VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE   
   YEAR XXII - # 129   
   DATE 11-07-2014   
      
   Summary:   
   - MESSAGE FOR WORLD TOURISM DAY: HARMONY BETWEEN TOURISM AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES   
   - OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS   
      
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    MESSAGE FOR WORLD TOURISM DAY: HARMONY BETWEEN TOURISM AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES   
    Vatican City, 11 July 2014 (VIS) - The Pontifical Council for the Pastoral   
   Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples today published its message for World   
   Tourism Day 2014. Organised by the World Tourism Organisation, its theme this   
   year is "Tourism and Community Development". The message is signed by Cardinal   
   Antonio Maria Veglio and Bishop Kalathiparambil, respectively president and   
   secretary of the dicastery.   
    The text, published below in full, emphasises the link between community   
   development with the concept of full development characteristic of the social   
   doctrine of the Church, and highlights that human beings are the custodians,   
   not the owners, of creation. It refers to programmes for sustainable and   
   ethical tourism in disadvantaged areas and underlines the role that local   
   communities play in the defence and promotion of their natural and cultural   
   heritage, as well as the human and economic enrichment that responsible   
   tourism may offer to its protagonists, also favouring values such a mutual   
   respect and tolerance.   
    "1. Like every year, World Tourism Day is celebrated on September 27. An   
   event promoted annually by the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), the theme   
   for this year's commemoration is 'Tourism and Community Development'. Keenly   
   aware of the social and economic importance of tourism today, the Holy See   
   wishes to accompany this phenomenon from its own realm, particularly in the   
   context of evangelisation.   
    In its Global Code of Ethics, the UNWTO says that tourism must be a   
   beneficial activity for destination communities: 'Local populations should be   
   associated with tourism activities and share equitably in the economic, social   
   and cultural benefits they generate, and particularly in the creation of   
   direct and indirect jobs resulting from them'. That is, it calls on both   
   realities to establish a reciprocal relationship, which leads to mutual   
   enrichment.   
    The notion of 'community development' is closely linked to a broader concept   
   that is part of the Church's Social Teaching, which is 'integral human   
   development'. It is through this latter term that we understand and interpret   
   the former. In this regard, the words of Pope Paul VI are quite illuminating.   
   In his Encyclical Populorum Progressio, he stated that 'the development we   
   speak of here cannot be restricted to economic growth alone. To be authentic,   
   it must be well rounded; it must foster the development of each man and of the   
   whole man'.   
    How tourism can contribute to this development? To this end, integral human   
   development and, thus, community development in the field of tourism should be   
   directed towards achieving a balanced progress that is sustainable and   
   respectful in three areas: economic, social and environmental. By   
   'environmental', we mean both the ecological and cultural context.   
    2. Tourism is a key driver of economic development, given its major   
   contribution to GDP (between 3% and 5% worldwide), employment (between 7% and   
   8% of the jobs) and exports (30% of global exports of services).   
    At present, the world is experiencing a diversification in the number of   
   destinations, as anywhere in the world has the potential to become a tourist   
   destination. Therefore, tourism is one of the most viable and sustainable   
   options to reduce poverty in the most deprived areas. If properly developed,   
   it can be a valuable instrument for progress, job creation, infrastructure   
   development and economic growth.   
    As highlighted by Pope Francis, we are conscious that 'human dignity is   
   linked to work', and as such we are asked to address the problem of   
   unemployment with 'the tools of creativity and solidarity'. In that vein,   
   tourism appears to be one of the sectors with the most capacity to generate a   
   wide range of 'creative' jobs with greater ease. These jobs could benefit the   
   most disadvantaged groups, including women, youth or certain ethnic minorities.   
    It is imperative that the economic benefits of tourism reach all sectors of   
   local society, and have a direct impact on families, while at the same time   
   take full advantage of local human resources. It is also essential that these   
   benefits follow ethical criteria that are, above all, respectful to people   
   both at a community level and to each person, and avoid 'a purely economic   
   conception of society that seeks selfish benefit, regardless of the parameters   
   of social justice'. No one can build his prosperity at the expense of others.   
    The benefits of a tourism promoting 'community development' cannot be reduced   
   to economics alone: there are other dimensions of equal or greater importance.   
   Among these include: cultural enrichment, opportunities for human encounter,   
   the creation of 'relational goods', the promotion of mutual respect and   
   tolerance, the collaboration between public and private entities, the   
   strengthening of the social fibre and civil society, the improvement of the   
   community's social conditions, the stimulus to sustainable economic and social   
   development, and the promotion of career training for young people, to name   
   but a few.   
    3. The local community must be the main actor in tourism development. They   
   must make it their own, with the active presence of government, social   
   partners and civic bodies. It is important that appropriate coordination and   
   participation structures are created, which promote dialogue, make agreements,   
   complement efforts and establish common goals and identify solutions based on   
   consensus. Tourism development is not to do something 'for' the community, but   
   rather, 'with' the community.   
    Furthermore, a tourist destination is not only a beautiful landscape or a   
   comfortable infrastructure, but it is, above all, a local community with their   
   own physical environment and culture. It is necessary to promote a tourism   
   that develops in harmony with the community that welcomes people into its   
   space, with its traditional and cultural forms, with its heritage and   
   lifestyles. And in this respectful encounter, the local population and   
   visitors can establish a productive dialogue which will promote tolerance,   
   respect and mutual understanding.   
    The local community should feel called upon to safeguard its natural and   
   cultural heritage, embracing it, taking pride in it, respecting and adding   
   value to it, so that they can share this heritage with tourists and transmit   
   it to future generations.   
    Also, the Christians of that community must be capable of displaying their   
   art, traditions, history, and moral and spiritual values, but, above all, the   
   faith that lies at the root of all these things and gives them meaning.   
    4. The Church, expert in humanity, wishes to collaborate on this path towards   
   an integral human and community development, to offer its Christian vision of   
   development, offering 'her distinctive contribution: a global perspective on   
   man and human realities'.   
    From our faith, we can provide the sense of the person, community and   
   fraternity, solidarity, seeking justice, of being called upon as stewards (not   
   owners) of Creation and, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, continue to   
   collaborate in Christ's work.   
    Following what Pope Benedict XVI asked of those committed to the pastoral   
   care of tourism, we must increase our efforts in order to 'shed light on this   
   reality using the social teaching of the Church and promote a culture of   
   ethical and responsible tourism, in such a way that it will respect the   
   dignity of persons and of peoples, be open to all, be just, sustainable and   
   ecological'.   
    With great pleasure, we note how the Church has recognised the potential of   
   the tourism industry in many parts of the world and set up simple but   
   effective projects.   
      
   --- MPost/386 v1.21   
    * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)