alternative network letter vol 4 no.1-jan 1988-equations

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ALTERNATIVE NETWORK LETTER

A Third World Tourism CommunicationAnd Information Alternative

For Private Circulation Only Vol. 4 No.1 January 198

Africa'sTourism potential

The African tourist region occupies 11,706,116 square miles, the

world' s second largest landmass - after Eurasia. Putting this in

perspective, the United States, China, Europe, India, Argentina

and New Zealand with a total of 11,668,035 square miles would fit into

Africa with an excess of several thousand square miles. Africa has the

unique asset of being the only continen t positioned astride the equator

and extending almost to latitude 35 °South and beyond 35°North. It is

impossible for a tourist to see or explore this region on a single trip. It ,

stretches about 5,000 miles form Bizerte in Tunisia to Cape Agulhas in '

South Africa. The east-west distance is almost the same, from Dakar in

Senegal to Cape Gardafui in Somalia.

The result of its geographical location and large size is a tou rist region

endowed with multiple physical tourism resources which include a

diverse array of relief forms, topography, fauna, flora, maritime and

aquatic resources. Similarly, the assemblage of historical and cultural

tourism resources are phenomenal. These include the interface of four

historical periods: the prehistorical elements based on Africa as the·

cradle of mankind, relics of traditional African Kingdoms and civiliza-'

tions, exogenous cultural elements derived from Arab adventurism,

and European colonisation, al'1d, since the late 1950s, the diverse

sociocultural elements in each of the 35 tourist destinations, most of :

which are sovereign independent nations.

Historical Resources

Africa's rich history from precolonial to the modern period consti

tutes a vast resource for tourism development. Among the best known

are the Pharoanic monuments which include the pyramids, tombs, and

templ,es of Egypt, some dating as far back as the Middle Kingdom from

1789 to 200 BC. Sub-Saharan Africa's resources include the monuments

of Timbuktu in modern Mali which are only a small part of the remains

of the West African kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai from the

period 700 to 1600 A D. Remains of these civilizations are not merely

physical monuments, pyramids, or temples. They embody the history

,o f well-organised and fairly advanced African political, e ~ o n o m i c , and

social systems which were disrupted by European expansionism and,

eventual subjugation. For example, the imposing remains of the Zim

babwe kingdom provide evidence of power, ordered settlement, and

economic prosperity prior to the twelfth century. The ruins, located a ,

few miles southeast of Fort Victoria in Modern Zimbabwe, are characterized by massive walls and towers, rounded gateways and strategicsettings. '

Cultural tourism aims at providing the tourist with understanding of

the history embodied in these resources. Unfortunately, very little of

the physical structures remain. They were destroyed through the wars

which subjected Africa to European rule, orthrough slave trading,lead

ing to abandonment of African settlements. Sophisticated art works of

gold, copper, brass and ivory were also looted from the continent.

In order to develop historical resources in Africa, attempts are now,

being made to restore visible ruins and prov ide re-enactments of the;

LuckyStrike

A lot of hue and cry has been raised over the Union Government'

recent announcement that the latest tourism-generating gimmick o

the cards for India are exclusive casinos for foreigners. Sceptics includ

those for whom this is a threat to Indian society and 'moral' culture

others who argue that the casinos should be open to local gambler

(and that, in fact, 'foreigners only' casinos are illogical and impossible)

to many with in the industry who feel that India is notthe kind of dest

nation which tourists are likely to associate with gambling.

As with most ill-timed, un-reasoned governmental plans, thTourism Minister has hastily retreated from the ann'ouncemen

stating that this was just one of many ideas discussed by the Joint Com

mission on Tourism. No concrete steps have yet been taken-to i'mple

ment it. He has no idea that massage parlours could possibly co-exi

with casinos. And so on,

The Andamans have for some time now been portrayed as the ne

major tourism deve lopment area. Lacking the cultural history and co

our of Goa, the Government hopes to attract visitors with duty-fre

shopping, water-sports, casinos and other 21st century diversions

Environmentalists have already warned against these plans, whic

could only have terrible consequences for the fragile socio-cultura

I I EDITORIAL

eco-system of the islands. Not to speak of the impacts it could have othe simple islanders, who have long lived in cherished isolation.

Our country has enough resources- natural, cultural, historical an

economic for us not to jump onto every passing bandwagon waving

welcome flag to all manner of international visitors. The worldwid

media hype on India (Festivals, 'raj' movies) certainly has contribute

to an increased awareness and renewed interest among many visitor

But it is hardly necessary to keep the interest alive with new and dub

ous a t t r a c t i o n s ~ - .

What is urgently required, yet rarely given attention to, is a revamp

ing of the domestic transport system of roads and railways, along wit

an emphasis on small budget hotels. According to available statistic

the majority of tourists in India travel on low budgets, and such polic

measures would obviously give this sector a boost. Moreover, it wou

provide greater incentives to the much-harassed domestic tour ist.

Somebody in power should sit up and take note, before it is too latThere is far too much at stake for tourism decisions to resemble a ro

of the dice.

Paul Gonsalve

Wishing all our readerspeace, hope and fulfilment

through 1988

coned. overleaf



2

conrd. from paJ;?1! Iorganised by and for non-Africans. African art continues to evolve a

past. For example, Ghana's tourism plans include restoration of forts art forms do. African music provides a good example of the evolutand castles important to the early history of the Gold Coast. One of It still has the traditional rhythm which was "exported" by slavethese, the Cape Coast castle, built in 1662, is now developed into the South America, the Caribbean and the United States. However AfricWest African Historical Museum, the onl-..; such museum in western present generation of artists, have created a new popular music Africa. . has also had a major influence on Western music. These incl

Cultural Resources Nigeria's juju, Ghana's Hi-Life, and Zaire's LingaJa music. ail of wh

Given the ethnic and cultural diversity within individual African have some roots in traditional music. Travellers of Africa can enjoycountries, the cultural resources of the ~ h o l e continent are pheno kind of music almost anywhere. Moreover, they can take ho

menal. These include annual festivals, open markets, crafts, and visual souvenirs of their cultural experience in the form of records, Afri

and performing arts. dresses and shirts - bubu and dashiki - T-shirts with African sloga

Each ethnic group has its own festivals to celebrate planting and har and examples of crafts and jewelry.

vesting of crops, to mark religious occasions, and to honour the living,Level of Tourism Development

or the dead. As an example of the diversity, Ghana promotes no fewerGlobal tour ist arrivals and receipts from tourist expenditures in 1

'han 48 main festivals throughout the year. Zambia has festivals ofwere 300 million and US $100 billion, respectively, making tourism

tiona I prominence, such as the famous Kuomboka of the Lozlsecond largest item in international trade after oil. Tourism distribu

:)ple. Festivals end typically with the durbar, or parade, of the tradiis highly skewed in favour of Europe (68%) and the Americas (17.6

"rial political hierarchy of chiefs and elders, with drumming and dancwhich received a total of 85.6% of the arrivals, and 81.7% of receip

,lg, \-, He the communi ty pays tribu te to thei r leaders. Such events pro1984. By contrast, Africa had only 2.5% of arrivals, and 2.2% of t

'ide tourists with a rare glimpse of the indigenous political institutionsreceipts.

of Africa.Another characteristic of the African tourist industrY is its concen

Markets are as much a prominent feature of African life as they weretion in a few countries: Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and Kenya toge

before the Europeans arrived'. Indeed. open markets are institutions in account for about 70 percent of the total arrivals and a major part ofthemselves, wi th weekly or monthly market days attracting sellers and

revenue. Also Africa's tourist industry is interregional rather t

intraregional as found in Europe and North America. In other woObjects and performances considered Africa depends on tourists from outside the continent, mostly f

Europe and Nor th America."art" by outsiders have traditionallyTwo observations are noteworthy: Africa's proporti on of tourist

not been in glass cases and museu ms, vals and receipts have remained nearly the same between 1972

1984. Second, whereas regions such as South Asia, East Asia and Pabut integrated into daily lifeexperienced Significant shifts to more intraregional tourist movem

and religious observances. between 1973 and 1983, Africa's dependence on interregional tou

has remained very high.

buyers from great distances. Visiting an African market can be an edu: Still Africa has a high rate of tourism expansion in indiv idua l c

cational experience. For example, learning about the agricultural tries. According to a study by the World Tourism Organisation, 26

potential of a country through seeing the variety of crops; gaining can countries (or 47%) have included tourism in thei r national deve

insight into entrepreneurial skills of Africans (espeCially the business ment plans. Tanzania's current 10-year development involved a $1

women); and engaging oneself in a differen t form of purchasing ritual million expenditure on tourism expansion. Angola is undertaking

(haggling). In the markets, too, as in the growing number of boutiques 210 million hotel development programme, while Zambia has

and craft centres catering to tourists, it is possible to get a sampling of

the rich and diverse artistic skills which still flourish in Africa today:

precision crafts of kente-weaving in Ghana; leather making in North, The host populations soon recognise East, and Central Africa; metalwork in West Africa; and fine examples that any item of culture can command of sculpture, textiles, pottery, basketry, jewelry from all over the

. continent. its price: a carving, a ruin, a ritual.As with tourism everywhere, the finest an-d most representative arts In Tunisia, mock wedding ceremonies wer

of the country are not easily accessible to the average traveller, and

especially so in Africa, where objects and performances considered staged, at a price, for unsuspecting "art" by outsiders have traditionally not been in glass cases, museums, tourists, as far back as 1974.and public theaters, but have been integrated into daily life and/or

associated with religious and ritualistic observances. With the growing recognition of their culture as an important aspect of their national

eluded its S·year project. Zimbabwe, with such popular sites as Vicimage (not to mention the commercial value placed by Europeans and Falls, Wankie National Park and Great Zimbabwe, has launched a mAmericans on their art), more countries have begun paying attention to

effort to market its natural and cultural resources internationally. Inimproving their museums and performing groups. Cultural festivals,

light of current expansion and forecasts of future growth in Afrfeaturing both modern and traditional art, are staged more frequently

international tourism, it is appropriate to examine some of the isat cultural "villages" for tourists and local residents.

related to the industry'S development.It should also be pointed out that some African and non-African

entrepreneurs are less interested in cultunil promotion "than In "per Some Questionssonal profit. These people have set-up thriving businesses of "airport Most arguments for tourism expansion in Africa are economicart" (cheap, mass-produced imitations) to lure the naive traveller into there are also advocates from other viewpoints : social, cultbuying "authentic" African art .. There are also the setups in which environmental, even political.groups of exotic "natives" will, for a price, perform oblig ingly for the The economic argument claims tourism can provide an answtourist's camera. Again, this aspect of tourism is not unique, but in , Africa's serious problems of trade imbalance with industrialised cAfrica it is more prevalent because, until recently, tourism has been: tries, bringing in substantial foreign exchange to be spent on ac



3contd. from page 2

modation, food, transport and locally-produced goods. Also, foreign

investors could help finance such infrastructures as hotels, airports,

water systems, electricity and roads. Tourism, as a service industry,

could provide jobs for large numbers of unemployed Africans. Unlike

manufacturing industry, tourism takes only a short time to generate

revenue for the destination country.

Often cited as socio-cultural and environmental benefits from

tourism are preservation of physical environment and wildlife through

development of game parks, conservat ions of cultural heritage and his

torical sites, and promotion of arts and festivals. Other benefits com

monly identi fied are a sense of pride in one's own culture as a result of

seeing it sought after by outsiders, the fostering of international understanding and cooperation, and promotion of domestic tourism by local

residents.

There are serious questions however. One negative argument is that

because of limited manufacturing and agricultural sectors to support

domestic needs, African countries are forced to increase imports to

meet the extra demands of tourists from Europe and North America for

food, drinks and construction activity. Air charter companies are often

subsidiaries of major international airlines, some of which have

invested in hotels in Africa, such as the Intercontinental, Hilton and

Sheraton. Sometimes they even own car rental agencies on the ground.

Tourists usually come on a package paid at the point of origin, outsidethe destination countries which receive only a small proport ion of the

total revenue. Additional outflow of foreign exchange takes place

through commissions, management fees and repatriation of profits, by

foreign companies. In areas of tourism expansion there is usually afairly well developed black market in currencies, which adds further to

this leakage.

Arguments for tourism's capacity to generate jobs for the

unemployed are counteracted by a number of effects: perpetuation of

a perceived colonial master-servant relationship; alienation of people

from land and rural development; resettlement of farmers and hunters

from lands converted into game parks, and fishermen from beaches

turned to resorts. Without strong pressure groups within Africa, the

international hotels usually prevail in getting local residents moved andresettled in areas inferior to the pursuit of their livelihood.

T.here is always the risk that benefits to African countries will be

negated by disruptions in traditional lifestyles, erosion of cultural val

ues and loss of stabilizing customs. The host populations soon learn

that foreign tourists are intrigued by many day-to-day behaviour pat

terns. Consequently, they recognize that any item of culture can command its price: a carving, a ruin, a dance, or a ritual. As far back as 1974,

the demand to see local weddings in Tunisia had far outstripped supply

with the result that mock ceremonies were staged, at a price, for the

unsuspecting tourists.

The youth of Africa appear to be very vulnerable to the potential

social impacts of the demonstration effects of tourism. Blind copying of

foreign values and lifestyles has been a 'burning national issue' which

once prompted a Head of State to address his nat ion on the false stan

dards that some segments of the populati on were setting by trying to besecond-iate Europeans.

In 1971, Kenya closed its borders to 'hippies' and forbade nude

bathing on the island of Lamu .as against the Kenyan way of life. The

social problems become more serious in Muslim regions, which forbid

the consumption of alcohol and require total coverage of the female

body. Gambia, predominantly Muslim, invited Swedish entrepreneurs

to develop a tourist industry and opened the country to Swedishtourists. Little did they anticipate the results:

Swedes have sometimes offended Gambian morals by appearing

naked on the beaches or scantily clad in the towns. As a result, theauthorities have insisted on proper dress, and have been known toexpel overland tourists who do not conform to the Gambian conceptofwell-dressed Westerners. (Uwechue, 1975)

By Victory B.Teye in TOURISM RECREATION RESEARCH

ANew InternationalistTraveller'S Co

Wha+\s Courtemts a f - h o ~ e MaLt be ' ~ s u J n ~ e{s€wVlere.B e ~ € N I s i t 1 v e to (oc;ll e u s h > ~ 8 .

Albania opens its Doorsto Tourists

The hard-line communist state of Albania is cautiously openin

borders to a growing number of curious travellers.

"We welcome foreigners", said Shkelqim, an official who

meets visiting journalists. "Albania is not closed". About 3,000 for

e r ~ a year visit Albania on organised tours, compared to a trick

hardy adventurers and political radicals a few years ago. The tou

mainly from Europe, pay $ 300 to $ 400 a week and are slowly ga

access to some of Albania's more mysterious aspects - exotic

unspoilt nature and its unique political system. More businessdiplomats and journalists are also coming, slowly putting Alban

the world travel map.

The official border is a sleepy outpost amid the trees with briemalities - a simple declaration form, cursory search of the car, a

and a wave from frontier militia dressed in green Chinese

uniforms. The second frontier, a few hundred metres down the

and round'a bend, is a hermetic seal that gave Albania its reputat

a land of bunkers. Schoolgirls in black uniform file the noon st

bound for home and an afternoon siesta. On the plain appears T

before liberation in 1945 a tiny disease-infested, mosquito-pla

backwater, but now the hub of communist Albanian political life.

SUNDAY MID-DAY 25-10-87



4

paradise in Peril Victim of Violence

Nature reigns supreme in the Andamans - at least for the moment.

Virgin forests abound in the hundreds of islands set in crystal-clear,

untainted seas. Thanks to the year-round rainfall, plants grow quickly

and in great abundance. You see money-plant foliage the size of a

banana leaf, with roots and stems, to match. Ornamental croton, the

type normally planted in a pot, here assumes a 12 foot high, tree-like

stature, with a solid trunk to bear its vast proportions, and sports huge

leaves of the glossiest green, pink and flourescent yellow. Casuarina

and cashew, imported from the mainland, have taken to their new sur

roundings like a duck to water, so that everywhere we went there werestrands of casuarina along the shore, waving to and fro like amiable,

harmless drunks, while the heady perfume of the cashew blossom has

become indelibly imprinted in my mind as the scene of the Andamans.

On our way to the tiny islands of Jolly Buoy, Cinque, Grub and Boot,

we passed through a maze of water-ways, among small and large

islands, all uninhabited, and covered thickly with forests of garjan

padauk, varieties of palm, pandanus and mangrove, while the glimpse

of a monitor lizard the size of a dog was an unforgettable experience.

At Jolly Buoy, a glass-bottomed boat was au r passport to the wonders

of the silent, underwater world. Huge fan and antler coral, the sea

cucumbers called trepangs, and a host of other marine life, including

multicoloured tropical fish, were brought to dazzling life by the bright

sunlight, turning the depths to layers of crusheq sapphire and

aquamarine.

Marvelling at the pristine, coral beach, we later strolled into theshade of a clump of trees, where we were in for a rude shock, for the

remains of several picnics lay scattered in all their messy ugliness. Plas

tic bags, the trademark of modern civilisation, and dirty paper plates

stirred lazily in the clear, fresh breeze from the sea. Huge chunks of

coral, ripped off from the sea-bed, probably by the type of people who

immortalise themselves by carving their names on historical monu

ments, were strewn all over the place, jeopardising the delicate ecolog

icaJ balance of the reef. Since coral has a very bad smell the vandals had

probably abandoned their loot, not caring that what had taken them a

few seconds to break off, had been gradually, patiently built up over a

century or more.

Considering the fact that Jolly Buoy has only recently been opened to

the public, I shudder to think what the condition of its coral reef will be

in a few years' time. What applies to the coral reefs holds true for the

forests as well, for more trees will have to be felled, and more a"d more

space cleared for large hotels to accommodate an increasingly large

number of visitors. Unless there is a stricter vigilance, this may mean

the beginning of the end.

Usha Dravid in THE TIMES OF INDIA 21 October 1987.

LITTLE FAMILY .

The socia-economic pattern of the once prosperous state of P

has been totally disarrayed, thanks to the imbroglio which has grip

the state now for so manyyears. Among manyof its victims is an un

one -local handicrafts.

Punjab has never been known for its arts or crafts There is a

repeated saying that Punjab's only culture is 'agriculture' . Still va

crafts, done mainly at three important centres - Hoshiarpur, Am

and Patiala - have their own distinct character.

But the present crises have dealt a severe blow to the local artis

The ban on the visit of foreigners to the state, who used to be the pective buyers of many of these crafts, and the overall dwin

economic condition of the state has hi t these people hard. Not onl

the demand for their work gone down, these days no one is willin

give them advance payments.

The Punjab Government's little, and generally improvident effor

the form of selling local crafts through the state owned emporia,

no t match the big losses which the poor artisans of the state are in

ring at this critical juncture. More so because even the Govern

emporia, for reasons better known to the authorities alone, are in

clutches of the middlemen who are their main suppliers.

Thus the local craftsmen have already started looking for altern

jobs for their survival. Sadly, even the glass-framed glossy certific

decorating the dingy walls of their houses, proclaiming them as sta

national "master-craftsmen" fail to find food for them and

families. INDIAN EXPRESS 18-

Non-Appetit!

What's in a sandwich? Sometimes, dynamite, as the unfortu

managing director of the state-owned Orissa Tourism Develop

Corporation could tell you. Recently, the organisation had occasio

supply lunch packets to Rajiv and Sonia Gandhi who were on on

their customary tours of the drought-hit areas. At noon, the O

lunch comprising sandwiches, fruit and sweets made its way to the

couple;s room. Unfortunately, Gandhi, fo r reasons best known to

seemed to take exception to the victuals. For, after raising a sand

to his mouth, he suddenly put it back in the packet and pushed th

ter aside wordlessly. Sonia, like a good Indian wife, followed suit.

three days later, before he knewwhat hit him, the OTDC MDwas tferred. People are still trying to figure ou t what was in that sandwich

one thing is crystal-clear - it sure made mince meat of the MD's ca

THE ILLUSTRATED WEEKLY OF INDIA 8th November

RAVI SHANKA

.. c:Ai.sCOVe.Y5" .. -.. w ~ t h , mod.ern

C 1 v { 1 1 ~ t i o n , . ,e.vt\te mir-cIt c{es

MV€.. c n ~ . ; n ~ e J



5

Jagrut Goenkaranchi Fauz The Real India

The first tourists to arrive in Goa this season by the Condor charter

flight were greeted by black flags, and banners telling them to go back.

Members of the JGF (Vigilant Goans Army), who organrsed the

demonstration, splattered the tourist buses parked at the airport with

eggs, cowdung and fish. They also distributed a leaflet in German exp

laining why five-star tourists arenot welcome. The demonstrators were

arrested by the police when they lay down in front of the buses, pre

venting them from leaving the airport. . . .

I n a press release from Vasco jail, the JG F vowed to continue Its a g l ~ a -,tion. The Government of Goa, meanwhile, has been forced to appoint

a commit tee chaired by the architect, Mr. Charles Correa, to study the

draft Master Plan and review the question of licences to new five-star

hotels. The Diocesan Pastoral Council, presided by the Archbishop of

Goa, has also taken a stand on five-star tourism, asking for a year's

moratorium on its development.

jGF leaders were arrested again on November 14, when the second

charter flight arrived. Ironically, such moves will probably prove a grea

ter deterrent to the industry, since tourists are likely to be put of f by the

ncreasing atmosphere of insecurity and the overwhelming policepresence.

We reproduce b e l o ~ extracts from the brochure to the tourists:

We want vou to know that ~ e ' v e nothing against you individually or 'collectivelv: We cannot because we do not even know you.

However, we also want you to know that you are NOT welcome toGoa. We've our reasons and we want you to know them.

Goa and Goans do not benefit economically from chartered or "Destination Tours" - because the Organising Company- Touristic UnionInternational (T.U/), in this case - keeps the total economic aspectswithin its own management i. e. from bookingof tickets to booking thehotel and return.

Even if we did benefit substantially fromsuch tours, you are still NOTwelcome to Goa, because, the lUxury Hotels that are built and moreand more are sought to be buil t deprive our people - fisherfolk, toddytappers, farmers and others - of their land, their use of the seashoreand even their traditional vocations. .'

These Hotels are marginalising and pauperising our p ~ o p l e - In

YOUR name i.e. Tourists. ALL the Third World Countf/es whereTourism has been taken in a big way, has pauperised the local people.

In order to satisfy your demands for leisure, pleasure and luxury, theHotels, with full support of the Govt. deprive the p e o p / ~ e . s s e ~ t i a l co"!modities like water and electricity. While the Goans lIVIng In the villages, where the big Hotels are located get water for about one hour aday for all their needs, consider the amount ofwater these Hotels consume per day for their swimming pools, lawns, etc. _

a. TajAguada Per day. 66,000gallonsb. \Majorda Beach Resort per day. 22,OOOgallonsc. Cidade de Goa Hotel perday. 33,000gallons

d. ' Bogmalo Hotel perday. 44,OOOgal/o.ns India has millions of very poor people andYOl!r super rich life-styles,

in these luxury Hotels, become pockets of vulgarity and mockeryof the

poor. . ..

Your local agent (of T. UI) Mr. Michael Ratajczak has said In a localnewspaper interview on Nov. 1, 1987 ( I I H e r a / ~ " ) that because .ofincrease of AIDS in Uganda, most of you of the Ftrst World countf/eswill now seek new "pastures" and Goa is one them. . . .

You do not like AIDS. We do not like AIDS either. And It IS Tourtstsincluding German Tourists, who are responsible for spreading AIDS inUganda. Keep away from Goa. We too are people.

Last of all please do not come back to Goa as Tourists. Also, do us afavour of telling your fellow country-men and fellow travellers, thatthey are not welcome to Goa. Tell them our reasons.

It's not just the Indian rope trick or the snake-charmers that a

foreigners to India, but reasons as varied as the growing drug me

in the Indian sub-continent to dream symbols unfolding Indian mlogy.

This was revealed bv members of an assorted group of 13 social wers drawn from seve: ,I countries now in the country under a t

month "Council of International Fellowship (India)" exchange

ramme.

For Kees Van der Klundert, who has studied symbols and dre

and teaches arts and crafts for occupational therapy in Breda, a D

town, i t's literally a 'dream come true', in that he began drea ':ling

bols which conveyed something of I ndia as also a portrayal ot the

of Siva and Parvati: "lt's a very emotional and personal visit for m

In the case of Wolfgang Schmidt, who is a social worker with a

rehabilitation centre in Frankfurt, lithe growing drug menace in

which the West is really not awareof ", is something worth explori

plan to do a doctoral thesis on the drug situation in India, if I can

suitableguide". . . .The group had' just conc luded a 10-day orientation

p r 9 ~ r awhich included theoretical frameworks to understand the SOCIal

tical, economic and cultural trends prevalenf in !he c<?untry. ~ f t ~orientation programme, the participants would live wlth.h?st fam

spread all over the count ry. D u r i n ~ t ~ ~ i r s ~ a y , . each p a r ~ l c l p a n t wbe placed in a welfare agency speCIaliSing In ~ I S or her ~ I e l ?

The participants would have the opportUnity to clarify I m p ~ e s and knowledge gained during their stay when they meet ag

December for an evaluation.

INDIAN EXPRESS 12-11-87

InQuotes

Harish Mehta. in GENTLEMAN. October 1987.

Ano-sumgs-attachedeconomichelping hand from American. ALlstral

and Japanese tourism can tum the Pacific island ministates into so maHawaiis but the classic Grenada adventure reminds us that single airfie

constructed to bring in Jumbojet-Ioads of tourists can also bringmilitary transport aircraft fuJJ,of coup-hungry troops. The banana sk

littering Pacific strategic affairs are too many to count, and an islawith aweJJ-located harbouror a large airstrip could become apowerincencive for neighbouringpowers oreven the two superpowers to gen

sidle in.

5unita Narian. Centre for Science and Environment. New Delhi.

A recent trip to Ladakh. put me in touch with problems ofunplanneecologicallyunsound tourism. In Ladakh. tourism has led to compledisruption of the local ecology and culture, Hotels have mushroomeoverloading the fragile ecology ofLeh town. sewage is dumped into t

open drains which were ear/ier venerated as drinking water sources

the dry desert of Ladakh. Western culture has opened the peopledistortions and worst ofall acomplete loss of faith in their own cultuToday it is only good for the amusement and entertainment of foreignor sale of antiques.

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/44,OOOgal/o.ns

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6

Vt1;> invite our readers to contribute to the Network LetterbyNETWORKsharing their work, ideas andplans through these pages.

NEWS Communication is vital to the life ofa Network, especially when

ROUNDUP physical distances cannot easily be bridgedby closer contacts.

ANL Readers Outside IndiaIn our last issue. we had asked international readers to either contribu

US $4.00 (or equivalent), or send us materials in exchanqe. Althouqh som

of you have written since then. we would request those who have nand would like to receive ,WL. to do so at their earliest. This is the l

issue ofANL to be mailed to those who do not respond to our reque

(Your contribution will cover mailinq costs for two years.)

THYrismJAssociation for World Education, Denmark

EQUATIONS is now an institutional member of AWE. LocatedNordenfjord World University, in the Thy region of north-wDenmark, AWE has initiated "a new kind of desirable tourism"

THy;:rsm:Over a period of threeweeks,-visitors have t h ~ opportuparticipating in discussions led by local educators, businessmen

ers and common people. Themes such as the local cooperativement, education, church life, music, philosophy, nature and pare integral parts of the discussions. For details write to ANordenfjord World University, Skyum Bjerge, 7752 SnedstedDenmark.

RESOURCES

The Search for Appropriate Tourism: Focus on the Third World, sissue of Tourism Recreation Research, Vol XII No 2, 1987, CenTourism Research, A-965/6 Indira Nagar, Lucknow-226 016, India

Edited by Dr Linda Richter, this special issue 'moves the dialogthird world tourism) beyond decrying mass travel towards a morplicated, relevant concern with appropriate tourism'. It includetributions from members of the international networks concernetourism (Armin Vielhaber, Paul Gonsalves) as well as a major critiProfessor Erik Cohen, and the compilation of a very useful bibliog

.by Leo Theuns.- .

Theology and Tourism in India: AWorkshop Report, EQUATIONS,lore and the Board of Theological Ed ucation of the Senate of SeraCollege, 11?J2, Nandid.urg Extension, Bangalore-560 046.

Held in August 1987, the workshop brought together major theologians to discuss the issue of tourism, and the possible reof the Indian Church. The report includes the workshop proceeits conclusions and recommendations, as well as theme presenby resource persons. For copies, write to EQUATIONS. Contribof Rs. 10.00 in India, and US $1.75 elsewhere, to cover costs an

ing.

The Public Culture B u l l e . ~ i n , _ ~ Carol A p p a d u r _ ~ i _ ~ r e c k e n r i d g e , Usity of Pennsylvania Museum, 33rd and Spruce Streets, PhiladPennsylvania, 19104, USA.

This Bulletin will report and reflect current research on : the ctransformations associated with cities, media and consumptiontemporary societies; and on the cultural flows that draw these sointo larger transnational dialogues. Its research scope includes dtic tourism as a cosmopolitian cultural form.

Student Christian Movement of India, Bangalore

In mid-October, the KarnatakaAreaofthe SCMI invited EQUATIONSto lead adiscussion for its local members. Apart from screening audiovisuals (including Five-Star Bubble, a programme on Goa), we also discussed emerging trends of tourism development in India, and the rolethat students could play in this concern. As a result, some of those present pledged to write to the Goan Government protesting the draftMaster Plan for tourism development (see ANL Vo13, No 3).

Ecumenical Partnership for International Concerns, Philippines

EPIC-Philippines was established in 1984 to promote bilateral linksbetween non-government organisations in the Philippines andelsewhere, including organising political support to Filipino strugglesfor justice and self-determination. Part of their development educationwork is to provide exposure to Filipino issues through 'alternativetourism'. This will be strengthened and expanded in 1988. Write to the

Coordinator, Mr. Anthony Gutierrez, PO Box 10315, Broadway,Quezon City, Philippines.

Tourism - A Vital Force fo r Peace

The first Global Conference on this theme will be held at Vancouver.

British Columbia. Canada. from October 23-21. 1988. The conference

aims to explore and propose 'bold new steps' throuqh which the worldtourism industry can facilitate international peace. Amonq otherobjectives. it wjll provide a forum for the discussion of appropriatetourism development models in the third world. For details write to. UD'

Amore. Conference Chairman. 3680, rue de la Mon taqne. Montreal(Quebec) Canada H3G2A8.

University of Hawaii at Manoa, USA

The Department of Urban and Regional Planning has 'initiated aresearch project on 'Alternative Forms of Coastal Tourism in Hawaii',aiming to enhance local cultural values and participation in community-supported tourism, using local resources, and establishing equitable relations between visitors and hosts. For further information, writeto Professor Luciano Minerbi at the Department, Porteus Hall 107, 2424Maile Way, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822 USA.

Tourism Ecumenical European Network'{TEN)

__TEN Coordinator Georg Pfafflin, after his recent visit to India, wrotean article entitled 'The Illusion of Paradise' on tourism in Goa, which'

was published by the prestigious German newspaper, the Frankfurter

R u n ~ s c h a u . Regula Renschler, also an active TEN member, broadcasted a series of interviews with Goan activists and others on RadioDRS, Switzerland, where she hosts the 'South View' programme.

Petra Lasschuit and Riette Reijnen, Netherlands

Petra and Riette, students at the Free University of Amsterdam andthe Catholic University of Nijmegen, are now in India studying socialand economic aspects of Goan tourism as part of their academicrequirements. Both volunteers at the Third World Tourism Foundationin Holland, their visit to India is partly coordinated by EQUATIONS.

Publishtd by: Equitable Tourism Options (EQUATIONS), 10, Heerachand Layout, Jeevanahalli, Cox Town, Bangalore 560 005, INDIA.

alternative network letter vol 4 no.1-jan 1988-equations

Documents