Tourism as a means to peace and humanity

by Fr. W.D.G. Chrispin Leo, National Coordinator for the Episcopal Commission of Tourism

The Catholic Church has established a Pontifical Commission for Migrants, Tourists and Pilgrimages and Shrines as a priority in its apostolic ventures. In keeping with the trend of thought of the Universal Church the Sri Lankan Bishops' Conference too has a National Episcopal Commission appointed to participate in this apostolate.

The mission is to be of service to tourists and those involved in the tourism industry to be promoters of human and cultural values, peace and harmony, friendships and solidarity among nations ensuing relaxation and creating a healthy mind and body.

The month of September is a very special month world over as it celebrates World Tourism Day on September 27th. We are living in a global village where crossing the continents has become so easy due to advanced aircraft technology and communication.

Today unlike in the past, the demands of the tourists are far and wide. With the advent of the network society in the recent past, tourism has become very competitive among all countries. Every country tries to promote its image to attract tourists and regrettably sometimes at the expense of morals and dignity of persons.

It is important to safeguard and highlight our culture and values, or dignity and decorum, our natural resources and environment. Our cultural background and the hospitable nature of our people have been our asset in the past in drawing the tourists to our country. Exploitation of our children and women should be prevented.

According to the Oxford Dictionary a tourist is a person who is travelling or visiting a place for pleasure. However today even businessmen or visitors to relatives or pilgrims do have an aspect of joy and pleasure. Therefore the word tourist means a person who stays out of his normal place of stay overnight. Accordingly even a pilgrim too can fall into this category.

In Third World countries the ordinary people go on pilgrimages as a change from the routine and it becomes a holiday and a religious experience. Therefore it is important for us to be of service to them as well provide information not only of the pilgrim destination but of cultural and historical centers in the area. Today as we talk about alternative tourism we have to have this aspect in mind.

Last December unfortunately the tourism industry was affected by the tsunami which devastated this region. However we have recovered to a great extent following the example from other countries which have faced similar natural setbacks.

Tourism industry is seen as a key foreign exchange earner and a means of socio-economic development in our country. The hospitality trade stretches through the length and breadth of the country creating a lot of employment both directly and indirectly to thousands of people.

The potentiality to bring understanding and reconciliation, peace and harmony among peoples and nations cannot be ignored in spite of some shortcomings in the industry. While we are aware of the advantages and disadvantages of tourism it is important for us to maximize the good and minimize its evil.

We could focus our attention on the following so as to promote a healthy and valuable service to the tourist industry wishing our island to be the "Pearl of the Indian Ocean" even in the field of tourism.

By organizing interactive programmes for tourists and those involved in the tourism industry to build their awareness of cultural and religious values and customs.

By organising programmes for tourists to benefit physically, spiritually, and culturally from their (sojourns) visits to our country while safeguarding our eco friendly environment.

By educating the local people especially those involved in the tourism industry of the good and evil effects of tourism so as to minimize moral evils and maximize social good.

By promoting hospitality and solidarity among all ensuing fraternal relationships among peoples of all nations and diverse backgrounds.

It was heartening to hear the Commonwealth Tourism Ministers pledging to use tourism to fight poverty and boost economic development within the Commonwealth countries at a meeting held in Abuja, Nigeria. They emphasized the importance of the tourism sector as a means to reduce poverty through rural tourism and eco-tourism. As Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the tourism industry, they proposed.

To place tourism on the national and international agenda as a catalyst for poverty reduction, particularly at the community level.

To minimize the damage caused by the natural calamities such as tsunamis, hurricanes, or cyclones to the tourism industry. Anura Bandaranaike the Minister of Tourism of Sri Lanka, emphasized the importance of collective action to assist in the development of early warning systems and in disaster preparedness, relief and recovery for all countries.

To ensure that tourism development is appropriately sensitive to the needs of women and other vulnerable groups in society.

To support the creation of a Commonwealth Tourism Centre in Malaysia to boost information flows, build capacity and enhance promotion initiatives.

To seek to ensure that security upgrades for tourism are accompanied by parallel action to travel facilitation including improved passenger handling at all entry points.

To intensify their initiatives for fair travel advisories which ensure that information is accurate, geographically focused and frequently reviewed by governments at both ends of the markets.

To place capacity building at the top of their priorities for development funding with a strong focus on triple bottom line sustainability, performance and quality service.

Today active tourism is a new travelling philosophy that combines adventure, eco-tourism and cultural aspects of a discovery tour. Active tourism is divided into recreation, education and benefits to the traveller. Our Episcopal Commission for Tourism will be happy to promote these goals as they fall within our mission and vision for tourism.