Putting Tourism to Rights A challenge to human rights abuses in the tourism industry A report by Tourism Concern Written and researched by Jenny Eriksson, Rachel Noble, Polly Pattullo and Tricia Barnett Putting Tourism to Rights: a challenge to human rights abuses in the tourism industry Written and researched by Jenny Eriksson, Rachel Noble, Polly Pattullo and Tricia Barnett Published by Tourism Concern, October 2009 ISBN 0 9528567 2 7 Special thanks to Patrick Hourmant, Jade Robinson and Shahab Salehi Cover photo: An everyday experience for the Kayan – a photo opportunity for the tourists. ©Shahab Salehi Tourism Concern is a campaigning organisation founded in 1989 to fight exploitation in tourism, particularly in developing countries. It aims to promote greater understanding of the impact of tourism on environments and host communities, to raise awareness of the forms of tourism that respect the rights and interests of people living in tourism destinations, to promote tourism that is just, sustainable and participatory, to work for change in current tourism practices, and to enable tourist and travellers to travel with critical insight and understanding. This publication has been supported by CAFOD and the Joel Joffe Trust. Printed by Lithosphere www.lithosphere.co.uk on CyclusPrint - a 100% recycled paper supplied by Paperback www.paperback.coop Putting Tourism to Rights A challenge to human rights abuses in the tourism industry Contents Abbreviations...............................................................................................................4 Introduction.................................................................................................................5 The human rights conventions.....................................................................................6 The right to freedom of movement...............................................................................7 The right to land and natural resources........................................................................9 Case study: Water – Thirst wars.................................................................................11 The rights of indigenous peoples...............................................................................13 The right to compensation.........................................................................................15 The right to social progress and development...........................................................16 Case study: The tsunami of tourism – Riding the wave ..............................................19 The right to health and well-being..............................................................................21 The right to dignity, respect and privacy ....................................................................23 Case study: The Kayan – Human zoos........................................................................26 The rights of the child ................................................................................................30 The right to work .......................................................................................................32 Case study: Burma – Land of beauty, land of fear.......................................................34 The right to leisure.....................................................................................................37 Case study: Climate change – To fly or not to fly?......................................................38 The role of the major players .....................................................................................39 • UN World Tourism Organisation......................................................................39 • Destination governments .................................................................................40 • The UK Government.........................................................................................40 • UK tour operators ............................................................................................41 • Hotels..............................................................................................................42 • NGOs ...............................................................................................................43 • Tourists ...........................................................................................................44 • The media ........................................................................................................44 Conclusion ................................................................................................................45 Recommendations ....................................................................................................46 Bibliography ..............................................................................................................48 Abbreviations BIS UK Department for Business, ILO International Labour Organisation Innovation and Skills KPAP Kilimanjaro Porters’ Assistance BCUK Burma Campaign UK Project CORE Corporate Responsibility Coalition MDG Millennium Development Goals COHRE Centre on Housing Rights NLD National League for Democracy and Evictions (Burma) DCMS UK Department for Culture, Media SPDC State Peace and Development and Sport Council (Burma) DEFRA UK Department for Environment, ST-EP Sustainable Tourism – Eliminating Food and Rural Affairs Poverty DFID UK Department for International TNC Transnational corporation Development UDHR Universal Declaration of Human ECPAT End Child Prostitution, Child Rights Pornography and the Trafficking of UNDP United Nations Development Children Programme ECOSOC United Nations Economic & Social UNESCO United Nations Educational, Council Scientific and Cultural Organisation EU European Union UNHCR United Nations High Commissioner FCO UK Foreign and Commonwealth for Refugees Office UNWTO United Nations World Tourism FEEO Federation of Environmental and Organisation Ecological Organisations (Cyprus) USAID United States Agency for GDP Gross domestic product International Development GSTC Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria ICESCR International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights 4 Introduction The pleasure principle profound disconnect persists in the minds of the tourist map during this time, with many of these in governments, industry and international donor the developing world. A agencies when it comes to addressing the So what does this mean for human rights? Clearly, human rights dimensions of the global tourism indus- tourism has the potential to generate enormous social try – the largest and fastest growing services industry and economic benefits for destination countries. There in the world. Their primary focus remains on is, on paper at least, an increasing recognition of the tourism’s potential to generate economic growth, need for tourism to be developed sustainably, which which has meant unfettering the sector from rules and means generating long-term benefits for the people, nat- regulations that might hinder its rapid expansion. This ural environments and economies in the areas in which is particularly true where developing countries are it takes place (George and Varghese, 2007). Tourism concerned. Plagued by high unemployment and debt, has also been highlighted as an important contributor but rich in cheap labour and unspoilt landscapes, to the achievement of the Millennium Development many governments see tourism as the panacea to their Goals (MDGs) in relation to poverty alleviation, economic woes. Yet while tourism may swell environmental sustainability and gender equity. the national coffers, countless numbers of people – However, tourism is a competitive, resource-hun- particularly those who are already vulnerable and poor gry industry, which is often highly exploitative. – have their basic human rights violated as a direct International hotel chains and operators jostle to result of tourism’s growth, exacerbating their poverty expand and out-price each other, and cash-strapped and trapping them in a cycle of deprivation. governments compete to attract business by offering More than 60 years have passed since the United cheap land and tax free investment, often comple- Nations (UN) introduced the Universal Declaration of mented by weak labour laws. This places constant Human Rights (UDHR). The UN defines these as: pressure on those at the bottom of the tourism supply chain – the maids, porters, cooks and drivers, as well as ‘…those rights which are inherent in our nature the inhabitants of the land and ecosystems earmarked and without which we cannot live as human beings. for tourism development. Given this scenario, They are rights which enable people to fully develop it is imperative that governments, including the UK and utilise their innate qualities, such as intelligence Government and industry players, incorporate and and talent, and satisfy deeper needs, such as spiritu- explicitly address the human rights implications of ality. Human rights are the foundation for the quality of tourism in policy dialogues and debates on sustainable life in which each individual’s inherent dignity and development. worth will receive due respect and protection.’ This report exposes the violations of human rights that have occurred as a direct result of tourism through The right to freedom of movement is enshrined in an examination of key articles of the UDHR and Article 13 of the Declaration, reflecting our ancient, subsequent UN declarations.