the tourists and the locals for a more enriching tourism experience1. According to Leena Nandan, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Government of India, the primary objective is to ensure that the benefits of tourism reach every strata of society- people who live in the rural areas, in villages that have a USP for tourism, so that the socio-economic benefits of

tourism are received by people who are not directly in the framework of tourism. Two community based tourism initiatives have been taken up and analysed in this Project The Endogenous Tourism Project and Mountain Shepherds Initiative. Endogenous Tourism Project One of the outcomes of National Tourism Policy 2002 was the Endogenous Tourism Project (ETP), an innovative response to the agenda of developing rural tourism. The ETP is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Tourism (MoT) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) initiated in 2003 and being implemented currently at 36 sites across the country. While the primary objective of the project is to focus on sustainable livelihoods, it extended beyond the achievement of mere economic objective of employment and income augmentation, putting it on a much larger canvas of community based action. The project aimed at a convergence of issues like sustainable livelihoods, gender equality, empowerment of women, youth and other disadvantaged sections and working towards cultural sensitivity and environmental sustainability. It premised that if tourism is to fulfil its promise of being a transformative agent, capable of changing the minds, values and behaviour of the tourists and the local citizen alike as well as of providing a broad impetus to local economies throughout India, then tourism needed to be radically altered in design and concept. The project design in many ways has been a significant shift from the standard tourism projects implemented by the MoT in the past that were infrastructure-centric and infrastructure-heavy. It has an overall framework, which is ambitious, emphasising processes rather than products, and placing at the centre the notion of local communities taking the decisions related to tourism. Thus a unique feature and indeed core principle of the ETP is to examine and take further the links between tourism and development.

Mountain Shepherds Initiative. In 2006, the Mountain Shepherds Initiative (MSI), a community owned and operated ecotourism venture, was formerly inaugurated in the vicinity of the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve in the mountain state of Uttarakhand. The initiative was born of social struggles with Chipko (early 1970s), Jhapto Cheeno (late 1990s) movements and more recent efforts by the Nanda Devi Campaign to reclaim peoples land and forest rights. Currently over 60 youths (both boys and girls) from various villages in the 3 districts of Pithoragarh, Chamoli and Uttarkashi have been trained in basic and advance courses in trekking & mountaineering, on flora and fauna, on the historical, cultural significance of places. The other trainings, which are in the pipeline, are - Yoga, Water Sports, Search & Rescue, Communication and Computers.

Poverty

Poverty elimination and other major issues of national importance

Tourism and Poverty Reduction: Tourism stimulates economic growth both at the national and local levels and promotes the growth of the agricultural, industrial and service sectors. Tourism provides a wide range of employment opportunities easily accessible by the poor. Tourism businesses and tourists purchase goods

and services directly from the poor or enterprises employing the poor. This creates opportunities for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in which the poor can participate. International and domestic tourism spreads development to poor regions and remote rural areas of a country that may not have benefited from other types of economic development. The development of tourism infrastructure can benefit the livelihood of the poor through improvement in tourism-linked service sectors, including transport and communications, water supply, energy and health services. How Tourism Helps the Poor? Employment of the poor in tourism enterprises. Supply of goods and services to tourism enterprises by the poor. Direct sales of goods and services to visitors by the poor. Establishment and running of tourism enterprises by the poor Investment in infrastructure stimulated by tourism also benefiting the poor. Tax or levy on tourism income or profits with proceeds benefiting the poor.

Potential Positive and Negative Impacts of Tourism Positive Economic Benefits Creation of SME business opportunities, which provide employment and earnings from the sales of goods and services

 The creation of direct employment in formal sector businesses by the poor. The development of collective benefits where a community gains from concession or lease agreements with formal sector enterprises or from user fees for passing through a village or visiting a community forest. Charitable donations from tourism businesses or from tourists. Negative Economic Impacts Pressure on services and facilities necessitating increased investment Increased cost of living for local people Positive Non-Economic Impacts Opportunities for capacity building, education and training. Improvements in health, education and other forms of well-being. Net positive environmental impacts which benefit the poor, for example by improved access for grazing for their livestock. Improved socio-cultural status through community recognition and increased pride and self confidence which can be defined and reported in concrete terms. Reduced vulnerability through for example livelihood diversification which can be reported at the household level. Negative Non-Economic Impacts Culture becomes a commodity Local traditions & ways of life are negatively impacted Traditional residents are displaced

 Increases in crime Increases in pollution Degradation of the environment Barriers to Tourism Related Poverty Reduction There are a significant number of barriers to effectively using tourism development as a tool for poverty reduction. These barriers include: A lack of government programs targeted to the tourism informal sector which plays an essential role in providing tourism services and has the significant potential of helping to reduce poverty especially in urban areas. Within the Asian context there is very little recognition of the potential of tourism development by aid agencies. One of the challenges is too work with these agencies to demonstrate the essential role that tourism can play in helping to address key development issues such as poverty, gender, trafficking of women, infrastructure and the provision of health services. Few if any tourism and poverty officials have any education or training in using tourism as a poverty reduction tool. As in many instances the poor are lack access to credit which is essential in helping them to participate in the tourism economy. Governments as well as nongovernmental organizations lack the organizational capacity to respond to the opportunities provided by tourism development. The poor are very often have limited access to tourism infrastructure and assets.

 Governments and in particular regions and communities lack essential market knowledge to allow them to develop pro tourism strategies and products based on sound market information. Outdated regulations and red tape make it impossible at times to develop innovative products and services. Often the areas with the highest levels of poverty lack the necessary transportation and communications infrastructure essential to meeting the needs of the tourism industry.

References http://www.imveloawards.co.za/resptour.html http://www.responsibletourismpartnership.org/wha tRT.html http://mekongtourism.org/website/sustainabletourism-knowledge-center/ Contribution of tourism to poverty alleviation pro-poor tourism and the challenge of measuring impacts. By: - Walter Jamieson, Harold Goodwin and Christopher Edmunds. http://www.tq.com.au/resource-centre/communityengagement/how-tourism-benefitscommunities/how-tourism-benefitscommunities_home.cfm