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FernWeh - Forum Tourismus & Kritik / Tourism ReviewIn January 1999 the Third World Information Centre (iz3w) in Freiburg, Germany, began a new project. It is concerned with the controversial debate over the socio-cultural, economic and ecological impacts of rapidly growing tourism in Third World countries. The Project FernWeh is meant to serve as a forum for critical views on tourism with special emphasis on the interchange of perspectives and ideas between people and organisations from tourist destinations and people from countries in Europe. FernWeh is co-financed by the European Commission and part of the non-profit organisation iz3w.During the past 25 years there has been considerable concern about depletion of natural resources, social instability, violation of human rights and cultural sell-out related to tourism. Statistical projections show a remarkable increase in international arrivals. In view of an undeniable ceaseless longing for travelling and barefaced commercialisation of alien cultures, the growth rate underlines the need for measures to stop unfair tourism and to avoid unsustainable development of tourism activities. The overall objective of FernWeh is to raise and reinforce public awareness of the many problems related to tourism in Third World destinations. We will actively co-operate with groups from the South and from the North to offer a platform for information, discussion and experience exchange. The aim will be to foster the critical debate about tourism and to reflect on the various problems linked to different forms of eco-tourism and the more recently discussed options of sustainable tourism development in Third World countries. Our special fields of interest: Tourism in the context of development assistance / Gender and Tourism / Racism and tourism / Tourism and biological diversity Apart from these particular subjects various contributions dealing with derogatory views on tourism in the broadest sense will be treated in the context of global policies. Power and equality in tourism can hardly be discussed without looking at the role of the economic, political and cultural environments of people who travel and those who live in tourist destinations. Thus, there is a strong need to reinforce and to consolidate the ongoing debate especially with regard to the financial power of the rapidly growing tourism industry. One important objective is to intensify and broaden discussion and co-operation with organisations and groups located within the destination areas, especially with local communities. Organisations (NGO) and groups concerned with development policies and environmental or social issues on an international or local basis are our main discussion partners. This includes professionals and relevant research and training institutions with a certain focus on critical perspectives on tourism. Due to the globalisation of economic conditions and in view of the multicultural societies travelling will certainly prove to be an ordinary part of the education system and an indispensable qualification for employment for young people. We therefore see youth being one of our main target groups. Teaching material for primary and secondary schools will be designed and a brochure for young people is published in June 2000. File copies and records from our specialist tourism archive will be sent on request. Seminars and workshops on special issues concerning tourism are held for interested persons, for development experts and for the public, partly in co-operation with other organisations and initiatives. Kronenstrasse 16 a D - 79020 Freiburg Germany e-mail: fernweh-iz3w@t-online.de |
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