D+C Development and Cooperation (No. 5, September/October 2000, p. 3)

Most countries in the world, with very few exceptions, compete with each other to get as large a share as possible of the huge cake which is up for distribution. Attracting tourists, especially from beyond the own borders, means foreign exchange earnings and jobs and income for the local people. But the list of possible drawbacks, especially for developing countries, is long: the environment and natural beauty may be harmed by infrastructure and hotel buildings; the intrusion of large numbers of foreigners with little knowledge and respect for the local culture and tradition may cause social tensions; there may be an upsurge of prostitution and sex-related diseases; and the local economy may be disrupted because labour is siphoned off from farming to the tourism sector, and the high purchasing power of tourists may promote inflation.

People concerned over these undesirable side-effects of tourism have, therefore, invented the term of 'soft' tourism - one which would impact less on the society and environment of the host country. The latest catchwords are 'sustainable' tourism or 'eco-tourism' suggesting that tourism can be organised in such a way that it does not harm the environment and local culture. But are we not deceiving ourselves if we believe that tourism in its modern forms can be 'sustainable'? Sustainable according to the widely used definition of the Brundtlandt Commission means "meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs".

This entails, for instance, that we try to avoid the possible effects of climate change which is caused by greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. Tourism, because of the enormous increase in air and road traffic, is a major factor in polluting the atmosphere, increasing CO2 emissions, and damaging the protective ozone layer. Also, increased traffic as a result of tourism uses up additional non-renewal resources such as petrol and kerosene and adds to air pollution in overcrowded cities or in frequented tourist regions. Needless to argue that the term 'sustainable' could hardly be applied in this connection, especially in view of that fact that tourist numbers are going to double in the next 20 years.

Also, tourism is by no means more 'sustainable' if tourists leave their ghettos and begin to interact with the local population. As long as only a few open-minded people seek to submerge themselves in the culture and society of the host country this may lead to more interaction and inter-cultural understanding. But just imagine what would happen if all the Japanese and Americans visiting Paris, Rome or Berlin during the summer would come knocking at the door of local people to learn more about their real life. Or if all the Germans on the beaches of Thailand would decide that travelling with a backpack through the country's villages was more rewarding than staying in a luxurious hotel in Phuket or Pattaya. Then it would soon turn out that such a form of tourism was even less 'sustainable' than organised travel in its present form.

The only truly 'sustainable' form of tourism, therefore, would be to stay at home and to avoid additional resource consumption. For obvious reasons, this is no realistic alternative and, if consistently applied, would lead to a world economic crisis. Instead of using the illusionary term 'sustainable' tourism, we should, therefore, speak more often about 'responsible' tourism. This term implies that we try to keep the negative environmental and cultural impacts of tourism at a minimum while making sure that the benefits go to the poor, especially in developing countries. 'Responsible' tourism is not against travelling, but it takes care that landscapes are not destroyed, natural and architectural beauties preserved, foreign cultures respected, and economic benefits spread as widely as possible. 'Responsible' tourism has the advantage that corresponds both to the wishes of most tourists - who want to stay in a clean environment with a clean conscience - and the interests of the local people who derive jobs and incomes from it. But it needs a strong state which is able to enforce environmental regulations, suppress corruption and make sure that income from tourism benefits the whole country and not only a few national or international entrepreneurs.

To travel and to experience the world is an age-old dream which more and more people in the richer parts of the world are able to fulfil for themselves. But the tourism boom threatens to become self-destructive if it continues to expand without fetters. 'Responsible' tourism strikes a balance between the needs of the environment, the respect for other cultures, and the wish of modern people to live in a world without borders. However, it is an illusion to believe that mass tourism with 1.5 billion arrivals per year could truly be sustainable.