Wanted: tourists with a social conscience

Ordinary Third World people (as opposed to the élites) find tourism in its present form highly exploitative and socially damaging, a new form of imperialism. It is characterised by gross economic disparities between tourist and host, racism and the flouting of economic and social rights of communities. A global code of ethics will only tinker with the problem, the roots of which lie in a profit driven system which disregards social costs. The beginnings of a new, just tourism order requires governments to provide basic protection to powerless communities and their environment, and Christian churches to exercise moral authority to bring about justice. Above all, Northern tourists and their NGOs need to develop solidarity networks with the poorer communities, help fund community projects and think of ways of encouraging reciprocal flows from South to North.