Editorial: Tourism - A Vital Force for Peace

October-November 2002

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.
To download a pdf copy of the magazine click here: > DOWNLOAD

by Alan Wilson

Cover Photo: ‘Blissed in Belize’ Photo: Leisure Works Images/Global Adventures

Up until September 2001, the world's biggest industry was tourism, at nearly $5 trillion per year. In the year 2000 alone, after a decade of amazing growth, tourism grew at 7.4% to reach almost 700 million international tourism arrivals.

During all this time WaveLength was working hard to make ecotourism a bigger part of the whole-showcasing paddling-based ecotourism as a model of sustainability, demonstrating its sensitivity to environments, wildlife and indigenous cultures.

The fact that tourism had become the biggest industry on this planet was an enormous source of hope to me after the dark days of the Cold War when the arms trade had been the pinnacle of world commerce.

While some forms of the recent growth in tourism are less than admirable-such as cruise ship travel with all its associated pollution-the dedication by governments of large wild spaces in the '90s (parks, preserves, refuges) was very heartening.

"When the world finally figures out that standing forests are worth more than logbooms," I thought, "things are really going to change around here!"

Then came September 11th. Travel fell off sharply and only part of the lost ground has been recovered. The figures aren't all in yet but I wouldn't doubt that tourism has been bumped from top spot by the resurgence of military spending as fear and violence have increased around the world.

This is obviously the wrong direction. The World Tourism Organization says it best: "Tourism represents a vital force for peace and a factor of friendship and understanding among the peoples of the world". We want more tourism, not less.

We also need to understand the impacts of tourism declines for under-developed countries around the world. The employment created by tourism is of great strategic importance, particularly in countries that have few alternatives for job creation.

Fortunately, the adventure traveler sector is among those least likely to be adversely affected by current fears. Adventure travelers are used to risks and are looking for experiences which involve contact with other cultures and environments.

These people exemplify the best of travel, attempting to learn from other cultures, helping to create strong local economies which value preservation of natural environments and wildlife. And best of all, adventure travel is... well, an adventure! Who knew that working for peace could be this much fun?