The Congo Basin Forest Partnership

Ten Talking Points about Tourism -- some of which are interrelated

I am honored to be asked to present here. Most of my experience is of a very practical nature. I am involved with educational bicycle tours in Africa. But the program has little to do with traditional tourism, little to do with the bicycle industry and little to do with academic Africanists.

1.  Defining the object

I am not a fan of the label “ecotourism” for our program and prefer a more inclusive structure I call E³; environment, economic and education/enrichment. Ecotourism has come to includes anything that includes "nature" -- getting out of a city -- even when getting there involves a gas guzzling SUV (sport-utility vehicle or four-wheel drive) and ripping up the savannah in the process.

As an alternative we try to practice what we have come to call "E³ Programs"; environmentally friendly (using primarily non-motorized transport, but reflecting all aspects of the projects including printing, selection of energy efficient lodging and local produced food and goods), economically beneficial (supporting the decentralized, indigenous economy, including local produced food and goods) and educational/enriching (exploring the diversity and complexity of the local natural and human ecosystem.) If you draw these as a triangle, each element reinforces the others. The use of non-motorized transports virtually mandates patronizing local business and the increased exposure to the local culture, economy and environment inherently leads to enhanced educational and enriching experiences. To paraphrase Marshall MacGluin Aiming for a well rounded educational experience, is a natural for getting into the community and supporting local business and argues for eliminating the barriers of glass, steel and speed that go with motor vehicles. Including as a goal supporting local suppliers of goods and service dictates increased interaction with the cultural and enriching experiences and the use of non-motorized transport virtually assures that the benefits will be decentralized and widely beneficial.

E³ programs tend not to be destination oriented and don’t need a lot of specialized “tourism infrastructure.” They mostly utilize whatever is there, in the tradition of a mobile open classroom.

Within the E³ structure a bike ride and lecture in an urban historic district, a work project in a village and a forest walk learning about ethno-botany and looking for primates all have the same weight.

Related essay at: http://www.ibike.org/encouragement/travel/e3.htm

2.  Change the language we use

English is racist. If Africa is going to be viewed with respect and dignity, the vocabulary that is associated with it is going to have to convey respect and dignity.

Related essay at: http://www.ibike.org/encouragement/travel/language.pdf

3.  Broadening the concept Africa

Africa is not a crisis (health, military, political, economic, natural disaster) -- and of “destination tourism” from “S tourism” (sea, sand, surf, sun, safari, sex, etc.), and of Africa tourism -- Africa is wildlife and wildlife is Africa. We don’t want Africa to be another white man’s playground.

We need to publicize things that demand respect and dignity, and highlight the diversity and complexity. Africa’s accumulation! I fear that even many Africans are loosing an appreciation of this. Diversity can include geology, plate-tectonics, politics, botany, zoology, religion, philosophy, architecture, agriculture, meteorology, politics, history, economics, linguistics, material culture

Related essay at: http://www.ibike.org/encouragement/travel/myths.htm

4.  Communities must be careful about what you wish for

The culture becomes a performance of “F culture” (food, festival and fashion) (stage authenticity, part of marketing), the performance becomes a business and then business becomes the culture -- one of the first things to go is often the smile and dignity. The visitors become voyeurs.

Before a community invites tourists in they need to do an assessment about who they are, what they want and what they don’t want:

• What relationships within the culture do they want to maintain? What can change?
• What values within the culture do they want to maintain? What can change?
• What practices within the culture do they want to maintain? What can change?
• What esthetics within the culture do they want to maintain? What can change?
• What within the natural environment needs to be maintained? What can change?
• What is for sale and what is not for sale?

For more information go to http://www.ibike.org/encouragement/travel/index.htm