UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism

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UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism

• Freya Higgins-Desbiolles
• University of South Australia

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Background

• UNWTO General Assembly meeting in Istanbul in
  1997 called for the code. Over the following 2
  years, a special committee for the preparation of
  the Code was formed a draft document was
  prepared by the Secretary-General the legal
  adviser to UNWTO in consultation with UNWTO
  Business Council, UNWTO's Regional Commissions,
  the UNWTO Executive Council.The United Nations
  Commission on Sustainable Development meeting in
  New York in April, 1999 endorsed the concept of
  the Code requested UNWTO to seek further input
  from the private sector, NGOs labour
  organizations. Written comments on the code were
  received from more than 70 UNWTO Member States
  other entities. The resulting 10 point Global
  Code of Ethics for Tourism - the culmination of
  an extensive consultative process- was approved
  unanimously by the UNWTO General Assembly meeting
  in Santiago in October 1999.The United Nations
  Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), in its
  substantive session of July 2001, adopted a draft
  resolution on the Code of Ethics and called on
  the UN General Assembly to give recognition to
  the Code. The official recognition by the UN
  General Assembly to the Global Code of Ethics for
  Tourism came on 21 December 2001.

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• "The Global Code of Ethics for Tourism sets a
  frame of reference for the responsible and
  sustainable development of world tourism With
  international tourism forecast to nearly triple
  in volume over the next 20 years, members of the
  World Tourism Organization believe that the
  Global Code of Ethics for Tourism is needed to
  help minimize the negative impacts of tourism on
  the environment on cultural heritage while
  maximizing the benefits for residents of tourism
  destinations.
• The Global Code of Ethics for Tourism is intended
  to be a living document. Read it. Circulate it
  widely. Participate in its implementation. Only
  with your cooperation can we safeguard the future
  of the tourism industry and expand the sector's
  contribution to economic prosperity, peace
  understanding among all the nations of the
  world." - Francesco Frangialli, Secretary-General
  of the World Tourism Organization

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Key content

• ARTICLE 5Tourism, a beneficial activity for host
  countries communitiesARTICLE 6Obligations of
  stakeholders in tourism developmentARTICLE
  7Right to tourismARTICE 8Liberty of tourist
  movementsARTICLE 9Rights of the workers
  entrepreneurs in the tourism industryARTICLE
  10Implementation of the principles of the Global
  Code of Ethics for Tourism

• ARTICLE 1Tourism's contribution to mutual
  understanding respect between peoples
  societiesARTICLE 2Tourism as a vehicle for
  individual collective fulfilmentARTICLE
  3Tourism, a factor of sustainable
  developmentARTICLE 4 Tourism, a user of the
  cultural heritage of mankind contributor to its
  enhancement

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Outcomes since 2001

• Survey on the Implementation of the Global Code
  of Ethics 2005-5
• The survey questionnaire was sent to 145 Full
  Members, seven Associate Members two Permanent
  Observers of the WTO. A total of 94 Members have
  responded by 15 July 2005
• (see http//www.unwto.org/code_ethics/eng/status.h
  tm).

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Some of the Questions included in the
Questionnaire

• Has your country expressed its formal acceptance
  of the Global Code of Ethics?
• Has your country implemented the Global Code of
  Ethics in any of the ways listed below?
• Has the Global Code of Ethics been translated
  into your national language(s)?
• Has the Global Code of Ethics been disseminated
  in your country to the following stakeholders of
  tourism development?

• Has your government taken any action to promote
  the Global Code of Ethics?
• Has your national tourism administration
  designated a focal point to follow-up the
  implementation of the Code of Ethics in your
  country ?

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Results

• 3/4s of responding countries territories
  indicated that they had used the Code by either
  incorporating the principles it contains into
  their legislative texts or by using them as a
  basis when establishing national laws
  regulations related to tourism
• 83 percent have promoted the Code disseminated
  it to at least one of the different categories of
  tourism stakeholders
• 35 countries have made the effort to translate
  the Code into their national or local languages

• Survey has failed to mobilize one third of the
  WTO member States territories- some of them of
  considerable importance
• Poor participation of the private and operational
  sector (17 out of over 300 Affiliate Members)
  context of private sector now playing a key role
  in tourism development planning

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Criticisms of the Code- voluntary code

• It is not a legally binding document - Article 10
  provides for a voluntary implementation mechanism
  through the recognition of the role of the World
  Committee on Tourism Ethics (WCTE), to which
  stakeholders may refer, on a voluntary basis, any
  matters concerning the application and
  interpretation of the Code.

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Criticisms- values

• Whose norms values? The document was created
  from developed countries perspectives
  questions of values must be asked.
• Tourists have the right to travel but does the
  host have the right to say no?
• The Code commands respect for rights dignity.
  

• But does tourism to poverty stricken oppressed
  countries violate this? These countries are
  currently told to sell themselves to tourists for
  development. What about the right to development
  promised by ECOSOC?
• DSa states that the ultimate value difference is
  the market values of current power players versus
  the community values of local communities

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Criticisms- local communities

• DSa states UNWTO Code is virtually unknown to
  local communities who bear the brunt of tourism
  impacts
• In fact, local communities are not mentioned in
  the list of stakeholders (tourism professionals,
  public authorities, governments media are
  included)

• Instead host communities are asked to acquaint
  themselves with respect tourists they are
  told they should be associated with tourism
  activities

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Criticism- who benefits?

• Codes of Ethics are statements of ideals the
  gap between the rhetoric reality can be
  startling.
• Do the powerful states MNCs who support it
  through the UNWTO see it as meaningful, accept
  restrictions obligations costs?
• Consider Article 9 as an irreplaceable factor
  of solidarity in developmentMNCs of the tourism
  industry should not

• exploit the dominant positions they sometimes
  occupyin exchange for their freedom to invest
  trade which should be fully recognised, they
  should involve themselves in local development,
  avoiding, by the excessive repatriation of their
  profits or their induced imports, a reduction in
  their contribution to the economies in which they
  are established

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Criticisms- Market economy

• The preamble to the Code states convinced that
  the world tourism industry as a whole has much to
  gain by operating in an environment that favors
  the market economy, private enterprise free
  trade that serves to optimize its beneficial
  effects on the creation of wealth employment
• Are the declared values of human dignity
  environmental sustainability compatible with this?

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Consider

• We should ask ourselves what space the Code
  allows us to advocate for equitable just
  tourism when it states tourism is a vital force
  for peace and we state our wish to promote an
  equitable, responsible sustainable world
  tourism order, whose benefits will be shared by
  all sectors of society
• We should also apply caution ensuring our work
  is more meaningful than the Codes example.

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Sources

• See UNWTO website at http//www.unwto.org/code_eth
  ics/eng/global.htm for comprehensive information
  about the Code
• Also http//www.unwto.org/code_ethics/eng/status.h
  tm
• DSa, E. (1998), "Global Code of Ethics - what of
  NGO and community involvement?", Web Forum -
  Ethical Tourism The Debate, http//www.mcb.co.uk/
  services/conferen/webforum/mcb-eit-session1/index.
  html, .