The charter for an ethical traveler

Tourism is the largest industry in the world.

We went from 25 million tourists worldwide in 1950 to 924 million in 2009. Growth is 4% per annum.

If this growth continues, the World Tourism Organization (WTO) expects 1.5 billion tourists worldwide for 2020, which represents 21% of world population.

This flow of tourist has severe consequences :

FOR THE ENVIRONMENT:

A large part of tourism is based on the rich environmental heritage of the region visited. In some areas, the environmental footprint left by tourism and tourists is much greater than that of the local inhabitants .

Tourist activity, in the end, is detrimental to development because it can exhaust or even degrade limited natural resources.

FOR THE POPULATION OF THE HOST COUNTRY :

Cultural erosion :

The aspirations of tourists / clients, closely linked to their culture, generate a standardization of holiday offers. Local people in the host country develop an organization and an offer in line with the tourists' frame of reference. Host populations are changing the place of destination to the societal and economic model of the guest populations. Host areas are thus losing their authenticity and traditions.

Clash of Cultures

Patterns of life differ from one country to another, rules of etiquette, forms of address, color codes...

Physical pressure, social stress factors
The deterioration of social conditions :

Particularly in developing host countries which do not have the same material wealth, creating a phenomenon of envy, frustration and certain forms of violence

Tourists are not always aware of their impact when they visit a foreign destination.

Many organizations have set up awareness campaigns precisely to avoid these adverse effects on host countries.

One of the best known associations is ATR, Acting for Responsible Tourism represented by its director Yves Godeau

The objective of this association is to practice and promote ITS LABEL which corresponds to a specific and clear framework for the implementation of sustainable tourism for the travel industry.

In addition, it has set up a charter aimed at tourists to raise awareness in sustainable tourism and in their impact on the host country.

PDF - View the charter for an ethical traveler of the association ATR

Plaisirs et Maisons de Provence would like to advise you to read the charter of the responsible tourist carefully, before leaving on vacation.