Mrs. Alison M.J Johnston, Director of the International Support Centre for Sustainable Tourism, held a conference on Tourism and Indigenous Peoples at the WGIP in Geneva. Please find below this article in English and French



Ms Alison M.J Johnston, Director of the International Support Centre for Sustainable Tourism, presented in the framework of the WGIP her recently published book entitled Is the Sacred for Sale? Tourism and Indigenous Peoples. According to her, tourism is the fastest growing industry in the world and can severely harm indigenous people by touching upon their lands and intellectual property.

Tourism is often seen as a magical solution for the elimination of poverty, presented to Indigenous Peoples as a panacea to all their ills. Although it can be positive in some circumstances, it has proven to have several adverse effects.

Ms. Johnston believes that the problem has not improved over the last 15 years and urges on the necessity to respect peoples life, to gather people and to heal colonial relationships, we have to reconnect our heart and not just use our eyes. She also emphasised that ecotourism may sometimes only hide the traditional model of tourism and cause the most damage, as it targets more vulnerable environments and cultures.

The event underlined the fact that tourism needs to be considered seriously in its relation to indigenous people. The subject poses many questions about how far tourism may have a positive effect on the economy, its connection with culture and how far it harms the local people and constitutes another form of assimilation.

The presentation of the topic ended with interesting interventions by indigenous and academic representatives present, including a Maasai representative and a Touareg woman. The Maasai member showed the reluctance of some indigenous people that have suffered from negative impact of tourism by saying We dont need it. The Touareg woman explained that it was a shame that more attention was put on them especially when it was to make some publicity for the purpose of tourism.

One intervenient said that whereas we cannot prevent tourism, we can at least try to minimize the impact and the destabilizing effects it has on indigenous communities, first of all by raising greater awareness of the impact of tourism and the tourism industry.


Le sacré est-il à vendre ? Tourisme et Peuples Autochtones

Alison M.J.Johnston a présenté dans le cadre du Groupe de Travail sont livre récemment publié intitulé Is the Sacred for Sale? Tourism and Indigenous Peoples.(Le sacré est il à vendre ? Tourisme et Peuples Autochtones.) Mme Johnston est Directrice du International Support Centre for Sustainable Tourism (Centre international de soutien au tourisme soutenable)

Selon elle, le tourisme est lindustrie qui grandit le plus vite au monde en ce moment et il peut nuire fortement aux peuples autochtones en ce qui concerne leurs terres et leur propriété intellectuelle.

Souvent, le tourisme est vu comme étant une solution magique face à la pauvreté et est présentée aux peuples autochtones comme la solution à tous leurs problèmes. Bien quil puisse en effet être positif dans certaines circonstances, il engendre de nombreux effets collatéraux.

Mme Johnston pense que le problème est resté le même depuis 15 ans et insiste sur le fait quil est nécessaire de respecter la vie des peuples et de soigner les relations du colonialisme. Elle souligna que nous devons reconnecter notre cœur et ne pas uniquement utiliser nos yeux.
Elle avertit également que lécotourisme peur parfois servir de couvert au modèle traditionnel du tourisme et être encore plus nuisible du fait quil vise des cultures et des environnements encore plus vulnérables.