Need for responsible tourism
Tuesday, 3 June 2008
DISCOVERING Bangladesh is surely enlightening. Henceforth, it would be challenging. With tourism taking its toll on the flora, fauna and cultural identity of exotic Bangladesh, local populace across tourism pockets of the country should extend the onus of sustainability of the destinations on visiting tourists through responsible tourism.
This will certainly mean that the next time tourists should not be allowed to litter, waste food or try chasing a wild beast during one of their visits to the destination. There would be chances they will end up being rebuffed and even will pay penalty for messing around.
Taking a leaf out of ecotourism and rural tourism, where tourism is made sustainable with participation of stakeholders, responsible tourism will be bringing into its fold tourists to ensure longevity of the essence of the region.
The entry of motor vehicles to check pollution should be banned in all hill stations. The hotel and motel owners in drinkable water-scarce places of Rangamati, Sylhet and the Saint Martin's should ask tourists to keep a check on water usage.
The authorities concerned should be teamed up to check poaching of wildlife. Tourist guides will be also careful to make tourists responsible. Not just a public awareness, but also the government has to be proactive to promote responsible tourism.
God's-own Bangladesh, for instance, has to identify the Sundarbans, the Saint Martin's and Cox's Bazar including all environment-sensitive prime tourist hot-spots as responsible tourism destinations. Workshops and seminars on responsible tourism have to be organised that must put forth a call for action to all the stakeholders in tourism.
Right away, we need to begin implementing the concept especially in the Sundarbans and the Saint Martin's where stake holders - union parishad, self-help groups, traders, property holders, and even tour operators - should be sensitized about the gist of responsible tourism.
On the eve of World Environment Day on June 5, majority hotels of destinations need to ask their guests to go easy on water, food and electricity.
Although responsible tourism is in its nascent stage, there will be a growing realization among policymakers that until stakeholders are made accountable in the process, tourism would not survive for long.
Mohammad Shahidul Islam
National Hotel and Tourism Training Institute,
Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation
E-mail:mohd-s-islam@myway.com
This will certainly mean that the next time tourists should not be allowed to litter, waste food or try chasing a wild beast during one of their visits to the destination. There would be chances they will end up being rebuffed and even will pay penalty for messing around.
Taking a leaf out of ecotourism and rural tourism, where tourism is made sustainable with participation of stakeholders, responsible tourism will be bringing into its fold tourists to ensure longevity of the essence of the region.
The entry of motor vehicles to check pollution should be banned in all hill stations. The hotel and motel owners in drinkable water-scarce places of Rangamati, Sylhet and the Saint Martin's should ask tourists to keep a check on water usage.
The authorities concerned should be teamed up to check poaching of wildlife. Tourist guides will be also careful to make tourists responsible. Not just a public awareness, but also the government has to be proactive to promote responsible tourism.
God's-own Bangladesh, for instance, has to identify the Sundarbans, the Saint Martin's and Cox's Bazar including all environment-sensitive prime tourist hot-spots as responsible tourism destinations. Workshops and seminars on responsible tourism have to be organised that must put forth a call for action to all the stakeholders in tourism.
Right away, we need to begin implementing the concept especially in the Sundarbans and the Saint Martin's where stake holders - union parishad, self-help groups, traders, property holders, and even tour operators - should be sensitized about the gist of responsible tourism.
On the eve of World Environment Day on June 5, majority hotels of destinations need to ask their guests to go easy on water, food and electricity.
Although responsible tourism is in its nascent stage, there will be a growing realization among policymakers that until stakeholders are made accountable in the process, tourism would not survive for long.
Mohammad Shahidul Islam
National Hotel and Tourism Training Institute,
Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation
E-mail:mohd-s-islam@myway.com