One of the main problems with the development of tourism as a method of promoting and developing a country in the developing world, is that both tourists and the multi national companies that facilitate this tourism often find themselves in a position that unknowingly takes advantage of the hosts...
Poor wages and working conditions, acculturation, loss of homes and lands, raises in taxes and costs of basics such as food, water and power are just some of the problems, and for many peoples this cost is too high for the amount of benefit that tourism can bring...
But what can we do? Most of us visit these places and people with the belief that we are making a positive difference, and are often unaware of any problems that we could potentially be creating...
One way is to back companies such as (one of our charities of choice) Tourism Concern who work to help ease these tourism related problems...
"Putting Tourism to Rights" is one of their campaigns, and they say that "Thousands of people all over the world endure abuses of their basic human rights due to tourism. Our campaign is calling on governments and industry to to more to respect and protect the human rights of destination communities and industry employees..."
Please take time to look at this site, and see if you too can help to make a difference, at http://www.tourismconcern.org.uk/index.php?page=campaigns
Thanks.
Barticus.
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