Introduction

Tourism and transparent, accountable, inclusive and effective governance

“Central to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is the need to promote peaceful and inclusive societies based on respect for human rights, the rule of law and transparent, effective and accountable institutions. … far too many people are poorly supported by weak institutions and lack access to justice, information and other fundamental freedoms. Efforts are under way to make national and international institutions more effective, inclusive and transparent. However, significant challenges remain” (UN, 2016).

The 2030 Agenda aims to ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels, emphasizing the importance of public access to information, protection of fundamental freedoms and the promotion of non-discriminatory laws and policies for sustainable development (ibid).

Does current tourism practice enable local, national and international institutions to be more transparent, accountable, inclusive and effective? Does tourism contribute to economically and socially just and inclusive societies?

As a highly stratified industry with often complex supply chains, how decisions are made about both new tourism facilities and related infrastructure and how the local and national governments monitor the effects of travel and tourism on social and economic development are fundamental. Governance of travel and tourism, who makes decisions and how and how they are held to account, is key to contributing to just and inclusive development.

Large corporations continue to have significant influence in key destinations and in many ‘sending’ countries on the patterns and approaches to travel and tourism. This is pronounced in some sectors including cruises. Their influence is achieved through diverse contractual and planning relationships. Local and national regulation and monitoring of travel and tourism is, generally, significantly weighted in favour of both large and medium sized tourism companies, businesses and activities and is not determined by the economic and social rights and interests of the majority of citizens in host communities and regions. There is extremely limited systematic environmental, social and economic monitoring of the effects of travel and tourism on women, men and children’s social and economic rights.