Ajay Khajuria
The World Tourism Day, celebrated on 27th September each year since 1980, is an occasion to raise awareness about the importance of tourism across the World and also to facilitate a re-focus on its role and direction for those charged with its regulation and management for the benefit of mankind. This year, the theme selected for the celebrations is “Tourism and Peace’ and the host country is Georgia, located on the intersection of Asia and Europe and known for its natural beauty, heritage and hospitality, where the celebrations will be held in the ancient – 1500 – years old city of Tbilisi.
Being one of the biggest sectors of the economy, representing an estimated 9% of Global GDP and providing around 330 million jobs Worldwide, tourism has a profound impact on the social and economic fabric of populations across the World. In the words of Antonio Guterres, United Nations Secretary General, “it has great power to bridge cultures, generate new opportunities and promote sustainable development”. In the current times therefore, when disagreements and discord dominate multiple regions on the Globe and threaten outbreak of civilizational conflicts, there could not have been a more appropriate theme, perhaps, than the one adopted by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) for the current year, to bring the attention of the World community on tourism’s crucial role in maintaining peace.
It is widely believed that, when carried out sustainably, tourism has the potential to promote peace in multiple ways. The most widespread assumption is that when large number of people from diverse cultural and political backgrounds travel to other countries or regions, frequently, they get to know new people, cultures and values. This fosters mutual respect and understanding between tourists and host populations and creates opportunities for reconciliation, dialogue, and cooperation. The pre-supposition being, of course, that in the process the needs of local communities are prioritized, their cultural and natural resources protected, and benefits from tourism are shared equitably amongst them, and these aspects also find emphasis in the concepts of sustainable tourism and ecotourism that have been gaining increasing currency around the Globe in recent decades. In other words, by exposing people to different cultures and backgrounds, tourism serves to break down stereotypes and prejudices, and contributes significantly towards creating a more empathetic, tolerant and peaceful World.
Another way in which tourism is perceived as contributing towards peace is by motivating Governments and communities to preserve peace and ensure public safety to create and safeguard their respective tourism economies. The tourism industry has the potential to lift local communities out of poverty, not only by creating employment opportunities in the hospitality, transportation, entertainment, and informal sectors but also by stimulating demand for goods and services beyond those directly consumed by tourists. The ripple effect, thus created, stimulates economic growth and supports jobs in related sectors, spreading the economic advantages of tourism throughout the wider community. Moreover, tourism generated foreign exchange ultimately serves to translate into improved living conditions, such as access to cleaner water and energy, better sanitation systems, safer roads, enhanced transportation options, and upgraded healthcare facilities, besides providing an opportunity for economic diversification leading to a more resilient, multi-faceted economy. Since disruption due to conflict, unrest, or insecurity can lead to a sharp decline in tourism to destinations, the stakeholder communities are more likely to work together to maintain peace and stability.
Another way in which peace is indirectly promoted is through cultural experiences like heritage tours, memorials, and museums, which are becoming increasingly popular and often serve to raise awareness about past conflicts and acknowledge their enduring impact. Cultural tourism, which now comprises nearly 40% of the total international tourism arrivals as per the UNWTO, therefore, serves as an instrument for promoting greater understanding by providing powerful reminders of the need for peace and offering opportunities for reflection, commemoration, and a collective commitment to prevent future conflict.
Impending dangers of civil conflicts are also mitigated, especially in developing countries, as tourism helps to reduce income disparities. Since tourism provides the opportunity for communities to generate income even if they are not so strong economically but possess rich cultural or natural attributes, it has the potential to provide direct and indirect employment for a large assortment of people across various social strata. This includes part time and seasonal job opportunities for many people, besides providing supplemental income generation to people who already have other jobs. As such, the whole gamut of employment opportunities provided by tourism can generate income at multiple levels in society, leading to an overall increase of per capita income which is one of the preventive factors that mitigate civil conflict escalation. It has been argued that low income leads to heightened inequality in society and if those disparities are based on ethnic lines, then it could trigger more social discord. A case in point is the unrest brewing up in the Jammu region of this sensitive Union Territory where the prolonged neglect of the rich cultural heritage, vast adventure opportunities and mesmerizing natural landscapes of hill stations in this sprawling region has become one of the main catalysts for a simmering demand for carving out Jammu Province as a separate Union Territory/State by bifurcating the existing Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Besides maintaining internal harmony, Governments of countries that rely on tourism as part of their economy, also have an incentive to maintain good relations with the broader international community. In this context, the need for strong diplomatic relations, and collaboration between governments assume importance, because, to promote tourism countries often need to engage in peaceful negotiations to ensure secure travel routes and protect their tourism markets, thus contributing to a more peaceful global environment. Moreover, the increased exposure and scrutiny of destinations by international media and tourists, compels governments and local authorities to be more accountable and transparent in their operations, resulting in better management of resources, protection of cultural and natural assets, and increased community participation in decision-making processes, thereby encouraging a more harmonious environment.
It is quite evident, therefore, that Tourism and Peace have a symbiotic relationship, for, while Peace is a prerequisite for the growth of Tourism, the converse is equally true, as Tourism is also a powerful force which fosters Peace. In fact, the impact of tourism goes far beyond the economic benefits and needs to be looked upon as a social force as opposed to merely as an industry. As appropriately put by Mark Twain “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.”
(The author is a retired JKAS officer and a former Director Tourism, Jammu)
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