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ALTERNATIVE NETWORK LETTER

A Third World Tourism Communication

And Infonnation Alternative

For Private Circulation Only Vol. 3 Nos. 1 & 2 June 1987

ONE of the things we have done at EQUATIONS in the last few months

is to produce a simple 4-page brochure. In it, we have describedbriefly our work and the philosophy that guides us. Some of you who

received that brochure wrote back asking for more information on our activities,copies of our publications, and so on.

We hope our responses have satisfied those who asked. But your queries,

as well as other events in our life these past months, have forced us to sit backand introspect. What have we done over the last 2 years? Why do we continueto exist?

When we came into existence in early 1985, we saw our work as having twoclear dimensions: first to be a monitoring agency of tourism development in

India and the South Asian region. Our eyes were open to lessons from otherparts of the third world, thereby hoping to prevent here the more serious socio

economic and cultural consequences of tourism that they had experienced.With current trends in South Asian tourism heading in directions geared to

maximise arrivals and exchange earnings (see news items in this issue), ourability to analyse these trends and provide an independent policy viewpointgains increasing urgency.

EDITORIAL

Second, we sought to promote models of tourism incorporating the

development and participation of hosts, ensuring that the accruing benefitswere justly distributed among them. Thus we have assisted (and continue to

assist) in the evolution and development of independent travel companieswhich aim at social and economic self-reliance through activities such as

'alternative tourism:We are aware that much remains to be done; however, a small beginning

has been made. The responses, interest and cooperation of many people in

India and elsewhere indicates that we are meeting an important social need,

and that encourages us to carryon with what we started.

One concrete sign of that encouragement is the assurance that ANL willcontinue to be jointly published with CONTOURS from Bangkok. We are

grateful that our work has been recognised and considered significant enough

to reach the international readership of the Ecumenical Coalition on ThirdWorld Tourism.

In many ways, this is a historic edition of ANl. It goes into its third year of

publication, the second from EQUATIONS. For the first time, we have chosen

to focus on the tourism situation of a specific destination, and appropriately,the choice has been Goa, India.

Our acknowledgements to those who helped bring this issue together,especially friends in Goa. We have used material sent by journalists Rico

Noronha and Lionel Messias. The new square-grid designs on our regular

features are the work of a young Goan artist, Francisco Saldanha.

Our apologies for the delay in getting this issue to you in recompensewe give you more articles and briefs, as well as an exclusive interview on

Nicaraguan tourism. We hope you will continue to enjoy reading - and be

provoked by ANL, and look to you for your comments and response.

Paul Gonsalves

The poverty of PREM'S TOURIST CULTURE

by Kraisak Choohavan

THAILAND is fast sliding into a rural economic crisis. The price of ricehas slumped from US$ 116 to US$ 77 a tonne. Fertiliser prices have

doubled; pesticides have trebled.

Earnings from the export of agricultural commodities plummeted last year after

a gradual decline during the past decade. Manufactured goods, textiles and

garments have replaced agricultural exports, chiefly rice, as the main sourceof foreign currency.

Rice producers make up 35-million of Thailand's 52-million population. Even

in boom periods they never received the benefits of increased prices. Now they

are in dire straits.Their plight threatens to upset the relative stability of Thai

society and politrcs.

Rural poverty is not new. Research by Thai and international organisationshas shown that Thai farmers are poor, and getti ng poorer. The gap betweenthe urban and rural sectors is widening.

In stark contrast, Bangkok continues to expand and develop. The city has

become one of Asia's largest metropolitan centres. Its 55-million residents ownnearly a million cars.

About adozen gigantic, air-conditioned shopping centres have sprouted in

the past few years, their shops stocked with European style luxury consumergoods. Middle class Sino-Thais pack the hundreds of expensive restaurants.

Bangkok's middle class recognise that something must be done to all eviatepoverty. Numerous foundations, most under royal patronage, have been set

up for the needy. Funds have been raised through glamorous dinner parties,

fashion shows, and even by performances from visiting Chinese acrobats.

King Bhumiphol Adulyadej is constantly seen in the media visiting the

hydraulic and irrigation projects he often designs personally for farmers' use.

But however well-intentioned, these efforts can never match the enormousscale of the rural problem. Rural poverty is structural. It exists because the system

of market prices, taxes and finance mechanisms depends on extractingcountryside commodities cheaply, and investing the surplus in the more

lucrative service and industrial sectors.

Growing rural unemployment and the artificial depression of food-stuff pricescombine to keep urban wages at a low levei and to control organised labour.

Prime Minister Prem Tinsulanonda's administration accepts that the fall incontd. overleaf

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2Contd. from page I.

the world price of commodities is no longer cyclical but structural. Its

development plan calls for a boost in the manufacturing and service sectors.

But the plan faces serious obstacles.

The decline in oil prices forced the government to reduce the Eastp.rn 

Seaboard Project, the petrochemical industrial complex designed as the main

engine ofThailand's industrial drive. The single largest investment, the NationalFertiliser Project, has been scrapped. Although other projects such as adeep-sea port, a gas separation plant and a plastic pellets factory are going

ahead, they will employ far fewer than the 50,000 new workers expected.

There is steady growth in the manufacture of goods for export, such as

canned foodstuffs, textiles, precious stones and integrated circuits. But the

foodstuffs and textiles depend on the US market, access to which is

increasingly threatened by the congressional protectionist drive.

Last year, Thaiiand was warned by two US delegatitms: "Export less to the

US-or else:' But Thai exporters have been unable to expand their share of

the ECor the

japanese markets.

advertisements in This Weeki a Bangkok tourist magazine

Faced with these problems, the Prem administration has opted for a s h o r t ~ term soluhon with heavy promotion of tourism. This year has been dubbed

the "Visit Thailand year". Provincial governors are instructed to develop the

diverse, local cultural activities into commercially viable tourist attractions.

A parade in the capital was designed to promote Thai culture to tourists.But critics claim it simply vulgarised local cultures for profit.

Tourism has produced a growing entertainment business, largely based on

sexual exploitation. The southern city of Haadyai caters to the sexual whimsof tens of thousands of Malaysians and Singaporeans, while large red-lightcommunities in Bangkok and the entire resort of Pattaya provide similarentertainment for farang (white foreign) and Middle East males.

Thailand's culture is being distorted and dished out to foreign visitors while

the government refuses to tackle the root causes of rural poverty.

There has been no significant attempt to reform the regressive tax system

which has pushed up the living cost of Thai peasants and workers. The market

structure still benefits entrepreneurs rather than small producers.Meanwhile, the government supports the middle classes by allowing them

tax-free perks.

Kraisak Choohavan is a political science lecturer at the Faculty of Social Sciences,Kasetsart University, Bangkok.

(SOUTH Mar, 1987.)

French Group visits India

A group of 19 visUors from the French CCfD (Catholic Committee against Hunger and for India between

January 18-31, 1987. Consisting of CCfD supporters and volunteers from

different regions of France, the group \vasled Lacombe, and included an official joumalis[, Jacques Durand.

FollOwing a 2-day orientation with CCfD'S Indian partners in the

visitors were divided into four sub-groups for in-depth exposure to CCfD

supported action groups and develOpment projects in Calcutta/Bihar, Kerala/Kamata1<a, Tamilnadu and Pune/Bombay using public transport, they also experienced the simple lifestyle of the rural and tribal communities in these places,

The groups gathered in Bombay for a det,rieJ'int;!

retuming home. Despite minor difficulties about the itinerary.

the visitors generally felt that it had been amost useful and integrative leaming

process, and felt that similar visits should be organised.

This altemative tour was France, and an ad hoc group

consisting of Rajan Alexander. Everett and Alex throughEQUATIONS, Bangalore, with able assistance from CCfD partners in India,

TOURISM TRENDS

r O l J r i 5 m , K e n y a ~ t h i r d b i g g e s t f o r e i g n - e x c h a n g e e a t n e l ; isbuoyant There

: w e r e 5 4 1 1 0 0 0 a r r i v a 1 s 1 n 1 9 8 ~ . a 24per centincrease on the previous

y ~ a ~ a n d t h B ' g q v e , m m e n t ~ i 1 1 1 s t o a t t r a c t 800,000 in 1988. Earnings

i f J . J 9 ~ 5 l q 5 ~ b y 3 l J p e t c e n t t o U5$303,.million.· . ! h t ; i n s r e ~ s e / $ d y e t o s ~ r a l f a c t o r s . F a I J j n g oil priceshavemade

t r w e { F h e a P f l r ~ f l : ~ } ~ tQ'lt1 .uptum il } the· industriafisedeconomies

w ~ i c h p r o y i c ! e ' 7 . 0 p e l q : J r r t o f K e n y a ' s v i s i t O f $ . Prices have becomemore. · · · . · · ~ o m P f t t i t / y e ~ e t ; : a ! 1 s e o f t h e K e i 1 Y ~ m . s h i l l l n g ' s devaluation against the· USdollat .

· ", , N ~ i r ( j ~ i , J f J e c a p i t a l l has, b ~ c ( ) m e . alea4ingvenue for conferences.

I n ) 9 l J 5 ~ e a r ! y 4 £ t O ( J O v i ~ i t ( ) f s a t t e n d e r l three conferences alone

t h ~ N Q n ~ C ; 9 ~ m m e ~ t a l Organisations'. (NGO) Forum, ·the UnitedNatiQ?s D e c i i ~ e f{),fWomen Conference and the Catholic Church's

E u c h a r i : s t i C c : o n g t e s 5 ~ SOUTH February 1987.

to/0rrleaovertneseriqusforeignexchange problem, the Governmentis t o y i n ~ w l t ~ . t h e J d e a of providing liberal tax concessions to theindustry. The GlJ'Vftrnment itself;sgoing to inVf!st heavily in raisingtire iairastructure for attracting tourists from abroad. Both the fjnance

f 1 n d t o u r i s m m i n l s t r i ~ s believe iUs tourism promotion and not exportsthatwillfinalfysteer the country out ottne foreign exchange crunch.

India Today, january 15, 1987.

W ~ I f - h e f ; l e ; r . 1 ? h a l s a n d S o u t h e a s t Asians' are.flocklngto·Sfi Lanka/

r e g a r d / ~ s s ( ) ~ t h e g u e r l l ! a w : a r : t h e r ~ , Riskshave always held a thrill for

8 a f 1 1 9 1 ~ r $ c a m : l f ' t J n , t : r s are. spuming Macau for Colomboscasinoswhichare reliltively uncrowdedand of(erthernthe chance to play bigstakes.

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3

Tourism in Nicaragua The geo-political and socio-economic scenario ofNicaragua today is one ofimmense interest to the Third World and others. To many; it represents the hopeofa democratic ideal - one which has perhaps not yet been fully realised.

EQUATIONS was privileged to meet and interview Senora Mayda Denueda,Director, Promotion oflnternational Relations, Nicaraguan /nstituteofTourism,at the ITS, Berlin. Excefj'Jts from the interview:

EQUATIONS: How has the new political situation affected tourism inNicaragua?

Denueda: Well, the situation has changed after the revolution. There was very little tourism previously (under Somoza) the new government is actively trying to promote tourism.

What is the government's policy now on tourism?

We want tourism to be away in which interested people can learn at first hand

how the revolution is working. It is primarily for the Nicaraguan people, but open now to visitors from other countries.

Does that mean that there is an element of political propaganda in tourism promotion?

No, certainly not. We hope that visitors will learn through real life experiences,

for example, meeting and talking with our citizens about life in Nicaragua.

What are the facilities available for tourists?

We have five tourist centres wh ich serve both N icaraguans and foreigners. The

conditions are simple, prices are low, and atypical atmosphere can be enjoyed

- for instance, accommodation in 'Cabines'. Apart from this, two hqliday

centres are run by the National Security Organisation only for Nicaraguans. We have also converted a private club used in the past only by the rich into a public place.

How do you see the relationship between domestic and international

tourism?

We should first satisfy the demands of the domestic market before promoting

international tourism.

Have you already begun doing that?

Yes. Some old hotels are being reconstructed, one exclusively for foreign tourists.

On the site of the Somoza family's recreational centre, a casino is planned!

Tourist lodges, a beach resort for water sports, a new luxury hotel and sports centre are also on the cards. One airport will cater purely to charter flights.

In Managua there will be three new hotels, and the Intercontinental will be expanded.

To me this seems like an open invitation to multi-national chains and other foreign investors. How much of the revenue can you retain within YOUI

country?

Yes, that is true, we are concerned about this problem. We plan to enact a law

limiting foreign exchange repatriation. There are some Italian multinationals who have invested heavily in Nicaragua, and INe don't know how they will react.

But we do feel that we need to attract more tourists because of the country's foreign exchange requirements.

Could you give me some statistics on tourism in NicaraguaJ

In 1986 there were about 30,000 international tourists. We have not calculated

earnings from tourism.

In many third world countries, including those in Latin America, there have

been soda-economic impacts which bring into question the basic issue of whether tourism is the most appropriate development strategy for our nations. For instance, there have been many documented cases of tourism

related prostitution.

Wewill definitely not allow such kinds of tourism. In factlNe plan to have special legislation safeguarding the rights of women.

How do you prevent undesirable tourists from entering Nicaragua?

We cannot do that Except on grounds of national security, we do not prevent

anybody who wishes to come in.

(We acknowledge with gratitude the interpretation assistance rendered at the interviewby Rev. Albrecht Simon of the Protestant Church in Germany.)

I. ,i:Jihi(-llNj',r':'"UWI When Mrs. Thatcher accepted a "voluntary" ban on South African tourismpromotion at last August's Commonwealth mini-summit, some tour operators

initially responded positively. In reality, however, changes have been cosmetic.

Kuoni announced last year that it was no longer taking bookings for South

Africa. "Packages" have indeed been stopped, but Kuoni continues to offer

"flights and hotels': Customers are told that the new arrangement is effectivelya package.

Last year Abercrombie & Kent said they were taking South Africa out of their

main brochure. This has been done, but it still operates packages to South Africa

and details are given in a special booklet.

When the ban was introduced last year, 20 British-based tour operators offeredpackage holidays to Suuth Africa. Eleven of these have ignored the voluntary

ban and continue to operate as before.

Tour operators have resented government interference in their business. "Ifanyone tries to stop us sending holidaymakers to South Africa, we will 'fight

them on the beaches: Business is booming;' said Ken Swan, director of TFC.

P&0 and Hamilton have ended business with South Africa for commercial

reasons. Eco-safaris has stopped all trips to South Africa, adecision taken partly

because of the government ban.

In addition to the British-based tour operators, there is an unusual South

African operator whichis

looking for business in Britain. The companyis

Johannesburg-based Good News, which describes itself as "a Christian travel

agency, owned and staffed by born-again believers:'

Good News director, Eugene de Villiers, wants South Africa to become amajor destination for British Christian visitors. His brochure explains: "In aworld

where morals and standards are plummeting, and nations seem to be on an

irreparable slide toward spiritual darkness - South Africa appears a beacon

of hope and promise:'The British promotion can also call on the media to refuse to carry

advertisements promoting tourism to South Africa. This has been ignored by

the London Broadcasting Corporation, which until last fortnight carried aseries

of commercials for South African Airways.

The official South African Tourism Board claims that the UK ban has been

totally ineffective. In 1986,85,000 British tourists visited South Africa, and this

was only 10 per cent down on the previous year.

"This fall is probably because of South Africa's image, not because of theBritish ban. All the signs are that tourism from the UK is now increasing, and

the first ft!w months of this year have been an 8 per cent rise. The promotion

ban has not affected our operations in Britain:' said Gunther Dettweiler,

spokesperson of the South African Tourism Board.

In Britain, the department of emplE>yment is responsibe for administering

the tourism promotion ban. "It is voluntary, and so we are not monitoring it.

If the ban is indeed being broken, it would be disappointing;'aspokesman said.

The Anti-Apartheid Movement is angry at the government's response. Tour

operators have ignored sanctions because the government lacks the political

wi II to take action against South Africa. The so-called voluntary tourism ban

must be made a legal requirement.

TIMES OF INDIA, 19 April 1987

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4

Going, Going, GOAN.....

Goa has.been a tourist destination for many years, but only recentlyhas It begun to suffer from mass tourism, the sure destroyel:

(Dr. Robert S. Newman, in "Goa: The Transformation of an Indian Region")

Letter from a French tourist to THE HERALD Daily Paris, 6 Nov.

Dear Sir,

I am a French fashion designer, and used to come to Goa every years to spend

3 months from beginning of December to the end of February. This year on

the say so of friends back from Goa I'm cancel Iing my tri p. Those friends told

me that this year they were not going to be any chai shops on the beach norflea market nor wind surfing nor fishing boats in Baga Beach, and that foreigners

were not going to be allowed to rent private houses. I'm sorry to hear those

news, and feel that as an old time tourist I have to tell Mr. Gopal Singh* that

he is making a mistake: Goa does not have much to offer to tourists besidethe remains of the 'Hippie life style': beaches are dirty, the sea is polluted (last

year we had to wear our goggles to swim to avoid having one's eyes stinging).

There is no horse riding, golf, casinos, nightclubs, or good restaurants, sailing

or water skying: all things which are offered anywhere else in Europe or the

States. The local five stars hotels don't corne to the level as far as service or

quality is concerned of European working class camping sites. I wish to precise

that I'm not indulging in drugs and that I was coming to Goa out of nostalgia

for my youth: I came to Goa for the first time in 1970 it was the first big journeyI made in my twenties and because I had found the Goan people friendly and

life easy going, Susegado, as you say, and that at the flea market I was picking

up ideas, the Western community there being very creative. I was coming backevery year. It is true that life is cheaper than in the U.s.A., but the price of the

plane ticket balances it. So, this year thanks to Mr. Gopal Singh I'm going to

Florida where I'll have sun and palm trees and if not the kindness of the Goans

and the full moon parties or the beach at least I'll have better hygiene, no

garbage on the beach, water and electricity full time, better food and no police

harassement: 2 years ago I got very upset by having my house searched by 5policemen obviously drunk who robbed some lighter which was lying on the

table. So, that's it. I feel I had to write this letter (although I have to apologise

for the quality of my English). Farewell Goa.

Your faithfully* Governor of the State of Goa. D. Brasseur

LANDMARK JUDGEMENT It is clear that when material loss is confronted with the plea that the stay ofan order

simply directing the maintenance of the status qU() is likely to adversely affect their

v ~ r y .existence andfuture by depriving the respondents from their main source of

l , v ~ l J h o o d and mamtenance and also going to destroy the ecological balance of the

~ e ~ , t ~ e nature as well as the physical features of the land and its surroundings

It 15 obvious that on the aspect of balance of corrvenience also this is to be deemed

as heavily tilting in the respondents' favour.

In this view of the matter the application is bound to fail and is hereby dismissed.

Order accordingly.

In these words, District Judge Eurico Santana da Silva of South Goa, Margao,created legal history on 23rd April 1987. For the first time an Indian courtof law handed down a judgement which firmly establishes the rights of thelocal community in a tourist resort.

The appellants, Mis. Elbee Dugal Pvt. Ltd. had pleaded for a stay of a

p ~ o u s injunction preventing them from cutting down trees in the South Goan

~ a g e , Agonda. This injunction had in effect restrained them from proceedingWIth the construction of a 5-star hotel. Justice da Silva dismissed their

a p p l ~ c a t i o n with remarkable clarity and perception, emphasising that "the

a p p h c a n ~ s have ?ot also been able to make out before me any specific case ofsubstanttalloss if the stay sought for by them is not granted".

Have AFive-Star?

Ever since the limited construction ban on Goa's coveted coastline was imposed

some years ago, construction in the protected belt has tended to be too selective,

helped no less by the rules in force and a ban which exists more in the f ~ r m of administrative guidelines to be used at the discretion of Delhiwallahs. Already

an unauthorised five-star hotel complex extension has begun to spring up at

Candolim, besides, aRs 30 lakh bungalow which is likely to be converted into

a fun house for a Bombay businessman ..

The New Delhi ruling on beach construction bans outright any construction

work upto 200 metres from the high tide line. Applications for constructionbeyond the 200-metre limit and upto 500 metres are referred to an Inter

Ministerial Committee (lMC), Government of India, if the Goa-based Eco

Control Committee (ECC) decides that constructions can be permitted. The

chief secretary, as chairman of the ECC, is the territory's sole representative

on the IMC, which is headed by the director general of tourism, New Delhi.

Finally, approval is accorded by the Ecological D evelopment Council (EDC),

chaired by the Lieutenant governor of Goa. But whether the ECC or EDC

which at first hand are not competent to decide - can at the ultimate stage

sanction aconstruction application is aquestion that needs to be looked into.

Lionel Messiasextract from INQUEST Dec, 1986.

Carnival

In my days, said Coutinho,

Carnival was carousing and

fun. Three days of

Bacchannalia, Sunday to Tuesday.

Masked we prowled the streets

Like bands of Comus, Squirting

Perfumes on giggling girls. Some

Kissed them from beneath

Their masks, others held them fast

Till they screamed for their mothers.

Tinpan bands went door to door,

With unbridled flutes and

Off-key violins playing

Evening serenades.

What has it come to now? Merely

Thousands of bystanders .lined up

Watching a motorcade of floats, parade

Ofpin-up girls in gogo I

Costumes, footsore dancers, and . ,:i LQ , . ~ Pop groups atop trucks shattering v lOur ears with strident speakers.

I tell you, King Momo no more belongs

To the people. Puppet of sponsors,

He is just an aid to the adman now.

Ashok MahajanCourtesy: GOA TODAY

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5

ITB Berlin 1987 One man's paradiseAReport by Paul Gonsalves

The list of delegates at the Internationale Tourismus Borse (International Tourism

Fair) reads like a Who's Who of the world travel and tourism trade. Held in

West Berlin annually, it attracts tourism officials, hotels, airlines, shippingcompanies, travel agents and associations, consultants, as well as trade-related

academics.

In the days between March 7 to 12, 1987, the massive Messe (fair-grounds)

of the International Congress Centre was transformed by high-tech, high-touch

marketing gimmickry into a microcosm of tourism destinations worldwide.

Their hard-sell sensual appeal resulted in thousands ofcurious Berliners pushing

and shoving for travel brochures, posters, stickers, whatever - perhaps even

afree drink. Reality took abackseat, replaced by illusions ofmyriad fantasylands.

It was precisely to question these illusions that 15 organisations cooperated

at astand entitled 'Tourism with Insight: Amongst them were the EcumenicalCoalition on Third World Tourism (ECTWT) and members of its European

networks (ZEB, TEN, etc). The only stand which did not have a sales pitch, our

iisplays, audiovisuals, games, quizzes, cabaret (one-person skits) and printed

nandouts intended to create a more critical tourist-consumer. Our concerns

included Third World tourism, environment, soft tourism, racism, tourist

attitudes, and so on.

On Monday 9 March, a press conference at the stand attracted senior travel

writers and journalists. The questions were hard and pointed, even critical.

Most of the next day's newspapers, however, carried substantial and positive

coverage.That evening, some members from the stand, led by Prof Dr Jost Krippendorf,

participated in a panel discussion entitled 'Commerce without Insight -Insight

without Commerce?' Paul Gonsalves of EQUATIONS represented ECTWT. Onthe other side of the panel were leading lights of the industry TUI, Robinson

CI ubs, Majorca Tourism Board and the German Federation of Travel Agents.

We wanted to pin down the industry into giving concrete answers to several

direct questions. The one-hour discussion covered a range of issues such as

a self-regulating code of conduct for the trade, the role of associations vis-a

vis erring members, the ethics and adequacy ofadvertising strategies, ecological

responsibilities, and the use of existing infrastructure and resources.Reacting later to the discussions, George Pfafflin of ZEB (and consultant to

ECTWT's Executive) felt they represented a major step forward in the dialoguebetween the industry and its critics. A decade ago, when these ideas were

initiated in Europe, a public discussion on the same panel would have been

nimaginable. Although the questions raised were not all answered, the

willingness of the industry to participate in serious interaction was evidence

enough that the groundwork and preparation ofmany years has not been in vain.

ZEB used to have asmall stand of its own at previous ITBs. This year, the space

for our large stand was donated free of cost by the Messe authorities. Ifwe are

to be there in 1988, we must be effective in following-up the numerousopportunities and contacts that came our way at ITB, Berlin 1987.

Bon Appetit!

Three fijians threatened to eat terrified tourists at an internationalresort nearSuva during the disturbed week following the militmy coupin this South Pacific tourist paradise, aMagistrate's Court heard onfriday: Prosecutor Chandra Bhan Singh told the court the three men

planned an attack on amotel armed with iron bars, sticks and stones.They smashed windows and abused tourists from Australia, NewZealand and West Germany, The Fijians demanded that the guestscome out of their rooms andsaid they would "eat their flesh and drinktheir blood."

INDIAN EXPRESS 25 May 1987

Silvio Santosa's career on the Indonesian island of Bali has been as kaleidoscopic as the disco he once ran: he has been a restaurateur, writer, social worker,

tourist guide and a fledgling press baron.

Silvio, 38, lives in Ubud, avillage of about 7,800 inhabitants in southern Bali,

famous for its painters and popular with tourists.

In 1970, after moving to Bali from his native Kediri (east Java), he opened

a restaurant with aFrenchman in the coastal resort ofSanur and learnt Balinese.

"This was first acombi ned restaurant, discotheque, boutique and art gallery.

!t made money. But after three years, I got bored.

At first I wentto live with the village chief ofSingapadu, an artistic com munity.

! tried to motivate the people totally on tourism.

It didn't work, because I didn't know the character of the people. Then Icame

to Ubud, rented a small room, didn't even contact the local authorities and

began to write:'

In 1982, he helped start acooperative information centre, Bina Wisata (Tourist

Guidance), to explain Balinese culture to tourists, protect the vi lIage and create

jobs. The following year, he launched the Ubud Post, an outspoken and hence

short-lived monthly village newsletter.

Today, the printing press and tourist shop are owned by the village. Silvio

runs a tourist restaurant called Tjandri.

SOUTH March 1987

Ed. note: Silvio was a participant at the Chiangmai Workshop, 1984

In Quotes'.'....::, .... ... ,'

· ~ B S b a h , i>residentofNepal MountaineerinQ Association. 1983

l f ~ f b L J ! 1 d ~ I s t a t ) a h . o w : p e o p l e whohavegroW11uplnthemountain' .FtlltureofMt. Fujil9Alpsto Appalachian can everbe so f o r ~ t f u l ofthebasiccodetomountain physical environmentin itsnatural s t a t e ~ W¢lL Iheardhigh altitude $Ometimes causes Joss ofmemory.

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1 1 1 e r i c ~ ~ of PapuirNewGuinea abides.· This CQuT1 tlY' has beenUnC0111111()niggifted with cultllraland biological diversity. Butisolationhas givel!Way to easierairaccessJoadlinks. modemmedicaicJinics,

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8/7/2019 Alternative Network Letter Vol 3 No.1 and 2-Jun 1987-EQUATIONS

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NETWORK Ui:;> invite our readers to contribute to the Network letterbysharing their work ideasandplans through these pages.

NEWSCommunication is vital to the life ofa Network especially when

ROUNDUP physical distances cannot easily be bridgedby closer contacts.

Puma Chandra lena, Orissa. India

Along with EQUATIONS, Purna is planning a 2day workshop at Bhubaneswar

in late June, for participants from Orissa and Eastern India. This workshop is

aimed towards formulating an action programme for f i s h e r m ~ n and others in

the coastal regions threatened by the onslaught of five-star tourism. For details,

write to him at Faith Centre, Peyton Sahi, Cuttack 735 101.

Fe R e m o ~ u e . Mindanao. Philippines

Fe now oorks with artists and cultural groups in Mindanao. In December 1986,

she lectured on alternative tourism to the faculty and students of the College

of Hotel and Restaurant Management, Mindanao State University. As a result,

alternative tourism is now offered as a separate study unit in the course. Also,

the cultural netvvorks have successfully hosted exposure programmes for visitors

to the southern Filipino island.

Chayant Pholpolle, Bangkok Thailand

Apart from his busy schedule with Life Travel, Chayant has been deeply involved

in the cable-car issue related to Wat Doi Suthep in Chiangmai, northernThailand (for details, see CONTOURS, Vol 2, No 6, 1986). With a group of

friends, avideo production was planned to raise public opinion inside Thailandas well as abroad.

SOLWODI. Mombasa. Kenya

Solidarity With Women (SOLWODI) is the new group formed in this port city,

news of which 'NilS carried in CONTOURS, Vol 2, No 8, 1986. Among the 10,000

sai lors and soldiers who descend on the town for 'R and R' and hire "twilight

ladies" are Americans, French, British and Indians. Members of SOLWODI have

been invited abroad to share their message through the media and to promote

solidarity. For more information, write: SOLWODI, PO Box 86823, Mombasa,Kenya.

Centre for Environment Concerns, Hyderabad. India

CEC has just published a report of the workshop jointly organised withEQUATIONS in Februal)' 1987. Titled 'Third World Tourism: Issues and

C o n c e r n s ~ it is available from the Director, CEC, 2116C 00-3-176) Stjohn Road

Cross, Secunderabad 500 025.

Sri Lankan Networll

The emerging network in this troubled island have met twice to discuss

possibilities of promoting alternative forms of tourism. At the second meeting

held on 21 January 1987, the participants agreed to organise a workshop on

20 June to promote the idea among the people, especially small tour operators.The committee consists of Harl)' Haas, Maureen Seneviratne, Vincent Peirisand Sam Premkumar.

Equations, Bangalore. India

We were privileged by the invitation to represent the Ecumenical Coalitionat the International Tourism Fair, Berlin 1987. Elsewhere in this newsletter we

carry a longer report of the 'alternative' participation at the most important trade

exhibition of the tourism industry.

RESOURCES

Informatie en Voorlichtig aan Toeristen naar de Derde Wereld, Tourism and

Third World Foundation, P.B. 1504,6501 BM Nijmegen, Holland.

This report of a Workshop organised by the Dutch Tourism and Third World

Foundation at Amsterdam in December 1986, contains the papers presentedby the resource people including two in English (by Georg Pfafflin and Armin

Vielhaber of the German network). For copies, write to Frans de Man or Kees

van Teeffelen at the Foundation.

Bikas-8inas? / Development-Destruction? The Change in life and Environ

ment of the Himalaya, (eds. Ludmilla TUtting and Kunda Dixit), Geobuch,

Rosental 6, D-8000 Munich 2, F.R. Germany.

Described as "a reader for concerned people and tourists about ecology, 50

called development and tourism': this book aims to discuss the links between

ecology and tourism. Foreworded by the well-known anthropologist Christophvon Furer-Haimendorf, it contains a large number of articles on the Hi malayas

and the Indian sub-continent. Of particular interest is the third section on

Tourism and Ecology. For the visitor wishing to gain across-section of views

over awide range of topics this well documented anthology is essential readin r

Strategies Against Prostitution The Case of Thailand, Si riporn Skrobanek,

in Women, Struggles and Strategies: Third World Perspectives, Isis International,

Rome & Santiago, 1986.

In this article Ms. Skrobanek, Director of Women's Information Centre, Bangkok

emphasises that the multi-national nature of the prostitution industry requiresnational and international efforts in combatting it. From atheoretical analysis

of prostitution she moves to the experiences of action groups in Thailand and

lists anumber of local and national strategies for action and rehabilitation. For

more information write to Women's Information Center, Po. Box 7-47, Bangkok

10700, Thailand.

Problems and Prospects of Tourism: Selected Papers,(ed. S.K. Roy), Max

Mueller Bhavan, New Delhi, 1984.

Although a somewhat outdated report of aWorkshop held in October 1983,

this volume contains a number of interesting papers on tourism issues. Of particular relevance is the paper 'Costs and Benefits ofTourism - Towards New

Policies in Developing Countries' by Prof. Jost Krippendorf.

Published by: Equitable Tourism Options (EQUATIONS), 10, Heerachand Layout, Jeevanahalli, Cox Town, Bangalore 560 005, INDIA.

Design and Phototypesetting: Revisuality Digitised Typesetting and Graph ic Design. 42!l Lavelle Road, Bangalore, India.