Volume 4Issue 7 August 1%5

For Private Circulation Onlv

Wbmen and Tourism

the time this edition of tfu ANlztter is publishail. the mrrrtt awaited agenda nnd uvmen 0 more prominent palt ol the tourism ngenila. The
4th UN Conference on Womm and the NGO Forum m bcqing zoill be time is especinlly npe because ooernll questions about toui:ism policy
taking place. The unrlil tday lus recognivd tlut women u the other and act.iuism are-being redfincd. This was with the objective of wantin6
lwlf of the hunun population luve been neglected, dqtfued, to articulate the complexity of tourism as a women,s issue, ii
tl-iscri-minateil against, misused and mbted
for reasons aplenty. Ttris past colhboration with women concerned about such issues in Intlia, hut
decl( has- yen heighteneil effurts with reganl to ntailishing the with the merall aim of vnting tinks with the twmen,s.mornment.
principle of shared pmnr and respansibility gt ttu home and wortiplace
and in wider rwtiannl and intqnational communities. Women actioists, As a part of this ffirt we ore in the midst of inpntting into the Forum
NGOs and wluntary groups haoe scrmmed themselves hmrse, that the Meeting al Beiiing, through presenlations by Nina Rao (see leod nrticle)
equality between men and uomcn is a matter of hutmn rtghts and aIso and through other moterial which hme been prepared
jointly with nehnrk frientls
for this purpwe
a condition fur social
justice which is the
Ta the fact that anmen,s rights anil the rights of the girl
fundamental pre- .emphasise
child, are part of universal humnn rights, requira a strong commitient
requisite fur danlop-
on the part of organi*tbns and gooernments toumrd eqiil rights, equal
nwnt and Wce of
responsibilitis, equal opportunity and equal
human kinil. ,freedom. Aftu ymr-s of

While at one
!*Vi"$ twmen their rights, this oucial peiod tnkes on imporiance ni;
leuel by gknng nnrun equal shsre in atl sphera of life
there is a recognition does no! mcan they haw to shsp "r*ults,'.The
this
space fur problem of inequality ha-s bem onnlvseil, solutions
"f
women in the larger soueht out, strategies worked oitt nnd funds
context of human sourced out but the htttom line remnins; tint all
datelopmmt, there are this frmzied actiaity should not lx executed tpith

equnlly .ittrces tlut nre trying to do the oery opposite. In a time when
tle br,tader social processes are one that'take auny nther than shard,
it is obvious that the struggle toatards'dewlopmtnt ad Wce, is likc
swimming egainst the tide.
Tlrc issues of moironmmtal degradation, social inequity and
realignmeats of economic processrs have had their effects on women as
weII as rnen, possibly in ilifernt ways. With this in mind, un at
EQUATIONS, fugan to look mue erplicitly at thc impact of tourism
tn womtn, nnd to collaborate bth to ttule touism part qf women,s
the sote atm mat aomen haue to'now' gtrove lhemsehrc,s. Ifii. is rrrrl
an experiment to xe how wotnen woulil cope with a
fair say in social,
economic, cultural and political decision making mechanism, neither is
this the opportunity to turn judgmental, insteail it is time
for us to
accept that axry individwl be it man or u'ornnn, boy or girl hns a right
to lend n life with bnsic hurnnn dignity.
KT 54,4tu1V S*ray*fuo
 Gamm,o./i,hna aatd, 6omzMr.
eioa'e'
ito' ,Toztoiatru .' ,%yrn/,oh. rr/ ^//nlirnhoon{
Qlt r**
Nirr Rlo*
f\ ender discrimination in India today is being presented as
\r-, an aberration in the inexorable drive towards
(- I development. Despite the attempts of the Govcrnment to
lxetfiote the view that the new economic thinking is gender
sensitive, the ideological and cultural changes that are coming, i4
the wake of the process of globalization are denying the space
that women in India had created through their struggles and
throrrgh their participation in several significant mass movements.
The denial of this space is being proiected as the only route to
modemisation, and the prices we have to pay for modernity is
the process of structural adiustment. In many Asian counties which
embarked on these processes before us we have seen that
essentials have become unavailable, Poverty has been enhanced
and unemplt'ryme'nt has made survival a day-today stmggle for
sections of thc people described as under-developed,
nrarginalised etc. Amongst these groups and in society as a whole,
in the process of globalisation we have seen women emerge as
svmbols of victimhood.
Global tourism offers us many illustrations of this victimhood.
Whe.re the 45's formula is the invisible export for hard currency
hungrv power c.lites being manipulated by the irrationality of
market forces. International organisations, financial institutions
anci the travel trade have acquired a mythological stafus and our
governments submit, with a sense of inevitability, to the dictates
of the World Tourism Organisation, PATA, ASTA, ITB etc. This
is because the mythological stature of these key ideological
institutions rnanipulate consumption around exercise. This is
done throtrgh setting impossible targets to net the 558 million
international tourists who form the market and the competition
now lists the top ten destinalions as rvell as the top ten eamers
of the tourist'dollar'. There is even a formula for being declared
a 'destination' - a country which earns 107o of its GDI' from
torr risrn.
Tirtrrism is lcgitimised as the human need to rccreation. Whnt this
statcmcnt igntrrcs is thc fact that tourism has gnrwn out of
gerrclereri socicties which inform all aspects r'rf tortrism
clevtloprnent and activity and all these processes embody
Fendcr rt'!.:tions. Our diverse and complex social structures,
cconomic, soci.rl, cultural, political and environmental are
conditionerl by gendered relations. Tourism engages in all these
strtrchrrcs in tht' process of its change, with consequences for the
rnargirr.rlised intlividuals and communities that become a part of
its strtrchrre. The impact of tourism on gender has only recently
been sfudied by social scientists, although the cultural
construction of gender. in combination with the variable of race
is only now being looked at. In the area of tourism studies this
approach is likely to raise many new issues, as the issue of
gender and race have added insights to so many other policy
isstres. Tourism activity and promotion offer a very fruitful area
for the application of the variables of gender ancl race to shldy
the negative irnoacts of Tourism in relation to the distribution
'lbaches at Collel;,e of Vocational Studies, Delhi University and is a member ol
the Programme Sub Committee, EQUATIONS.
"/
of power, social privilege and the socialisation of gender roles in
tourism processes. The legitimacy for looking at gender and race
derives from our context in India where we see variations in
both the responses and experiences to the dominant (global)
power struchrre we are trying to adapt to. In seeing the impact
of tourism on women ancl their victimisation through
commoditisation and commercialisation, we see the variables of
gender and race as significant not only as independent variables
acting on tourism but also as inter-related arrd being affected by
tourism.
Given the fact ihat travel has been cliffcrentially accessetl through
the ages, it is only in the 20 Century that women as travellers
have had an impact on tourism. T'ourist behaviour expressed
in graffiti, litter, the uncouth tourist (ethno<enteric behaviotrr) and
subiectivity and representation of women in the brochure or
tourism advertising, all point to concepts that are applicable to
men alone. Women travellers described as 'well-bred' and
'respectable' fall in the category of privileged women or women
as extensions of their missionary, coloniser or executive male
family heads. As a result there has been very little emphasis on
the needs of women as tourists either in terms of amenities or
creating destinations and attractions for them. Similarly in the
travel trade the gendered nature of employment is never
stressed. Jafari pushes the role of tourism in giving economic
opporfunities to women without the consequences of
gendered stres.s and change in power roles within the familv and
community. He does not look at the consequences of
displacement of women from their homes and traditional
economic activity. Many have tried to justify tourism related
activity as being innocent as far as !'reg.rtive impacts are concernetl,
and have laid the blame on modemisation; however the p.rce of
tottrism dcvelopment is both a f<rrm of modemisation and
eqtrally immoderate, particularly in developing societies. The
issuc of scxual harassment is particr.rlarly scvere, given the
sexualisetl cnvironment-escape, adrrenturc, romance, which
rem()vc constraints in thc employt'e - totrrists relatiorrships. Tht:
<:lothes and submissive bclravior insisterl on bv <.mpllrf i.rt
encourage the view that resptlctahle women are totrrists ruhilst
fallcn r,r'omen are barmaids and clranrlrr.r nraids. l{erc race also
adds to stereotypical connotations
The relations that emerge fr<lm 'l'rrurism activity are an
expression of the global debate on forms of power ancl contrt'I.
The fact that there is a debate indicates that the mainstrcanr
discourse is being contested at the ground level. The is-srrcs tht'
debate has thrown up reflect on power relations as reflected in
race, class and gender whi<'h arc'trt'rt onlv interrelak'd t:rrt also
critical issues in the tourism debate.
'l'ourism slrapes our identity and that of others 'l'hert'f,'rc
control of tourisrn is important. l-lnforttrnately it is nol the
so-called 'host' population that is tlrt' agent in st'lling national,
including gentler, images. (lovcrnmr:nts and the torrrism retailer
are not accountable'other than to hc totrrist or tlre international
trade. Interestingly, tourism projects do not win votes and
tourism policies are rarelv debated in Parliament. Gender
relations in tourism are a non-issue. In India, tourism policv ;"
in the hands of the ce'rrtral govemment and is strongly
influenced by major lending institutions and multi-national
companies. These institutions ane primarily male and controlled
bv whites. Toclay we have a woman minister of state who is not
serrsitised kr the women and tourism debate antl rt'flt'cts thc
whik./mak oricntation of government, lencling agencies ant'l
irrtcrn.rtional bodies dealing with tourism. She has been
toh-rllv coopted by the mainstream discourse.
ln looking at the process of commoditisation - and
commercialisation we have to qrrestion how such relations are
constructed, how do they change over time and what
implications do they have with regard to equality? The social and
political impressions of krurists are not neutral. They are creatcd
or: ihe basis of a knowledge of what can be bought and sold,
horv to use influence and power and what is of value and what
can be discarded. In this process tourism structures history and
shapes a culhrre by reducingit to size by the use of political
subiectivity. In the naming and framing process of krurist
aclvertising also we see a ritualistic emphasis on gentler and
racial stereo-types of the tourists as the idle rich white population
of rvestem Europe and the USA for whom India is programmed
as the Royal Orient, with all its feudal partiarchical
representations. It is now becoming increasingly important to
hrok at such representations as expressions of sexism and racism,
ir:st as activists did when they forced Air-India to retract the "Bare
hidia" postc'r featuring a bikini-clad woman to promotc Goa.
lVithin the totrrism clebaie Nash (1989) has lookcd at totrrism
activitv and the tourist product as an embodiment of inhcrent
power relations in the privileging of American fast food, hot
shovvers and English language. De Kadt (1979) links Tburism to
colonialism and North over South domination. Britton (1982)
links tourism to core domination over periphery. According to
Selwyn (192) such controls retain under-development in Tourism
as a part of the gratification of the rich. Tourism is therefore a
part of the process of incorporation of developing countries into
an exploitative system which looks at gendered social processes
but on patriarchical terms; for example, the distinction between
work and non-work for men and i,vomen is seen in universal
or natrrral terms and not as gendered.
Within these societies that tourism rcdrrces to a small place reality
is however varied and complex. We can see these complexities in
the division of laborrt social constnrction ofsites, the social
constrtretirin of tlx. other, thc social constru<:lion of lhe totrrist lntl
the rrsitlt'rrt, tlr<. r.rpt.riencing, rrrrrstnrctiorr arrtl consrrmptir)rt of
tortrism itsclf wlrich distinguisht's the rolc of men ancl womcn;
yet we do not see solidarity on the issues of gender since not ttxr
manv of these writers have looked spe<ifically at gender issues or
used a gcndered perspe.ctive. (Exception V.Kinnard and D.
Hall Eds. Tourism: A gencler Anall'sis, Wiley, 1994.)
All s<xittics, whethcr'host' or'guest' enrbody a changing st:l
of gcnclcr Perceptions, slcreo-tvpos anti relalions .ls a part of lheir
notion of realitv; for example scx tourisnr is a part of all
patriarr-hical stx'ieties brrt the enrphasis in studies orr scx tor.rristn
is on colonial power domination, particrrlarly |apan in thc &rutlr
East of Asia. Its acceptabilities located in cokrnial rvomen
preferring their nren to visit foreign rather than l<r.rl prostihrtt's,
as thc crossing of the threshold of lirninalitv is thought to be less
threatening. The impact of racism is stronger than gcn<ler
consciousness.
In trrurism activitv paid wrrrk is closely botrnd up rvith gen<ler arrti
in the glohal trnderclass that is created Asian women ar€l
rcprcsente.d as traditional (not influenced by lreminism) and
therefore more suitat'le. to signify the daydreams and fantasies
encouragecl by the promotion of torrrism. (Urry, lc91). Thc
tourist brochure and the travel shows on satellite TV. push the
key icleological features of western society in a non-r.r'estern
contc.xt. Thus action, power and ownership are associatccl n'ith
men and passivity, availabilitv and being owned for womcn.
(Bride buving - M.O.B.'s. This selling of otherness generaliscs ancl
then institutionalises particular gendered perceptions on rac(',
generation and class.
We see this process of commoditisation establishing itself in the
scrcio-cultural field where the traditional is opposed to thc
modern, the Self to the C)ther. 'l"he Self is never the Asiarr.
Cohen (1983) has poinred to the legitimisation for sceing/selling
traditions as the other and he has raised, along with manv others,
the issue of authencity to capture the changing meaning of culhrre
and the arts, within which are also located issues of gender, class
and ethnicity.
How do scrcicties deal with commoditisation in Tourism activitr'?
Men retain thc marketing functions whilst women remain irr the
sphere of production (from the working of the souvenir hacie to
the glamour industry, entertainment and prostitution.)
In thc spherc of scrcial values commoditisation is dealt with in a
similar way, through what is popularly known as the
demonstration effect, where the local women are represented as
pleasing commodities and the woman tourist is commoditised
by local men-several c.rses being reported in the press, with the
grandson of the Chief Minister f<rr Puniab being a notorious
offender.
Within the family there is a change in the traditional division of
laborrr. Women either carry the double btrrden of bread winrrer
and homemaker (what has been termed the Mother/Wllore
dichotomy), creating tensions due to male/female roles being
reversed. In rural areas women head households without access
to resources and the younger generation gets drawn into sex or
drug tourism resulting in a power shift to the yorrnger generation
but on patriarchical terms (Garhwal, Manali). In the past fr:w
months wc have seen severill reports of young men and !v()nrcn
acting as couriers of the drug mafia being apprehended by the
police in India. There was also the controversy over women
in Garhwal posing nude for a small dollar fee for tourists since
their husbands are away in the army.
In the area of environment we see the emergence of safari
torrrism as a socially conskucted form of hegemonism where
women become the victims of the process of privileging nafure
over human needs. Their fuel and water needs which were met
through forest produce or their grazing chores have become
onerous since the notification of sancfuaries and the zoning
pattems being implemented to ensure free access to the tourist.
We. see that in all spheres of meaning the representation of
rvomen falls within the framework of 'endenism' as either sex
obiects, publicity props, domestics or as the repositories of
family honor. These are all mechanisms of control. The women's
movement in lndia has been coming to terms with this emerging
problematic and the tourism debate has to come to terms with
these issues. This involves decoding how gender and sexuality
have been socially constructed at thepersonal and inter-personal
level.
Tourism, through commoditisation, legalises the marginalisation
of gender, since the national tourism industry is dependent on
and performing a function within an intemational framework.
We can therefore conclude that economic marginality, racial
inequality and unequal gender relations are particularly fertile
grounds in the construction of tourism, since many promoters of
tourism consider tourism an apt vehicle for creating opportunities
for such problems to be resolved. However Foucault considers
commoditisation and commercialisation as focus of control to
strengthen larger, hierarchical systems which aim to
institutionalise racism, sexism as social class privileges rather than
to seek salvation for the victims. Any resolution of these
conflicts emerging in the process of the growth and expansion
Tburism research gazing at the gender-issue
Chnisrirr Ptuss & Mlnilrne Fnri*
Review of: Tourism - Gender Analysis. Edited by Vivan
Kinnaird and Derek Hall. Iohn Wilev and Sons Chichester
{+ 1994
,\nnals of Tburism Research, Volume 22, Numbcr 2, 1995: Special
issue on Cender in Tourism, Guest Editor Margaret Byrne Swain
1995 Elsevier Science Ltd. and J. Jafari.
This character s€€ms somehow familiar, doesn't he? Oh ves,
indeed - it is the "typical tourist" outlined by the mainstream
tourism research: white, middle class, male - that gces without
saying. No doubt, he is very flexible, loves to change his outfit and
occasionally even his lifestyle. Sometimes he looks younger, like
an explorer or a happy family father, and sometimes he is just a
common holiday-maker escaping from everyday routine.
Sometimes it seems as if the unfortunate character had fallen into
pieces, as if he consisted e.g. of an eye gazing significantly at a
world especially designed for him. And all of a sudden he
r\rlreitskreis Tourismus and Entwicklung, Basel (Switzerland)
of tourism will therefore require resolution in other mainsheam
discourses as well. The solution lies in identifying and locating
the source of gendered crimes and building a movement of
solidarity both within and without in the broadest way possible.
Notes : Reading list
1. Asian Women Workers Newslettcr, Vol 14, No 1, Jan 1995
2. T.Selwyn: 'Peter Pan i4 South East Asia : A view from the
brochres' - in Tourism in South East Asia, - Ed. M tlitchkock,
' V King and M.Parnell - Routledge London, 1993
3. J Urry : 'The snciology of Tourism - in Progress in Tourism,
Rccreation and Hospitality Management Vol. 3, - Ed.
C.Cooper Belhaven Inndon, 1991.
4. J Urry : Tourism, leisure and Travel - irr Contemporary
Srrcieties - Sage lnndon.
5. Jafar Jafari : 'Role of Ttrurism on Smio - Economic
transformation of developing societies' (Unpublished Master's
thesis) - Cornell University, 1973
6. M. Foucault: An tntroduction to the History of Sexuality Vol.1,
Penguin, 1981.
7. E. Cohen: Authenticity and Commoditisation in Tourism -
Annals of Tourism Research - 15:371 - 86.
8. E. Cohen:'The dynamics of commercialised arts: the Meo and
Yen of Thailand' - Joumal of National Research Council of
Thailand-15:1-34.
9. D. Nash : 'Tourism as imperialism'- in Guests and Hosts - Ed.
V. Smith An Anthropology of Tourism, 1989.
10. E. De Kadt: Tourism: Passport to Development - O.U.P -
1979.
11. S. Britton : Political Economy of Tourism in the Third Wrrld -
Annals of Tourism Research - 13 (3) 457 - 65,1982.
12. T. Selwyn: Tourism, Society and Development Community
Developmentfoumal -27 (4): 353 - 60.
-
13. J.Kincaid : A Small Place - Mrago London, 1988.
14. Linda K. Richter : Gender and Race : neglected variables in
Ttrurism Researc.h in Change in Tourism : People, Places.
Processes - Ed.R. Bulter and D. Pearce - Rotrtledge, 1995.
becomes completely spiritualized while generating
representations of the famous "other". This "other", the counterpart
within touristical interaction, might be lust as spiritualized or at
least condemned to assume the silent part of a walker-on in the
play of 'back- staged arrthenticity". The sexcd body seems to be
the privilege of prostitutes in tourist rereiving countries,
sometimes also of their customers but this has been discovered
only very recently. f{orvever. this character - the normal case of
the rvhite middle class male - has a tenacious hold on life in
-
tourism research.
For a long timc mainly feminist leisrrre researchers have been
pointing out to the sextral,/gender division of labour and leisure.
Writings on women travellers, analysis of sex tourism, or recent
feminist approach of the political economy of international
tourism have given evidence to the importance of applying
"gender" ns an erluivalerrt variable- hesidts class, ethnicity/race,
nationality or age - to shldies of leisured consumers (guests;,
working producers (hosts), and their interactiois, as well as to
analysis of the inarketing of the kansnational tourism indushy.
Obviotrsly tourism was ripe for the gender approach. The first twq

publications dedicated exclusively to in-depth analysis of gender
in totrrism are therefore most opporhrne.
Similar in their form, both publications consist of a collection of
case studies elaborated mainlv - but not "only" - by women
researchers. Both books are completed with an introductory (and
conclusive) chapter that lines out the theoretical framework of
gender issue in tourism, and there substantial difference comes in.
Vivan Kinnaird and Derek Hall who both lecture Geography and
f)evelopment at the University of Sunderland (U.K.) entitle the
work they edit as "gender analysis"; but curiously they omit in
their introduction (Kinnaird/Kothari/Hall) to define their concept
and understanding of gender more precisely, and hardly refer to
the (feminist) literature on gender. Much more detailed the
authors review some of the important theoretical concepts in
current tourism research which thev examine lvith reference to
their consideration of gender and the'ir applicability to gender
specific analysis. Promisingly they start out by approaching
l3ender in tourism from a perspective of economical development
highlighting some critical points of this debate. Leaving then the
tlimension of political economy they tum to view tourism as social
and individual relationships. Countless studies and theoretical
refltcti<xs on the topic of tourism have struggled with the
ditTicultv toconceive this complex phenomenon with its
implications and its interactions ranging from transnational to
individrral level. That's whcre thc ge'nder approach with its
multiplc. climensions could stimulate theory and methods. But the
erposition of Kinnaird/Kothari/Hall clearly shows that focussing
on "sender" isn't by itself the key to a revolutionary new
understanding of tourism. Important theoretical issues are more
thoroughly cxplored and completed in some of the case shrdies,
e.g. the analysis of the working condiiions of r.r'omen in Comwall
(Hennessy) and in Ireland (Breachnach/ I lenry/drea/
o'[:lahcrty). fhcse sttrclics strcct'cd in giving arr interesting,
insight ()n how torrrism is bcing promotctl in areas hit trv
economic rocessirrn, arrcl how the scope for women on tlre
alreacly largely flexibilized labour market looks like today. The
gender approach leads kr a better trnderstanding of the
interlockirrgs dimcnsions of intlividrral iderrtitl' and social
relations irr a context of political economy and power. But the
conceptual fr.rmework of the prrblication lacks organisational
strength, arrd inte.r<.stirrg insil;lrts srrch as the constrrrction of
ht ritage anil its tourist infrastructurc along male-biased historv
c.rn't strffi<:ir-.ntlv he exploited for the tlreoretical rcflection.
Nevr.rthelt'ss tlris first prrlrlication ()n thc krpic of gen<il'r i:r
tourisnr ()pclrs up ne\{ rcscarch perspectives, and shows that
theorr:tical discussions of thc gender issrre foremost have to hr.
consolidater'l lvithin the tourisnr dehate.
This path is follorrr'ed up by lv{argaret tsyrne Srvairr,
anthr'opologist at tht [Jniversil)' of California (Davis, USA) antl
g,rtcst tlclilor of thc spccial issrrt- on gentlcr in totrrisnr of tlrc
rcnownc<l "Ann.rls of Tt'rutisnr Rcsearch". Ry nreans of a dctailctl
and critic.rl srrrvey of the publication of Kinnard/llall she
clcvelops clcar pt'rspcctives for gerrder analysis of tourism arrti
tht' sig,nificance of gcntlcr for the urrrlerstatrding of tourism This
cxposilion she completes with new results from feminist lcisure
research (llerrdersolr 1994), a revie'w on writings on gender in
tourism, and tr feminist critique of serial theories of tourism
(Vilola/Jokinen 1994) which outlines in a surprising antl
imaginative wav the absence of the "botly" among both the
explored tourist as well as the exploring mostly male scholars
in tourism. Swain defines gender as a "system of culturallv
constructed identities, expressed in ideologies of masculinity and
femininity, interacting with socially structured relationships in
divisions of labour and leisure, sexuality, arrd power betwecn
women and men." From this basis Swain elaborates a conceptual
frame for the various case sfudies presented in the volume, that
opens up multiple ways of rcading thenr. As hc'lpful schema she
considers that gender "can be analyzed as an independent
variable influencing tourism and as a dependent variable
responding to tourism activity." Like in Kinnaird/Hall's
publication the case sfudies investigate a wide range of topics
with different conclusion, and some of them would requin'
separate reviews in order kr fully recognize the significance of the
results for the comprehension of tourism and further sfudies.
Nevertheless, not even the special issue of the "Annals of
Tourism Research" cxplains sufficiently why tourism research
seems to discover its interest in gender at this very moment. Is it
iust following - with a certain delay - the lead of the literature on
Bender and de'velopment? No doubt, it is a pleasure to see
women - finallv - ptrt in the forefront of the tourism stage; but
this boom of special intcrest seems also somehow curiotrs. Onll'
recently the "woman traveller" has been discovered as a gap in
the market by publishing houses and travel agencies. The
tourism industry has for a lonp; time demonstrated hor,r' to make
trse of the' (imagery of) women in marketing, and horv to extentl
the female role of the host as one specific form of flexibilizing
women's working-forct . In the face of ctrrrent transformation antl
restrrrcttrring of the intcrnational lorrrisnr intlustrl, lht'st'
"qualities" will probably be very much in demand. Especialll'
from a feminist perspective this sudden increase of attenlion the
gender issue gets also within the scientific debate of tourisnr
generates a need for furthc'r explanation. I
 An Understanding of Tou.rism's Future
TATHEEF KIZHISSERT*

f gnor"r,." is bliss for many. But those who rule the country are further into the trap of 'frxd import' if tourism appears at the scale
paid by people not to be ignorant. Of course, when rulers get plannt'rl by the government and the tourism lobby.
f
L more dollars for being ignorant, they act as true fools.
The Employment Angel
In Kerala, the southem, lush green state of India, maiority of
people and those who govern them seem to be chasing dollars in
The argument, time and again, raised by the 'tourism terrorists'
somebody's pockets and they chum out schemes without
under the leadership of the rulers bank on the high rate of
analysing the real traps of tourism and the elusive dollars.
unemployment in the state which has been created by lopsided
economic policies since 7947, the year of India's Independence.
lntercstingly', the fully literate, highly "developed" state seem to be
Earlier tourist locations including Goa had proved that tourism
unaware of what really happened to the earlier pleasure being a service activity can provide less number of jobs per acre
peripheries in the world such as Thailand, Philippines, lndonesia,
of land and per lakh of rupees investment when compared to any
SriLanka and Canarese Islands. Tourism has been put on top of
other economic activity while the hidden cost of tourism are f"rr
the development dish proposed by the new Chief Minister who
more damaging than any other activity.
has been acclaimed as'sensible'according to normal quality- scale
used to rdeasure chief ministers in the largest democracy in the
world. The end result of lumping onto the magical tourism Planners and politicians have committcd themselves t() re.pe.rt
bandrvagon led by the World Tourism Organisation and the mistakes and make profit out of enforced mistakes which serve
Government of India would be accumulated waste, polluted water one or the other profit maniac. Of late, the covert non-recognitron
and ait people without self-respect ancl shocked by hidden of the marginalised maiority in the earlier phase of planned
colonialism. development has been replaced by an overt exclusion on the basis
of absence of purchasing power. Tourism planners in India are
busy violating the fundamental rights of the majority to make sure
The Hidden Tenorism that those with a f.rt purse could have sightseeing of the poor
which will msure enough profit to the kith and kin of these
All the hills, dales and backwaters of Kerala are up for sale for a sightseers.
few elusive tourist dollars lying in somebody's pocket. Those who
promise new heavens fol the Keralites through the not se sure
This attitudc has bct'ome the new mantra goveming tourism
visikrrs have taken the garb of real estate agents and the
planners. It was evidcnced by the recent statemcllt of the. Kerala
Government of Kerala, its tourism outfit, the Kerala Tourism
Tcrurism Special secretary and a senior manager of the KT'I)C.
De.velopment Corporation (KTDC) and the Central government
They told this writer that only rich tourists should come t() Kerala.
in the forefront for selling prime lands to
torrrism agencies are
But what they failed to urrclerstand or acted as if thcy don't knorv,
multinationals at a throw away price. They have no argument
is the fact that the per cent of rich in .the rvorld has been going
e\ccpt the archaic development myths and an archaic and dubious
Iancl acquisition law to legitimise their demands for land to effect
down everv da1, as proved bv statistics flowing from the rich
nations who became rich bv unlarn'ful nleans over the last 50{)
the myths to fool pe'ople who have regularly been trapped by
years.
political clap trap dealing with progress. Recently, the Kerala
T<rurism minister said that Kerala would be made into another
Goa! No other proof is required to shorv the plans to unleash state
terrorism on the people of Kcrala through Tourism. It has been
The Global f)ouble Speak.
proved that Goa lost more than what it gained through tourism
.rnrl the Kerala minister seems to be happy with the Goa model. "The rvorlt-l is at the darvn of a ner.r, Goldon Age of travel-an age
of vovaginpl on a truly global mass scale. As the 21st cenhrrv
l-irn.l, the prime resource required fclr tourism, maintain a static unfurls, people of every class and from every countrv rvill he
suoplv which requires conversion of land from one use to another. wanclering to every part of this planet." (Time, |une 1?,19q5)
Kerala can boast of the maximum density of population among
Indian states along with its development achievcments according What thc Tinrc corresporrdernts tactically kept orrt of print is the
to western notions. Therefore, it is imperative that large areas of uniust fall out of the Golderr Age, in trtre spirit of the r,r'estern
productive land will be divcrted to provide pleasure space to a itieologv of disinformation irrrd misinforrnatirrn. Asia, Africa, Latin
tcw, arrd rnost of this land mass will be agricultural land. Kcrala Antcrica arr<l tlrt. indigr.rrous peoplc of the presentlv 'riclr
u'hich.rlready experiences sevcre food dependency willbe pushed countrics havc fallcn vit'tims of nranr'(irltlcn Agts alrnotrncetl b1'
the predecessors of Time Magazine. And they arc announcing, vet
anottrer Golden Age of destruction of the remaining worlcl of th.'
*.,\.lvocatt'and poor and marginaliscd.
was previouslv working with EQUATIONS

The Time correspondents went to the extmt of extreme distortion
of reality by barking that'people of every class and from evcry
country' will roam the planet. The number of people who can
iravel has been going down even in the United States of America
where real wages have been falling below average in many sectors
during the last so many years. Can the nearly 15 per cent of iobless
people and the nearly 30 per cmt of workers who get only less
than enough for survival in the USA can havel all over the planet?
Can the 70 per cent of people of India who just manage to survive
are able to wander the earth ? Nearly 80 per cent of the people of
the world have no income to spare for travel after meeting
essential survival needs and the percentage is increasing due to
over mechanisation of productive activities. It will be foolish to
believe that The Time scribes are not aware about thee facts. But
they are paid to herald thc new Coldcn Age since it will help those
who are all set to launch another colonial era, an era of hidden
exploitation of the remaining pristine areas by making them the
'pleasure spaces' for the thoroughly bored and mechanical 'human
clogs' of the developed nations. Of course, the travel game played
by the Time will benefit its own sister concerns as the Time Inc
has been cross-hooked with otirer multinational profit maniacs.
Another side of the 'the golden age' game get the last and self-
assuring reference in the same issue of the Timc (Mukul Pandya:
All Signs Point East,p52-53)."..Alreadv so many tourists have been
packing into such national parks as Yellowskrne and the Grand
C-'anvon during the summer that access has to be severely
restrictecl, and debates have begun about banning tourists in some
areas altogc.ther". The Tirne correspondent wants to hide the trudr
that the dcveloped world has been hungrily looking for true
naturc and real beaulv because of the boredom of packaged tourist
products and has already destroyed its wilderness by over
consumption. However; the correspondent confesses like a
doubting Jones. "Twenty five years from nolr', will Asia face the
same crisis ? Perhaps says Perry 'people are already begining kr
recognise that if they want to attract tourists, they must have
attractive destinations. Govemment will finally have the incentive
to clean up their acts'. Unless, of course, they are overwhelmed by
the tourist tidal rvave". Even after the experience of Yellowstone,
Crand Canyon, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines and Canaresc
Island, the Time correspondent still has doubts about tht: impacts
of the krurist tidal wave.
i.hr: statistical game played to proiect the elusive tourism boom is
the sarne everywhere. The Time corre;pondents, the World
fourism Organisation, the Interrrational Airlinc's, the f<rurisrn
ministers and secretaricrs, and the mainstream media in India
speak the same statistical languag,e; the)'talk about trillions mixed
up bv the revenue of Airlines, Ilaihvavs, lk'tels, lransport ant'l
Allied lnclustris.
The game is intcnclcd to frrrl thc Ptrrple to obtain space: for the
leisure class, espr.*ially in the unspoilt localities of Asia, Africa and
Latin America. For legitimising the argument, tourism has been
proiected as the only development paradigm for those u.ho missed
the development bus during the last half centurv r,r'hich incltrc'lcs
'lndia. It be.came a convenient argument for the ruling elites of
India; now they can bank on yet another avenue to propose
mythical schemes and continue to remain in porver bv fooling
people with grandiose promises of devclopment.
Facilitating Invasion
Kerala, identified for intense tourism promotion, seems to be on
the way for doom through the proposed tourism boom. The nrlers
of the state and the parrrhial brrreaucracy have been assured of
free mcal and five stnr holidays by thc multinational corporations
and their lrral partners as comnrission for assisting in the tourisrn
drama. Master Plans have been preparecl in dozens kr make thc.
people of Kerala mere servants providing all that is needcd by thc
few who bccame rich by sucking the blood of thousands.
The latest addition to the many master l.larrs for trxrrism
development in the state, the Bekal Special Tourism Area master
plan, intends to destroy more than l0 self-sufficient villages in the
Kasargocl district, the northern district of Kerala. The master plan,
prepared by a local architect r,r'ith assistance from internatiorral
consultants for a fee of more than Rs 60 lakhs. claims itsclf
eco-friendly and contains proposals for golf corrrses ancl an
exclusive airport. It has bcen ct'signt'd on the basis of tht' theory
of exclusion of ordinary pcoplc which has bt<ome current in
lndonesia, Thailand anrl Philippines years ago as part of large
scale tourism development.
The land required for the llekal STA n.ill be nearly 400 hectirres
spread in nearly 10 villages on tlre Arabian sea coast lying adiacent
to the Bckal ftrrt. Accortling to the master plan, the proiect u'ill be
implemented by the Bekal Resort f)evelopmcnt Corporation in
two phascs, first rvith 2120 beds would he complcted in 2001 AI)
and thc ser<rnd Fha-se with 5512 btds rvould hecome operational
in ?011 Al), and include manv t.r'o star to super luxurv class
hotels. Thc Rs 1000 crore prrrit'ct proposes to providc direct
employntent for 80fi) persons. A rrr.rssrr.e infrastnrcfure plan has
been drawn up for 400 hectarcs strr:tr:h lving behvcan two rivcrs
and sea on another side, now prrrr.itling home ancl work spact. for
lakhs of peop'le. Ancl yet, the master plarr claims that there v,,oukl
bc displacement of only less than 25 house.s-
The master plan was subnrittr'd to lhc state tourism ministcr on
Iulv !1,1995 ancl when contactcd on ltrlv 12, the architect rifrrst'rl
to give out a copy of the plan by arguing that it is sonrcthing
similar to state secn:t. llor+'can it he ?'l'he nrchitect has ['er.rr I'aid
from the state coffers, from monev accrrmulafcd throul-ih tax
contributions and it is a dcvekrpment plan suhnritt<.tl to ;r
tlcnrrrrati<' g,overnnrt'nt. Tlrcn whv rkr thcl, wntrt t() ktr.p il .rq a
clrtselv g,uarded secrct ? tt lras nrithirrg kr tl<, wit.h the rnilitart,
activity of tlrt: countr\'. Does it mean.that tourism developrnerrt
plans are mor<'- dangerous than military activities u'hich shorrld be
kept orrt of the. r.r't' rrf the people who elertccl the grrvemment? Thr-'
natural apprehension is that there is something in the plan which
rs rgainst thc inte.rest of the local people and environment though
thc arclritr.ct claims that the plan is for an 'eco-tourism proicct'.
Peoples Reaction to lburism Promotion
Tht mainstream rncclia with high rtrrdership in thc highlv literate
Kt:rala has succeecled in brainr,r'ashing people to believe that therc
is no other develcpnrent alternati\.e except totrrism. This is in tune
n'ith thc'arsuments of thc government, ru!ing parties, bureaucrats
and thc tourism lobhy. Ilorvtver, the attempts to sensitise people
al.rrut the rc.rl implications of the new form of state terrorism
throrrgh tourisln developnrcnt h.rs heerr made hy manv peopk's
gr()ups antl the secontl-line nrcdia which has rcrcentiv g,athercrl
montt'nhlnr. But a maior constraint is the lack of critical an'areness
cttncerning tourism issues even among the media pers()n.;.
Voices of pr(ltr.st havc heen achve in many parts of the statc rlr,rring
tht last five vcars and it has bcrome more evident recently. A
rvr)rncrn's meet held reccntlv at llekal decided to oppose the Bekal
Workshop on'Alternatives'
to Mainstream Tourism
Slrder vrr drn Bilri
n fune 10th anC llth EQUATIONS sponsorc'd the
Workshop on 'nlternatives' to Mainstream Tourism. It
took place over the weekcnd at the Creen Hotel, Mysore
lvith around 25 participants taking part in the hvo day discussions.
The first Cay started off with a general round of introductions of
EQUATIONS, the Green lJotel, and the participants themselves.
The discussions 1;ot r,r'el! under way with Shirley Susan's
(EQUATIONS, Bangalore) prescntation on the "Flistory of
Tourism", followc'd by R.rniii llcnry's experience gained from his
tour company; Kotanr '!'rrrrrs, Madras. The aftemoon session rvas
characterised l,y the participanls'experiences with t<rtrrism in
general and Alternative tourism specifically. The day closed
rvith Dennis O'Rourke's film " Carrnibal Tours", highlighting the
guests' and hosts' reactions to the interaction of both through an
oq;anised tour.
'lhe second day starterl with st*'eral pft:sentations. First w.as
Sandra van der Bilt, student of the Netherlands Institute of
Tourisnr and Transport Studies and trainee with Equations, with
her paper'Tourism Policy and Consumerism ". H.M. Manjrrnath
from YAI'NA, Bangalore, followed with "Policy Perspectives".
This session, 'The Backdrop' ended with a presentation by
Charles Camara, from the University of Stockholm, working on
his l'h D., who presented a case study of tourism in Coa.
'Emerging .\lternatives' was a session of discussions on several
peoples' etforts in practising some form of 'Alternatives'. Padma
Raiagopal, of Alpha Ccntarrri,Mysore, spoke ab<rut tourism as
an t:xch.lng,e of knowledgt', in the form of work in t'xchange
for, for e'xamFrlc, boartling and lodging. Alex Pr:rrera,
cotrsultant b WoolJl.rnds Nctrvork, Sri[.anka, sp<rke ahout thtir
efforts kr conduct tours from rvhich mr'rst of the financial br.nefits
go to tht peoole visited. llanjit Henrv spoke about lris efforts in
Stitdent ol the r-etherlanfis Institute ot'Iourism and Transporl Shrtlies and
tr,rrner with Equatiors
Tourism project. Many criiical joumals have come out with
rallying points to support activists opposing touristisitrg the state
and manv others have planned special issues to rliscrrsq torrris.n
vvhich will come out so()n.
Brrt tlrc movement against unjust and clestnrctive tourism pnriocls
has vet to reach a fruitful point in the state. Many lcrcal groups
i;rce the problems of clcfining the problem itself bccatrse of the very
cl'-rsiveness and secrecy maintained about the proiects until it takes
ofi Activists find it hard to convince people afxrut the problems
of tourism berause of the pervasive irrfluence of mainstream
rrrcdi.r u,hich regrrlarlv sing praises for torrrism as the best rvay for
Fr()gn'ss. Pcctplc have develoPed a 'wait and sec' attihrele rvhich
r;igniiv a lrigh levcl of crnsumerist culhrrc. Tlrt- first task to bc
.tili.!rt'.qt.cl bv ar-tivish; seem to be brcaking of thc cltrlches of thc
consunrnrist culhr!".' and the development myths v*.hich itstlf is ;r
herct:lt'.tn task. !l,.rvever, peoples groups ire active in r.arigus
lrx',11i111'q identiflr.' for intense torrrism promotion anrl are trving
to ct.:!l tlre unirrst proiects in whatever manncr possibte rvhich is
.r wclctrrne develonrnent. I
I
educating the tourists on the norms and values of the people his
clients visit. In the last scssion of the ltrrkshop the participants
rvere split up into smaller groups to discuss each persons vicw
on 'Alternatives' and what firhlre action should be taken. as
tourism is a dynamic activity
no set guidelines wercr created, but
ideas charted down for each to think about.
Although persons from the lr{ainstream tourism industry were
invitcd, thc'se were unable to come for various reasons. Their
rbsence was felt as they lvoulcl havu brnn ;rlrlc h'r give valuahle
input intlr thc' discussions, ncverihcless discrrssions were raised
on torrrisrn issues, the impacts of tourism, policy intervention,
anrl 'Altc'rnatives'. The workshop provt'cl kr be fruitful for the
participants, raising their lel.el of awareness on tourism issues,
and forming a neh,!'ork of like-nrindcd. This wcrkshop is the first
of .r serit's of workshnps on 'Alternatives' to Mainstream Torrrism
rvhich will be condtrcted over the next couple of years. In the
lrrtrrre tlrey will involve people from the mainstream, engaging
with thcm to raise their level of awareness on the impacb of
torrrisrn to come to a more just form of tourism, eventuallv
tra nsfcrrming the Mainstream.
A full report of the Workshop on 'Alternatives' to Mainstream
Iourisnr and the inelividual papers are available from
F.QUATTONS. I
!'/o r'cao/tpnw to tcf .roc/n eeftnru/"t A antt, o/
rz.te"
/Ie, nule*al At. thh. ncnule,l.h.p. dllcara nc.Jo'C
a.t a//.Sao'io.h.ty ,ztuy'. u'tu/, rc n'ry'ty o/ tAc
vftoe/arcal nulot,itt/ /<n' arr ity/o>otttttian, ,97*,
uionto et/,rcwd bt, t/u. aolic,loo.ctto thaas o/, t/,o
aal/nwanrl naf ruraanti/,f o/ herfi.fh&ob'.

Making a Killing
from Tourism...
As Burma slowly emerges from years of isolation to become a
tourist destination of the fufure it remains to be seen what tourists
will be noticing... the chain gangs and civilian slave labourers who
are being forced throughout the countr)' to work on proiects to
prepare the country for tourists; or only what the regirne wants
'them
to see - beautiful pagodas, and a population which they hold
firmly under their control.
Burma; the altemative guide, launched by the Burma Action
Group, is compelling account of the development of the tourism
a
industry in Burma, and the effects this is having on the lives of
ordinary Burmese. It also addresses the ethics of travelling to
Burma today.
Whilst recognising that a boycoft is unrealistic and controversial,
the Burma Action Group strongly discourages tourists from going
on holiday to Burma whilst SLORC continue to deny basic human
rights to its people, and whilst tourists revenue fuels further
abuses. Burma; the altemative guide does however also contain
recommendations for people who do decide to go including
advice on how to support the people of -Burma without
endangering them, and how to minimise the regime's monetary
gain. In some cases, tourists can play a role in opening-up the
country; bringing a greater flow of information in and out, and
acting as "witnesses" to some of the atrocities being committed.
The' regime will however be doing all they can to hide the reality
from the eyes of tourists, allowing access to only a well defined
circuit of destinations while all other places remain closed.
Tourists must be fully informed before visiting Burma.
1996 has been declared by Burma's military dictatorship, the
SLORCl,as " Visit Myanmar Year", and it is in ihe drive to piepare
the countn' for the influx of visitors expected in 1995 that human
rights abuses have beeh and continue to be committed. [n response
to this, travel writers and editors,and tour operators have begun
to debate the issue. Burma Action Group is urging them to
recognise their resposibility to inform people of the realities of
travelling to Burma and giving money to this brutal regime.
Slave Labour
Civilians anC prisoners in chain gangs are forced to work as slaves
on a huge scale throughout the country to prepare Burma's
infrastrucfure ready for tourists. Scores have died in the prcrcess.
In April 1994 orders were given to clean up Mandalay Palace,
inclucling a project to dredge the moat. Alongside
shackled
prisoners, two thousand ordhary farmers and city folk werc used
to rvork on this giant project " We must use our hands to take this
filthy, smelly dirt from the bottom of the moat. I have seen women
collapse^from the heat. And for this, the. govemmmt pays us
nothing.'
Forced relocations
Many people are being forcibly relocated to "clean up" tourist sites,
or to make way for new developments. Rangoon is now a
show-case for tourists, where thousands of poor people have been
shunted out of the sight of tourists to " New Towns". This carrses
great hardship for the people who receive no compensation and
are forced to rebuild their homes on inhospitable site and people
who would have scraped a living as day labourers or hotrsehold
servants, now find they cannot even afford the bus into town.
The most notorious case has been that of the historic town of
Pagan, a popular tourist destination, famous for its hundreds of
ancient pagodas. ln April 1990 the 5,2fi) people who lived in
Pagan among the pagodas were forced to pack their belongings
and move to a site of unsheltered baked earth 20 miles away. Most
villagers had lived in Pagan for scores of generations. Four people
who protested were held in jail for tour months.
Money money money...
While money from tourism may help dt:velop a country's
economy and bring much need money to the people, it is clear
that in Burma this is not presently the case. The military controls
all aspects of the economy, including revenue from tourism.
"Anyone thinking of visiting the country at this time must
recognise that they are fueling the SLORC's drive to prepare the
country for tourism" says Sarah Sutcliffe, the coordinator of the
Burma Action Group. "Tourists visiting the cotrntry will be using
the railways and roads built by thousands of forced lahourers and
will be visiting palaces ancl cultural sites fron'r which local people
have treen forcibly relocated. 'lourists must be aware that at least
50 cents in every dollar spent in llurma goes directly to the
SL.ORC. ln a country that has no external enemies, but that spends
40ol' of its annual budget on the military the eqtration is clear."
Burma; the altemative gtridr. is available from thc Burma Acti<rn
Group at the address helorv for 83.99 + 50p P&p. For more
information contact Sarah Sutcliffe M 171 3Sg 7679.
Collins Studios, Collins Yard, Islirrgton Green, Londorr, Nl 2XU
Tel:(44) (0) 171 35q 7679 Fax:(M) (D 171 354 3987
E-ma i I :ba gp@gn.apc.org
l. Statc l,aw and Order Restoration Council
2. New York Times,17 /9/94
;i;;l'
linl
I Million
-l----l--
I
i Rupees I
="i- ---.-- j :.
0-1L _1?:4! l!5
Mr. t'. V Narasimha Rao was inaugurating the llth annual convention of the
lndian Assrrciation of Tbur Operators. "Our efort shoulil fu to rnalie totnism one
ttf the major ec.rnmic actiz,ities but not the onlrl economic activit1." "you cnn,t have
an island oi affluence in a sea of potertrl."
Blind Spots of
Indian Tourism
Rnbirulro Seth nnd S Dharnnro jon on the failure af the tourism industry
lo inrlrrr'ss its prLthlents aild pressurec on the powers- thnl-\rc
n the custclmary vote of thanks at the [ndian Association of Totrr
f
f C['u.otoo (IATO)'s closing session in New Delhi, Pradeep
L S.rnkhala, a senior functionary of the asscrciation, who is
seldom given to hvpcrbole, ;rttritrutcd the'mileage in ptrblicitv :rnrl
media attention the discussions had received to the prescnce of the
Prime Mirrister at the inaugura! session. I-Ie described him as "the
hero of thc'e.ntire shorn'." But if one crrrsorily reads Narasinrha Rao's
sFc(rh, thc iustifi.rble conclusion is of ihe presence of an anti-hero.
The Prime Minister's conscnt to open the annual conventiorr had
the organisers errphoric but what he said only shessecl the
limitations of Indian tourism. Thc ab*nce of political commitment
to 1611pis6, the continuing misgivings about its role as
socio-cconomic phenomenon and thc failure of the industrv ro
impress on the por,r'ers-thaFbe its problems and presstrres were
evident.
In the speeches which preceded and followed the PM's address,
incluciing those of two ministers, the emphasis was very much on
tourism's potential as a generator of resourcesiob and
opportunities and its multiplier effect. Global kends were cited to
buttress the claim that tourism is the workl's number one industrv
and it will leave all othc.r activities behind. In this contcxt, Intlia
logged for behind, rvith less than 0.5 per cent of the international
tourist traffic. It was mentioned that if India could be the favorrrite,
if not the ultimate destination, it would also turn out to be the
investment destination. IATO President, Subhash Goyal hacl also
cataloged the litany of requests facing the industry.
Every one of them said that the very presence of the PM for the
first time at a convention of a travel body was a historical everrt.
But when the PM's hrrn came, hc failed to make any rcfercnce to
the specific problems posed by Goyal, nor would he elaborate on
the rvidely accepted larger perspective of organised tourism for a
big spurt in intemational arrivals. It is a multi-dinrensiorral
tourism product magnificent in its sweep and vastly v.-rriegated irr
its range. Yet if in that competitive environment it has not been
able to pull even a million genuine visitors from the originating
markets the farrlt is not ',a'ith thc procluct but with the
infrastnrcture', promotion, marketing and the lack of political will
to persuade.
Incidentally, tourism analysts nrairrt:rin that thc nurnlrcr of gcnrrint.
tourists is far less than the offici.rl figures releasetl bv thc trxrrisrn
ministry. For instance, it is clainred that last year 1.8 nrillion people
visited India. Take out those who came from across the border to
nreet their relations, dorrb.ie entries of foreign visitors from Ncpal,
short-term business travellers and the figure of genuine tourists
qomts down to half. For these reasons, the pM is right in saying
that India is not a tourist country.
At lhc same time, as a sunrisc intltrstry with its nrtrltiplicr cffcr.t
on iobs an<l ancillaries, tourisnr's potenti.rl cannot be minimise,<i.
It is next only to garments and gcms and jewellery in earning
foreign exchange at the present lcvel of arrivals. One planning
Comnrission working group proiection is that tourism corrld
underwrite India's entire import bill if only the country could
rlraw as many tourists as Thailant{ does. This calls for priority
attention to some of the requirements for enhancing the qualitv of
tlrt' product and making it globally conrpetitive.
'frrrc, thc PM acknowledged that tourism is important br.rt
qrralificd thc stat.mt'nt to sav that it was not that important,
whate..,er it mea Nobody lvould dispute that basic neerJs like
health, educati.' ,rnd shelter, which would enrich the' qualit,r, of
life of thc peopl.' shotrld get a lower priority than tourism.
()n thr: other hantl, totrrisnt development should be
expt:ctec.l kr
provirk-. rcsourccs for frrnding the basic needs. Which onlv points
kl tht.cerrtral rc'ltvancc of torrrisnr which can open ltp rtrarrv
trackward areas.
(it:rtainly; the use. of thc concerpt of "islancls of afflrrencc in a sea
of povcrty " to disnriss the torrrism infrastrrrcfure is going against
the crrrnrnt economic trends. For once the tnurist is no outcast. A
leisure traveller travels fnr leisure and corrld be proviCed with the
comforts he is willing to pay for.
a Titday's tourist, it should be acknowletlged, is vr.rv scnsitir.e to
environment and is keen on value additions. The elderly still come
in large numbers. The I,M himself is keen on charters
supplcmcnting pilgrim facilitation. What is good for the pilgrims
should be equallv good for the leisure traveller.
Surprisingly the PM was silent on the circtrmstances which
aftended on the worst times for Indian tourism. IIe was content
with insisting on the obvious. There should he an emphasis on
domestic tourism. Only i0?2" of the poptrlalion travel_s for holiday.
India has sevcml festivals and fairs which should be made.
poptrlar. Clverceas scholars shorrld be given special attention.
Thcre should he prese.ntation of India's cultural heritage and
sophistication likc charterc be brorrght into pilgrim movements.
These are nitty gritty to anyone who enters thc'travel business and
sttPr'r flttorts to bo ru1"r.',t to those engagcd for tong in hringing
tourisls r,r'ith varied interests into the country.
'l-hc ['M brackctt'tl
these simple truisms rvith the observation that
India, unlike some other desfinations, is not a tourist countrv. I.le
went on to explain that India did not depend on tourism for its
sur'":ival, as some others did. l{e ctid not name those countries.
To sav that some other countries wholly survive on tourism
rlocsrr't take one anywhelq. In any event, the competing
destination in the region like those in East Asia and South East
Asia h"rve much more than tourist attractions to placr-. them among
tirc Asian Tigers. In fact, tourism in these countries has followed
ihe.ir tronomic development. This is not to suggest that lndia
should wait for a similar stahrs.
Ilvcn if the I'M rlirl ttrt givc rrrv solr trr thr. t()rtr operators. thev
rcmained excited that he had f<rtrnd time for thenr. It shotrld be
said in all faimess to the organisers that the business sessions
rr:allv did get down to tackling serious issues. Manv qtrestions
wcrt'asked though answers were not available.
IO
Onc of thcse' was why there has becn no study of the strcngths
and weaknesses of the Indian market. How come India docs not
figure in either the top 20 destinations or among the top 20
earners. With finance no longer being a problem, how is it that the
infrastructure remains inadequate. Even in respect of domestic
torrrism, the traveller does not get the same entitlement for a
rr.asonable tariff on the palace on wheels and similar trairrs.
L)rrnrestic tourism is the most stabilizing factor in the industry. A
pr()per aviation policy with due stress on increased seirt
availability internationally and on domestic services as well as
strengthening of airports in off-beat places is yet to be formulated.
Donrestic tourism is the most stable element and a good cushiolr
for anv shortfall in foreign arrivals.
Some rvelcome trends on thc lndian tourisrn scene have shown
uit. There is a greater expansion of regional airlines like NEPC irr
> 80226 - (F21)
l\onten and HIV/AIDS - An lnternational Resource Book by Marge
Berer with Sunanda Ray
l'his book is for evcryonc who wants to know morc about
HIV/AIDS and women internationally, including women,
rvomen's organisations; women's health and reproductive
health activists, researchers and service providers;
policymakers, human rights organisations, educations,
journalists and those working in intemational development;
as wr.ll as IIIV/AIDS activists and professionals.
Thr. first ten chapters summarise factual information and explore
metiical and social issues and dilemmas. The next two chapters
contain personal histories, descriptions of self-help groups,
HIV/AIDS proiects and organisations for women in each region
ancl their work in advocacy, education, prevention and services.
Also contains a selection of local, national, regional and
international groups and organisations involved in work on the
isstre, their activities and resources.
Pultished by Pandora Press, 77-85 Fulham Palace Road,
llammersnrith, London W6 8JB, 1993, 1-383 pp. US $22.W.
D Aootz* - (F21)
l'/rt' .Skrrr Trnde - A Specinl Rcporl by Margot Hornblower
Ftx'rling on ciisparities in wealth, the collapse of communism and
incre;rsed mobiliry the traffic in flesh is a horror of exploitation
tir.rt shame.s the world's conscience.
Prrl'lrslrr'ri I'V TIME, fune 21, 1993, 14-25pp.
)> Aoea8. - (Fzt)
Ittlernntittna! S.rTrnprrsirln on Traffc in Human Bcings by INTERPOL
Details on the proceedings of the
Symposium along with the
recommendations made to the member countries to improve the
exchange of information on individuals and orgarrisations, who
are knou'n or suspecte.d to be involvecl in illegal activities relating
to prostihrtion. Septembe'r 1988. l-ltt pp.
b Ao6Bt* - (Fzo)
Atrocilies on Dolit Commntity and Dalit Women - Mensures lo
thcm by Prema Shantha Kumari
the south and Archana in the. north, corrsrrmer protrction was
another subjcct that exerciscd the delegates who have now to
accept the stringent norms laid down hv the originating countries.
Thcy are required to providt all tlrat is pronrist'd nnll tur promise
onlv what can be delivered.'l'he tour opcrators havt'their own
dcnrands kxr. Ther vehemencc with rvhich thcy advocate and the
nuanccs thcy stressed only hcightened the reservations among key
s€gments of the industry. They followed up the demand for
exporters status with. a claim that hoteliers should not directly
contract with overseas parties or for that matter suomoto, claim
share of tht' foreign exchange tax benefits.
'Ihc chief gucst in whrrse prr:scnc(' sorn(, of the
dt'mant-ls wcrc.
voiced, preftrred not to make a refercnce to them in his address.
Still, thcy were very vocal in hailing the Prime Minister as the hero
and his presence as historic. I
"Violence against innocent women is a national shame more
against the unarmed helpless Dalit women to our civilisation and
culture. The women organisations must be able to publicise the
issue through hand bills posters, cultural activities, protest
demonstrations etc to win the s1'mpathy of the gender sensitivity.
publishcd lry women org,anisation for
l.iberation and
Devclopment, 15, PanamPet lload, Ural Karaimc'du, Villrrpuram
- 505 602, Thmil Nadu, 1994,1-8 pp.
F Aoosg" - (F2l)
'litffickirtg on Women - A Regionnl Problcm by Anita Dey
'The trafficking in women fronr Bangladesh to India and
Pakistan and thcn on to the Middle East is a phenomenon that
has gainecl prominence in thc last ten ycar. A more hdpful rvav
in which this topic could be approached is bv looking at it as part
of labour agitation and to address thc i,ssue from this angle"-
PP - '21,1993, 1-2 pp.
> A0707* - (Fzr)
Proslilutittn - Solrcititrc for Clnnge
(a) C'harts a hiskrrv ()f preiudi(.:cs .rg,:rinst prostittrtion (t)) (:hil(l
Prostitution is an emotivc issutt (c) 'l'he eciitor suggcsts a simpk.
r,r'av throrrpih thr. moral morass to the srrblect wlrich pr,rdrrics
strong opinions and much corrfusion (tl) l)nrstitution & thc l,arv
- The Facts (e) The Wcrrld Clrarter for Prostitrrtes' Rights, etc.
publislrcd I'y NEW INTEITNATIONALIST, Fcbruary
t99"1, l-3r,pp.
Womcu antl'ftrurism f)etnlol,rtu,nt - Iirunsul itr f'trus Winter Issue
1993 Nurnber Ten
Tirrrrislrr (-orrccrn, Frochcl (irlle'gc, Rochampkrn L_.rnc, Lontlorr
SWl5 sI'U
curb ,T
Tlrcse nnterinls apnilablc nt EQIIATIONS in photocopies,
11

tAbour Ust
By Us
? Annual General Bady Meeting
1995 marks the tenth vear of existence of EQUATIONS.
It was held
on27 May 1995 which was later followed by a small get-together
of family and friends of EQUATIONS.
3 Workshop on Alternatiaes to Mainstream
Tburism
Whilt' EQUATIONS in the last few years had ge.nerally
away from the discussions of Altematives in Tourism, and as we
had pressures from within the community to raise such issues,
EQUATIONS as a response held this Workshop on Altematives to
Mainstream Tourism at Mysore from 9-12 lune 1995. tn ill there
were about 25 participants both from within India and abroad. A
report of the workshop is in this ANLefter and the paperc that
were presented at the meeting are available at EQUATIONS.
3 Wbrkshop on Sustoinoble & Equitable
Tourism Initiatives in Himoahal Pradesh
EQUATIONS, the Spiti Ti:urism Management Society, the State
Council for Science, Technology & Environment - Shimla and the
International Centre for lntegrated Mountain Development,
Kathmandu are jointly organising the workshop in October at
Shimla. The purpose of this workshop is to bring into focus a large
number of case'studies of issues in tourism in Himachal Pradeslr
with specific reference to Spiti, Kinnaur & Dharamsala.
3 East Coast Road. (ECR) fiIm
EQUATIONS is prodr.rcing this film to frrcus on the 737 km stretch
of land from Madras to Kanyakumari. The film caphrres the use
and abuse of land on either siCe. of the new road, problerns of the
people affected in the region, the mtrshrooming of shrimp
farming, chemical factories and resorts. The film is in its final stage
readv for editing and other studio works. Earlier in ]uly the rough
shots were brotrght to EQUATIONS and six days of intense
viewing to prepare the cue-sheets, storv line etc was carrie.d or.rt.
4n
-. tr@lneesnlp
Sanclra van der Bilt, a student fnrm the Netherlands fn5f1l,rla.of
Tourism and Transport Shldies complcted her traineeship v,'itlr
UQUATIONS from March to ftrne to leam more about thc'cftir-t.
of torrrism and EQUATIONS perspectives on these issues. 5l'r.
vvorked on the European Community Policy looking sperificaih,
at the guidelines for tour operators/consumer protrrtion ancl
analysed them in relation to the lndian Tourism Policy and the
loopholes in it. As a result of this, "rhe presented a paper at the
Workshop on Altematives to Mainstream Tourism at Mysore to
arrive at plans/guidelines for a more sensitive form of tourism.
Sandra van der Bilt also helped in organising the workshop itself
and then rnaking a comprehensive report of the workshop. She
successfully completed her traineeship in June.
.rb|Et!dt'yEq'4btd.Trunm()pnrr(F.QUATKNS)l68.8thM.inR64l}ehintkdiENpr(.h'l1llar'y.l|rtt'IN)|APhno{!5E2lt]l,Fax0t|
cablet]QUA1Ic^E.rhg'&[it(utbysaa'eqva'Il|ustEti6byl}@ni|tgb9hanlTt1H{h!\i!h.|\j,t$1fks.wi(c,&q4r!n560fBPhnt334{592a'drnnttdbyiryaPdn
3 Dethi uisit
In lune K T Suresh and Basavarai tlebballi visited the Ministries
of Tourism and Environment & Forests. This was part of the
follow-rrp to the on-going discussions on variorrs issues.
? Reuiew Meeting
This meeting was held as an internal process within EQUATIONS
from 4-8 Iuly 1995. The purpose of this process was
muJti-pronged.
? tlnited Theological College
stayed An awareness session helcl for the students tlf thc Unitcd
Theological Colle:".: at EQUATIONS. K T Suresh spoke to them
about various : t's in tourism.
? visits
Adv. Mario Pinto Alme.ida now nrcmber of EQUATIONS ftrciety
visitcd us in June. The staff of EQUATIONS discussed in a meeting
with him on the Coastal Regulation Zone about the existing
loopholes in the regulafions. The outcome of the meeting was the
need to determine and define the Coastal Regulation Zone.
Charles Camara - Ph.D student from the University of Stockholm
& Alex Perreira - Consultant to W<lodlands Network, Sri Lanka
visited us.
I
| .?nt'lon* l.ct /rhet 6*/pt,
Dcar Sir,
Thank vorr verv nrtrch for sending mc a copy of yonr
i\Nl,ctter \.irlrrme 3 issue 3, Janrrary, 1995. In the name of
'krrrrisrn, u'e must not and, I repcat, we must not destroy tht'
culhrre and character of tlre people when tourism is being
forced down tl'rrough the gullets of the people. See in this
Lrrnncctiolr rvhat is happening in Goa, All the rich hotcliers
.t11' t;-ying lo 1r,i't i,r strangleholcl over (loa, - a place which
lras lrardlv ir 1'roptrlation of l0 lakhs. Scnn, in the process,
( o.l rvill lose its inrrocence and senst'of hospitatility. This is,
Jl,rrnrl tc happen in thc islands of the Indian Ocean as well
as in Andanran & Nicobar Islands. For the sake of monev,
wr: cannot sll6lv spread of unregulated tourism.
Adr'. Gobincla Mukhoty
Peoplcs Union for Demcrcratic Rights
Nt'w Delhi