Role of tourism in post conflict development
Dileep MUDADENIYA
According to former UN Secretary General Boutros-Ghali in the 'Agenda
for Peace', post-conflict peace building is an "action to identify and
support structures which will tend to strengthen and solidify peace in
order to avoid a relapse into conflict" (1995).
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The tourism sector has been challenged
to respond to the high demand to develop ‘eco-’
‘responsible’, ‘pro-poor’. |
Post-conflict reconstruction is strongly interlinked with
peace-building activities, and tends to focus on issues related to
physical reconstruction, economic recovery, institution building and
social integration, falling mostly into issue areas of socio-economic
foundations and political framework.
The World Bank defines post-conflict reconstruction as "the
rebuilding of socio-economic frameworks of society" and "the
reconstruction of the enabling conditions for a functioning of peacetime
society, explicitly including governance and the rule of law as
essential components" 1998, in UNDP 2006:4).
The role of tourism
Tourism development can boost economic stability, expand
infrastructure and services, increase foreign currency earnings,
generate both direct and indirect employment and enhance a multiplier
effect to primary and secondary sectors. In addition, it is being seen
as a route to broader development and shared growth, no longer just a
generator of foreign exchange.
The tourism sector has been challenged to respond to the high demand
to develop 'eco-' 'responsible', 'pro-poor', 'volun-' and
'community-based' tourism initiatives and policies.
Despite these developments, there have not been many concrete efforts
to make tourism companies more aware of their impact on conflict.
A form of tourism that focuses on the impacts of violence and
conflict that have impacted society is 'dark tourism'! However, it is
highly controversial as it is perceived as supporting the
commoditization of tragedy and human death.
Socio-economic foundations
As the tourism sector is a labour intensive industry, it could play a
role in peace promotion by: developing inclusive business models,
providing financial and in-kind contributions, promoting environmental
conservation, reconstructing infrastructure, etc
Inclusive business models
Inclusive business models ideally afford local economic opportunities
to the poor as employees, entrepreneurs, suppliers, distributors,
retailers, customers or sources of innovation.
Challenges:
Such projects can be challenging to establish, especially in
determining appropriate profit-sharing structures.
Monetary donations
One approach to contributing towards socio-economic foundations is to
provide financial and in-kind contributions.
Challenges: This brings about a need to better develop implementation
mechanisms so that corruption and financial mismanagement would become
less likely.
Conservation as an economic incentive
Eco-tourism is the marriage between development and conservation. It
is argued that by helping to integrate protected areas into local and
national economies, tourism can provide economic incentives and
justifications for supporting species and habitats.
Challenges:
There is the risk that construction to meet the growing needs of
tourism could lead to environmental degradation and competition over
land as a scarce resource. The use of local materials to build tourism
facilities provides employment but also raises the prices of the
products for the local population.
Physical reconstruction
By making efforts towards infrastructure development that benefit
both tourists and residents alike, the sector has the opportunity to
prevent future conflicts. The construction and maintenance of roads are
particularly relevant for tourism as bad roads restrict access to
markets and reduce income from tourism.
Employment creation
By the end of 2009, tourism in Sri Lanka had generated approximately
100,000 direct jobs and indirect employment through supporting
industries. This has caused small businesses in communities to emerge
and start up income-generating projects. Challenges: While the tourism
sector offers opportunities for the Diaspora returning to Sri Lanka, the
local population who were likely to have been more affected by the
conflict could go ignored. The need for more capacity building in Sri
Lanka in order to develop highly skilled professionals has become
important.
Role of women entrepreneurs in post-conflict tourism
The civil war caused significant loss of the male population. Thus
initiatives that target women as a vulnerable group but also as an
important economic actor are integral to addressing this repercussion of
conflict.
Socio-economic exclusion
While peace-building programs may tend to focus on main ethnic
groups, other minorities may get neglected and segregated from tourism
projects.
Reconciliation and justice
The creation of initiatives that support dialogue and awareness on
the history of conflict allow people to engage with others who have
undergone similar traumas.
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Tour operators can develop tours that
provide the opportunity for tourists to visit a community. |
Challenges: This historical revisionism can influence objective
perspective like in the example of the Gisozi Memorial Centre which is
believed to have only told 'one (Tutsi) side' of the story of the
Rwandan genocide.
History and truth-telling
Tour operators and guides have a large influence over the perception
that tourists have of the country.
Challenges:
The interpretation of the history of conflict remains highly
sensitive and in some cases contested.
Tour operators can develop tours that provide the opportunity for
tourists to visit a community, interact with the people and learn about
their traditional practices.
Political framework
Tour operators can work with their local government to identify
vulnerable communities for community-based tourism projects ensuring
accountability between the two actors and promote information-sharing.
Challenges:
Competition over tourism revenue can lead to corruption instead of
benefiting the communities. Further, people in villages are treated as
'money makers' of tourist attractions when they do not have the
opportunity to any advantages.
There is also the risk that the tour operator would not provide the
people with a fair share of the tourism profits. The tourism sector is
prone to play an important role in establishing post-conflict
socio-economic foundations, reconciliation and justice efforts. This is
based on the capacities of tourism sectors, their interest and
motivations, and the opportunities that they provide.
Efforts should be made to discuss and debate how tourism can support
peace-building activities. A mapping of relevant actors, possible entry
points and negative effects of tourism should also be acknowledged.
Following are the key areas where tourism can play an effective role in
post conflict Sri Lanka.
Employment and training
Develop a process of affirmative action that enables community
members of different classes, ethnicities and backgrounds the
opportunity to have employment. Develop in-house mandatory training as
well as external centres which provide service training alongside
conflict sensitivity practices.
Promote community development and cultural tourism
Inclusive business models, guided community tours and joint-venture
projects need to be further developed with transparency to foster
entrepreneurship.
Image-building
Marketing strategies should emphasize a tourism sector that not only
offers a luxury destination, but also aims to advance peace promoting
activities. It is important for tourism actors to not only focus on
activities that are high-income generators, but are also taking the
population and reconstruction processes into consideration.
Targeting vulnerable groups
Tourism companies can develop activities that cater to the needs and
capacities of specific groups such as women, the youth, ethnic
minorities, promoting engagement such as hiring them as adventure
tourism instructors.
Developing an enabling environment
In order to prevent elite individuals from having superior access to
investments, contracts and tourism licences, efforts should be made to
distribute information and strengthen the legalization process, while
removing bureaucratic barriers.
(The writer is the Quality Assurance, Standards, Investment and Legal
Head at the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority. He has held
numerous positions in the tourism sector and has been involved with Sri
Lanka Tourism for the past 12 years).
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