Abstract
Over recent years, the philosophical dilemma of human rights has occupied a central position in the academic debate worldwide. Of course, tourism seems not to be an exception. Despite the promising economic benefits and multiplying effects of tourism, some voices have alerted on the problems and limitations of tourism management to achieve a fairer wealth distribution in local communities. Having said this, the idea of tourism as a key force towards a more democratic and prosperous society began to be placed under the critical lens of scrutiny. This chapter, in this context, discusses critically how tourism potentiates economic growth but under some conditions deteriorating (if not vulnerating) the basic rights of locals. The opposite is equally true. Local communities embrace tourism to boost their economies while paradoxically making them more dependent and vulnerable to external economic actors.
TopThe Ashes Of Poverty And Tourism
The history of poverty as well as the intention of international financial corporations to employ tourism as an efficient poverty relief seems far to be new. As Andrew Holden (2013) eloquently documents, once situated as a WatchGuard of economic stability (just ended WWII) the US instrumentalized the development program to assist developing economies since the 70s decade. Over years, the concept of development stimulated by the World Bank was invariably synonymous with economic progress. In these terms, development theory conceptualized economic progress through quantifiable factors and indicators which overlooked other types of wealth. At the time Truman`s speech divides the world into two, developed and underdeveloped economies, the debates revolving around the notion of poverty are simply introduced to the legitimate economic intervention of some nations over others. Beyond any ideological dispute, it becomes evident that the financial asymmetries between the global North and South call attention to a radical shift in the economic paradigms. Unless these dichotomies are previously resolved, tourism tends to perpetuate exploitative relations between development-generating countries and peripheral destinations. In consonance with this, Emanuel de Kadt (1979) describes the role played by culture in the configuration of exploitative institutions which impede genuine development. Per his viewpoint, those peripheral destinations mainly marked by a state of subordination or domination by the side of external powers have little probability to adopt successful development programs. De Kadt holds the thesis that tourism development works in the context of economic dependency and political stability (de Kadt 1979a; 1979b). The impacts of tourism on the local economy are complex and very hard to describe the long-lasting effects.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Safety-Security Tourism: Is a set of conditions, prerequisite, legal dispositions, and instruments orchestrated to protect tourists and their integrities.
Tourism Consumption: Includes the consumption of tourist experiences and products located in a specific destination or territory.
Violence: Is an atypical behavior oriented to hurt, harm, or kill someone or something.
Poverty: Is a state of having few material possessions or facing low income.
Human Rights: Comprise basic rights that belong invariably to every person who is a human being.