TerraCurve.com: Go beyond green. | Responsible travel news, places, people and events.

Now Trending:

Help Save ‘Tourism Concern’

Read more about: , , , , , , ,

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.

View Comments

More like this:

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 Kristen Geis.

You can also connect with other eco-minded travelers, businesses and events by joining the Responsible Travel LinkedIn and Facebook groups.

View Comments »

  1. [...] News Sources wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptWith 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 o [...]

  2. [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Travelography News and Linking U to travel, Hotel Dunn Inn. Hotel Dunn Inn said: http://bit.ly/BbBK8 Help Save 'Tourism Concern' : TerraCurve.com.. http://tinyurl.com/yjjymo2 http://bit.ly/BbBK8 [...]

Comment on this

blog comments powered by Disqus

Subscribe Airlines and Transportation

Latest Headline

Can flight paths and procedures help burn less fuel? A recent Alaska Airlines ‘Greener Skies’ test flight that burned less fuel, made less noise and reduced emissions by 35%, as compared to conventional flights. Full story

Subscribe Products and Services

Latest Headline

New adventure travel site launches to help “Book the Adventure of a Lifetime” A new online booking site, AvidTrips.com, has just launched a public BETA in an effort to establish a “next generation online adventure travel marketplace.” Full story

Subscribe Society and Lifestyle

Latest Headline

Boeing helps Haiti rebuild, schools are top priority A Boeing contribution of $900,000 will help support the reconstruction of Haiti’s public education system – bringing the company’s financial dedication to recovery efforts for the small nation effected by January’s earthquake to a whopping $2.3 million. Full story
-->
Brighter Planet Eco Green Hotel Go Green Expo NaturCert