The Mekong Tourism Development Project [MTDP] is being implemented in three countries of the Greater Mekong Sub-region [GMS] – Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. This region is the fastest growing tourism destination in the world. Every year, millions of tourists visit the GMS with a wide variety of motivations and preferred styles of travel. Among these, there are thousands of independent
travellers who are interested to contribute to local economies in socially responsible ways,
so that their dollars benefit local people. These types of tourists are increasingly concerned about the effects tourism has on the environment and local way of life. The widening consumer niche market they represent is a critical demand factor that encourages investment in more sustainable forms of travel and
development.
to Responsible Tourism in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam is the first step by MTDP to serve both
responsible tourism operators in the GMS and responsible travellers.
What is ‘Responsible Tourism’?
Responsible travel is a form of tourism that supports cultural and environmental protection, equitable benefit sharing and the alleviation of poverty.
Specifically, responsible tourism, according to the Centre for Responsible Tourism (www.icrtourism.org):
• minimizes negative economic, environmental and social impacts
• generates greater economic benefits for local people and enhances the wellbeing of host communities, improves working conditions and access to the industry
• involves local people in decisions that affect their lives and life chances
• makes positive contributions to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage, to the maintenance of the world’s biodiversity
• provides more enjoyable experiences for tourists through more meaningful connections with local people, and a greater understanding of local cultural, social and environmental issues
• provides access for physically challenged people; and
• is culturally sensitive, engenders respect between tourists and hosts, and builds local pride and confidence.
Foreword by the Editor
Tourism is a soft target. Everyone loves to criticize it. But we’re all tourists. Even die-hard critics of tourism are themselves tourists. So the question is: how can we travel the right way – the responsible way?
There will never be a definitive answer because the subject is wholly subjective.
Nevertheless, it’s better to try and travel responsibly than walk away saying there are too many snags and caveats.
The Responsible Guide to Tourism in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam is therefore, we hope, the right book at the right time. Travel to the Greater Mekong Sub region, particularly, Cambodia, Laos and
Vietnam, is growing at over 20% a year and is likely to continue doing so in the years ahead.
But responsible tourism is not about destinations making money at any cost to the environment, heritage, dignity and well-being.
If responsible tourism is done well, both the host and the visitor benefit by exchanges of understanding and respect – as much as an exchange of currency. So the objective of this book is to show tourists how to meaningfully participate in responsible tourism activities by showing them where and how to do it. We have identified 88 responsible tourism activities that we think tourists should visit. In each write-up we have tried to describe “the experience” (from the tourist’s point of view) and explain “how it helps” (from the host’s point of view).
Our objectives were quite modest. We believed that raising some awareness of worthy activities was better than trying to write the definitive guide with strict rating systems and iron-clad rules for inclusion or exclusion.
We preferred common sense. If there are activities out there we failed to include, we apologize. To make amends we would like to hear about them for consideration in future editions. And if some of the activities included don’t, in your opinion, meet the criteria of responsible tourism, please tell us why and we will respond accordingly.
Our writers were given free rein to include an activity even if it satisfied just three or four of the seven criteria listed above. We believe tourism operators should be rewarded for good intentions
– and motivated to enhance the ‘responsible’ element of their services. Readers should remember
that many of the operators listed started their responsible tourism business without the benefit
of large amounts of investment, education, training or institutional support. They are doing it
because they feel it’s the right way to do it. And they’re right. The least we can do is forgive them
their lapses and encourage them to make amends and grow.
By the same measure, we as visitors have a responsibility to do our homework, learn about our
hosts’ culture and respect it. A tourist who smiles, learns a few words of the local language, dresses
appropriately and remains easy going, is well on the way to having a great travel experience in the
Greater Mekong Sub region. On the recommended tourism activities, future editions of the book may have more rigorous entry standards. Future editions may have a wider geographical coverage than Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. That is a decision for another day. Today, the Mekong Tourism Development Project and the Mekong Tourism Office have got the ball rolling in the right direction.
We look forward to hearing your feedback. On behalf of the Mekong Tourism Development
Project, we thank you for visiting the Greater Mekong Sub region. We believe it is one of the most awe-inspiring, inspirational, friendly and enchanting destinations in the world.
With The Responsible Guide to Tourism in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam to guide you, we hope that
you and your hosts have an enjoyable, rewarding and responsible travel experience.
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