Proposal for an E-Forum « TourismActionGroup’s Weblog
November 8, 2007
Envisaged Programmes « TourismActionGroup’s Weblog
November 8, 2007
TAG’s Proposed Objectives
November 8, 2007
TAG’s objectives are twofold: (a) promote collective action to effectively address exploitative, oppressive and destructive practices in tourism, and (b) reach out to other organizations and individuals –such as local communities, POs, NGOs, local government bodies, groups/activists concerned with youth, women, Indigenous Peoples, rural and urban poor, migrants – through the following processes:
1. Conduct tourism- related research, education and action projects.
2. Expand solidarity relations with local communities and grassroots-oriented organizations. TAG considers it as crucial to learn and understand tourism-related issues and concerns directly from affected local people and to help raise awareness in support of their struggles against socially and environmentally harmful tourism. It also urges all concerned governmental and non-governmental agencies to take the voices of tourism-affected communities as a base for future policy-making.
3. Develop alternative locally controlled tourism as well as alternatives to tourism that are responsive to the needs and aspirations of communities actually or potentially affected by tourism development; facilitate integrated sustainable uses of resources in communities.
4. Develop programs for the rehabilitation of socially and environmentally decayed tourist destinations.
5. Debate further tourism and develop united positions among groups and alliances in order to effectively engage in national and international campaigns for ethics and justice in tourism.
6. Research and monitor global tourism issues and processes, particularly with respect to sustainable and equitable development, globalization and free trade, and work with like-minded groups in the Philippines and beyond on related campaigns, e.g. against the progressive liberalization of the tourism sector (multilateral and bilateral free trade agreements).
Who we are…
November 8, 2007
Launch of the Tourism Action Group Starting from the Third World tourism critique movement’s roots – the Manila Declaration 1980 -, a group of long-time activists, church representatives and academics concerned with tourism, women, migrants and Indigenous Peoples rights have joined hands to take stock and re-assess Third World people’s responses – and ecumenical responses in particular – to tourism-induced problems. They held a series of consultations with interested and concerned people in the Philippines, to revitalize the Third World tourism debate. On September 17, 2007, the group gathered at the University of the Philippines, School of Urban and Regional Planning, in Quezon City, and listened to the testimony of Sr. Soledad Perpinan – the founding chair of IBON Foundation and chief executive officer of the Third World Movement against Exploitation of Women – who participated in the historic 1980 Manila event. Anita Pleumarom, the coordinator of the Bangkok-based Tourism & Monitoring Team, participated as an international resource person and facilitator in the meeting. Following a discussion on contemporary tourism realities and related grassroots concerns, it was unanimously decided to launch the Tourism Action Group (TAG) on September 25, in advance of World Tourism Day (September 27) organized by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
