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What is Responsible Tourism?
Responsible
Tourism:
Responsible Tourism can be regarded as a
movement. It is more than a form of tourism as it represents an
approach to engaging with tourism, be that as a tourist, a
business, locals at a destination. It emphasizes that we are
responsible for the kind of tourism we develop or engage in.
While we understand that 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.
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 realized in different ways in
different originating markets and in the diverse destinations of
the world.
Responsible Tourism will have the
following characteristics:
-
minimizes negative
economic, environmental, and social impacts;
-
generates greater
economic benefits for local people and enhances the
well-being of host communities, improves working conditions
and access to the industry;
-
involves local
people in decisions that affect their lives and life
chances;
-
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; and
-
is culturally
sensitive, engenders respect between tourists and hosts, and
builds local pride and confidence.
Also See:
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