CONFIDENCE BUILDING MEASURES 4

Leading to the official Launching of TESS on Saturday 23rd February 2008.

Re-Activating the Eco-Tourism process

Measure No. 4 of 25 (In no particular order)

FOR THE COMMUNITY AND BY THE COMMUNITY
“Turning Possibilities into Realities”

Cultural Tourism – Adding More Value

Article 2 of the Global Code of Ethics of the World Tourism Organization UNWTO states and I quote:-

“Tourism, the activity most frequently associated with rest and relaxation, sports and access to culture and nature, should be planned and practised as a privileged means of individual and collective fulfilment, when practised with a sufficiently open mind. It is an irreplaceable factor of self education, mutual tolerance and for learning about the legitimate differences, between peoples and cultures and their diversity”.

Consequently, it is further evidence that “Travel for purposes of religion, health, education and cultural or linguistic exchanges are particularly beneficial forms of tourism, which deserve encouragement”.

In this respect “tourism policies and activities should be conducted with respect for the artistic, archaeological and cultural heritage, which they should protect and pass on to future generations”.

“Particular care should be devoted to preserving monuments, shrines and museums as well as archaeological and historic sites which must be widely open to tourist visits”.

“Encouragement should be given to public access to privately – owned cultural property and monuments, with respect for the rights of their owners, as well as to religious buildings, without prejudice to the normal needs of worship”.

“Tourism activity should be planned in such a way as to allow traditional cultural products, crafts and folklore to survive and flourish rather than causing them to degenerate and become standardized”.

“Local population should be associated with tourism activities and share equitably in the economic, social and cultural benefits they generate and particularly in the creation of direct and indirect jobs resulting from them”.

Observation

In my view what we are talking about here is the recognition of the concept of Modern Tourism, where success is measured not just in terms of Tourism income but also by the application of environment and society conscious approaches.

Our task therefore, is to continuously encourage travel that is not only exciting and enjoyable but above all that educates travellers to ways they can help preserve the multi ethnic, multicultural and multifaceted society of the unique Seychelles Islands of ours.



Marc MRM Marengo