Tangible ways forward

Multi-stakeholder partnerships

The powers of transnational corporations have become even more entrenched as ‘corporate capture’ of governance and policy processes spreads to more political arenas, giving business significant control over our lives and livelihoods.

Instead of defining the clear responsibilities and accountabilities of this shadow-stakeholder, Goal 17 is describing the progressive role of the private sector in building partnerships for sustainable development. It fails to define regulatory frameworks which could ensure business operations that are fully consistent with human rights. “A successful implementation of the SDGs will only be possible if we look beyond the positive aspects of private sector engagement, and truly address the negative social and environmental repercussions of business activity,” says Jerome Chaplier, Coordinator of the European Coalition for Corporate Justice (ECCJ, 2016).

Civil society is also mentioned as an important partner, but at no place are the structural difficulties of social movements, citizens’ groups and organisations and NGOs being equal participants in policy and decision making processes highlighted. In addition, the power imbalances between private sector actors and civil society are not addressed.

Global, regional and national partnerships need to be developed and strengthened to implement people-centred responses to the current crises in an effective and responsible manner. Priority must be given to poor, excluded and marginalised people and more democratic and accountable institutions must be in place to assure that processes and measures will lead to a just, equal, inclusive and sustainable world based on respect for gender equality and the promotion and protection of human, economic and socio-cultural rights and environmental security.

While there are concerns that Goal 17 in general is not progressive enough, that it is vague, focussing on wrong priorities and addressing only half of the reality – it is even more problematic with respect to tourism. The transformation of our world is not possible without the transformation of tourism. The following points are proposed for a transformation of tourism:

Changing perspectives on tourism

The unequal power relations within tourism between sending countries and destinations and, at core, between guests and hosts, remain a fundamental challenge. In addition to the establishment of participatory planning and monitoring in which host communities have ‘real power’, there is a pressing need to promote and ensure responsible advertising and marketing by all tour companies, tourism boards and agencies. Apart from being culturally respectful and promoting positive and non-exploitative images of people, there is a need to promote guests’ and hosts’ expectations built on partnership, respect and equality. It is also important to present non-extractivist images of host communities and environments. In order to contribute to the achievement of the SDGs, perspectives, expectations and advertising and marketing need to shift from a guest and business orientation where tourism and travel is a commodity to an approach which is people to people focussed. This is where local communities and environments and their needs are centre stage.

Participation in tourism governance

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has no functioning participation mechanism for civil society organisations and victims and survivors of adverse tourism development. It is dominated by private sector interests. In the light of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the non-functioning implementation mechanism (§10) of UNWTO’s Global Code of Ethics for Tourism has to be further developed to become a remedy mechanism for affected people and communities.

There is also a lack of participation at national and local levels. Tourism development and investment plans have to be consulted on, and effective participation and monitoring mechanisms should be established and implemented.

Regulatory framework on business and human rights

At the international level the tourism and travel industry, as with all industries which have a significant influence of transnational corporations, has been able to operate with limited legal and fiscal constraints. This has led to a significant democratic deficit. Addressing this and establishing binding mechanisms for accountability to operate respecting and adhering to national and international laws and agreements, is one important foundation for partnership building. There is a growing movement across continents to work with the United Nations to establish a binding international instrument to address human rights abuses committed by transnational corporations and other business enterprises. In June 2014, The UN Human Rights Council agreed to launch negotiations towards a legally binding international framework on business and human rights and create an international body to judge and sanction them (TNI, 2015). Support for this process is a fundamental aspect of partnership building.