TerraCurve.com | Responsible Travel, Culture & Lifestyle. | Go Beyond Green.

Now Trending:

Barnes & Noble Deal of the Day

Help Save ‘Tourism Concern’

Responsible tourism advocacy organization Tourism Concern is in danger of closing its doors due to a lack of government funding.

With the global recession affecting all aspects of business and government operations, responsible travel organization Tourism Concern is having a hard time finding the necessary funds to stay in operation.

The organization desperately needs £40,000 – or just over $65,000 – to survive.

“Our core work supports people, particularly in the developing world, whose human rights have been severely impacted by tourism developments,” said Tourism Concern Director Tricia Barnett. “They often have no other recourse to get their problems heard and supported except through us”, says Barnett.

“Without £40,000 we will have to close the door to people all over the world who come to us for help and support. Often they live in fear of reprisals if they speak out about their land or water resources being snatched in the name of a tourism development. Other times they simply need an outside person to give them advice and guidance about how best to manage a difficult situation, such as poor working conditions.”

Tourism Concern, which was founded 20 years ago, has operated many successful campaigns throughout its 2-decade history, including:

  • The Sun, Sand, Sea and Sweatshops campaign – resulted in the UK’s leading tour operators adopting policies on labor conditions for hotels.
  • Trekking Wrongs: Porter’s Rights -  improved the lives of hundreds of porters and their families.
  • Beyond the Brochure – raised awareness of thousands of children about key tourism issues.

The organization’s most recent effort, Putting Tourism to Rights, highlights cases of villagers deprived of water by new hotels and golf courses; indigenous people put on show like animals in a zoo; children exploited by tourism; lack of working rights for hotel staff; and land grabs and environmental erosion caused by unchecked tourism expansion.

Tourism Concern is also working with local groups in India and Sri Lanka to campaign against post-tsunami tourism developments that have resulted in people being forced from their homes and lands. A planned exhibition of stories and photographs.

“Tourism Concern’s tireless promotion of the rights of destination communities has raised the consciousness of the travel industry on these often difficult issues…this valuable contribution would be missed,” said Jane Ashton, head of sustainable development at TUI Travel.

Find out how you can help save Tourism Concern. Contact Tricia Barnett directly:
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7133 3800
Mobile: +44 (0)7896 337 690
Email: tricia@tourismconcern.org.uk

Don’t forget to visit Tourism Concern online at: www.tourismconcern.org.uk to learn more about their organization’s advocacy campaigns.

Read more about: , , , , , , ,

Related posts:

About the Author

Kristen is a student and freelance writer as well as an active member of Greenpeace. She has most notably published journals documenting environmental tourism studies in Fiji, The Galapagos and Costa Rica.

See more contributions (42 so far) from .

You can also connect with other eco-minded people, businesses and events over on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

You might also like:

No related posts found

Airlines and Transportation
Is rail the future of travel?
Airlines make biofuels a priority
Sir Richard Branson: Biofuel research a valuable “Waste” of time
Is this the world’s greenest flight?
Bio-fuel funding gaining ground in the Pacific Northwest (updated)
View all posts in Airlines and Transportation
Awards and Events
Sex trafficking becomes cultural target at this year’s Summer Olympics in London
For Earth Day 2012, help commit a ‘Billion Acts of Green’
Where Mother Nature still reigns supreme
World Tourism Day 2011 officially kicks off
In search of ethical tourism in Spain
View all posts in Awards and Events
Business and Politics
U.S. tourism spending continues to grow amidst a healing economy
Why Aren’t More Bloggers Writing About Responsible Travel?
James Inhofe and the GOP anti-science bias [cross-post]
A global standard for eco-travel is finally recognized
How global travel boom can spark a sustainable economy
View all posts in Business and Politics
Destinations and Tourism
Have your say on what makes a destination ‘sustainable’
Eco friendly ways to travel the globe
A global standard for eco-travel is finally recognized
Responsible Tourism in Rural Northeast Thailand
Peru travel company commits to environmental, social standards
View all posts in Destinations and Tourism
Dining and Recreation
Guinness goes green: Sustainable Travel International awards first eco-certified business in Ireland
How to go green while dining out
How can restaurants in the U.S. get greener?
Have a glass of wine, help save the planet
Kimpton’s ‘Wines That Care’ promotes wineries dedicated to preservation and conservation
View all posts in Dining and Recreation
Green Travel 101
Galapagos Diving – Keeping it Green
How to avoid crowded airports this holiday season
Sustainable cruising with The Galapagos Foundation
How to Protect the Galapagos Islands
10 things you need to know about travel insurance
View all posts in Green Travel 101
Hotels and Accommodations
Berlin’s Radisson Blu offers guests a glimpse into the deep blue sea
Go green with vacation rentals
The Greenest Hotel in the World, Literally
Fair game for Fairmont: on point to hit 20% carbon emission reduction by 2012
Wyndham buys more stuff from ethnically diverse suppliers than anyone else
View all posts in Hotels and Accommodations
Nature and Wildlife
Berlin’s Radisson Blu offers guests a glimpse into the deep blue sea
Saving a Species from Extinction
Incredible Earth time lapse video shows off planetary beauty and wonder
Five years to save Nepal with WWF’s “Green Forests” program
Follow that “Tale”: New “Wild Dolphins” iPad app reveals the real life magic behind the miracle
View all posts in Nature and Wildlife
Products and Services
Green Product Components – The detail unzipped
The softshell on your back…who made it?
A Design for Life: If adventure clothing is built to last, how do brands stay in business?
Ethical Outdoor Gear – a look at the raw materials
One Laptop per Child: Consumerism for…good?
View all posts in Products and Services
Social Sphere Round-Up
Social sphere round-up for December 1, 2011 – World AIDS Day, peak oil, LEED design, and more
Social sphere round-up for November 29, 2011
Social sphere round-up for November 21, 2011
Social sphere round-up for November 16, 2011
Social sphere round-up for November 15, 2011
View all posts in Social Sphere Round-Up
Society and Lifestyle
Sex trafficking becomes cultural target at this year’s Summer Olympics in London
Can you “Live Below the Line” on $1.50 of Food per Day? (video)
United Nations takes on sex trafficking in tourism
Why Aren’t More Bloggers Writing About Responsible Travel?
Discovery Channel pulls climate change programming because we’re all idiots anyway [CROSS-POST]
View all posts in Society and Lifestyle
Tips and Advice
Galapagos Diving – Keeping it Green
How to avoid crowded airports this holiday season
How to Protect the Galapagos Islands
10 things you need to know about travel insurance
Travel Smart: Protect your travels this holiday season
View all posts in Tips and Advice