The ideological role of Intergovernmental Organizations in the promotion of international tourism.

Abstract

The ideological role of intergovernmental organizations in the promotion of international tourism has caused controversies as governments try to balance regional objectives with national self-interest. This chapter uses content analysis to investigate the most significant declarations and propositions of the main intergovernmental organizations regarding international tourism during the past 50 years, assessing their ideological dimensions. The findings support the assumption that the discourses of intergovernmental organizations sustain the ideological nature of international tourism whilst promoting topics, products, practices and tourism models that contributes to an unequal interdependence between the different societies at stake, benefiting the most developed ones.

Tourism and Human Rights: A Complex Relationship

“…These perspectives are in opposition to critical stances that understand tourism as an international social phenomenon (Lanfant, 1992;Lanfant, Allcock, & Bruner, 1995), a total social phenomenon (Ferraz, 2017), a social phenomenon (proposed by the 'critical turn' of the millennium) (Pernecky, 2010), and a constructor and significator of worlds (Hollinshead, 2002). More diversity is also observed in the use of the concept of a tourism system, based on the idea that it is a model of interdependence of subsystems (such as the examples of the supply-demand or work-leisure relationship); in the discussion of models of tourism development 3 ; in the use of (positive and negative) impacts of tourism as a framework for its implementation; in the critical discussion of community intervention models and in determining who the stakeholders are; and in the study of power relationships and dimensions that are expressed in the tourism phenomenon (Farrel & Twinning-Ward, 2004;Ferraz, 2008Ferraz, , 2012Moufakkir & Burns, 2012;Netto & Lohman, 2008;Pearce & Moscardo, 1999;Tribe, 2009).…”

“…Concerning the implications of tourism on human rights, the first issue has to do with the ideological dimension of the social and expert discourse on tourism. Then, the apparent natural characteristic of the phenomenon or the assumption that the tourist practice would result from a mere self-determined decision of the individual, from the simple encounter between the availability of natural and cultural resources and a willingness to visit and enjoy them on the side of those who leave, hides the socially and historically contextualized dimension of the phenomenon, the social, economic, political and cultural nature of the encounter and the fact that the policies and decisions of the implementation and management of the phenomenon imply ideological choices and mechanisms of power, in which the interests and rights of some overlap those of others (Ferraz, 2008(Ferraz, , 2012.…”

“…In an international regime, the socio-historical dynamics and their contradictions are mirrored, some of the more or less dominant ideologies are materialized, and there are glimpses of forces' correlations between the various collective actors that strongly shape collective reality. We are in the international field where both individual and collective actors, States and international organizations act and define patterns of asymmetrical interdependence, drawing societal dynamics that affect all and cannot be deduced (only) from the formal dimension of the sovereign power of the State or relationships and intergovernmental organizations (Ferraz, 2008(Ferraz, , 2012. Concerning tourism, in particular, three issues need to be raised.…”

“…The UN's 1992 'Rio Declaration on Environment and Development' (RDED), coming from the 'Earth Summit' and proposing an 'Agenda 21', as well as the 2002 'Millennium Goals' meeting in Johannesburg (aimed at the 'Agenda 21' operationalization), are, in all respects, noteworthy as a summary indicator of the changes and transformations of the various rights. Environmental preservation, biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of resources seeking a fair and equitable sharing of their benefits, coupled with the preservation of cultural identities and socio-economic development, are presented as projects, objectives and practices free of tensions (Ferraz, 2008(Ferraz, , 2012. Moreover, they are framed by the request for a global market (mainly the financial one), the defense of economic deregulation and the progressive and significant replacement of the word sustainability with the term social responsibility (Ferraz, 2008(Ferraz, , 2012.…”

“…Environmental preservation, biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of resources seeking a fair and equitable sharing of their benefits, coupled with the preservation of cultural identities and socio-economic development, are presented as projects, objectives and practices free of tensions (Ferraz, 2008(Ferraz, , 2012. Moreover, they are framed by the request for a global market (mainly the financial one), the defense of economic deregulation and the progressive and significant replacement of the word sustainability with the term social responsibility (Ferraz, 2008(Ferraz, , 2012.…”