Equitable Tourism Options Explained

Equitable Tourism Options (EQUATIONS)
Type:Research, campaign and advocacy non-profit
Founded Date:1985
Location:Bangalore, India
Coordinates:13.0077°N 77.6531°W
Area Served:India
Focus:Impacts of tourism on local communities in India
Homepage:http://www.equitabletourism.org

Equitable Tourism Options (EQUATIONS) is a research, campaign and advocacy NGO working on social, cultural, economic and environmental impacts of tourism on local communities in India. Their work is directed towards enabling non-exploitative, equitable and sustainable tourism in India. They function out of Bangalore, India and were founded in 1985.[1]

About EQUATIONS

This NGO works towards awareness and mitigation of the negative impacts of tourism in India. They primarily provide analysis, initiate campaigns, advocate for law and policy changes, and network with other groups working on the issues of tourism. They rely on their network of grassroots organisations, local communities, activists, researchers, unions and experts to build perspectives from the ground.[2] The work of EQUATIONS can be categorised into six broad themes across regions of India.

Child and tourism

EQUATIONS is a formal member of End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes - (ECPAT) International.[3] They work closely with ECPAT[4] on the mission to rid tourism of child exploitation.[5] Their main objectives are to advocate for social accountability and responsibility on the protection of children in tourism,[6] encourage collaborative and concerted action to combat the exploitation of children in tourism[7] and influence governments to incorporate child-friendly and gender-sensitive guidelines.[8]

Economic impacts and tourism

They evaluate the implications of international trade and economic policy on tourism development and consequent impact on local communities.[9] Since the early nineties, they have engaged with the issues of impact of globalisation,[10] trade and investment policies on tourism development.[11]

Ecosystems, communities and tourism

They examine tourism development from an environmental angle[12] and also linking it to the livelihoods, culture, way of living of communities dependent on natural resources.[13] They believe that tourism development must be environmentally just, respectful of the rights of local communities and sustainable.[14] EQUATIONS uses research grounded in grassroots realities and advocates[15] through networking with the government, the tourism industry, media, other civil society organisations and with communities.[16]

Governance, law and tourism

They monitor laws and policies and advocates concerns on the unregulated expansion of tourism in violation of rights of local communities and self governance at the grassroots level with various ministries and departments.[17] They also work with communities and individuals to build awareness and capacity towards exercising their rights in relation to tourism planning and implementation in their local region.[18]

Women and tourism

Their work examines ways in which women can have greater access, control and ownership over livelihoods and natural resources as well as access to the benefits in the context of tourism.[19]

Tourism education

They engage with students, academicians and tourism institutions to build awareness on tourism impacts, encouraging research and welcoming interns. Their attempt is to integrate critical perspectives on the impacts of tourism within tourism curriculum to further understanding of how tourism can be more equitable.[20]

EQUATIONS vision

EQUATIONS envisions a just and equitable world, where all people have the freedom and the right to determine their lives and future. They envision forms of tourism which are non-exploitative, where decision making is democratised, and access to and benefits of tourism are equitably distributed. They believe in the capacity of individuals and communities to actualise their potential for the well-being of society.[21]

Campaigns and advocacy

EQUATIONS initiates campaigns and supports people's struggles, against unjust, undemocratic and unsustainable forms of tourism. They advocate people's concerns with the local, regional and national government. Their advocacy aims for decentralised democracy and that communities should have a decisive voice in the access, control and ownership over their livelihood, natural resources and common resources. They try to ensure people's experiences influences changes in tourism policies.[22]

Some of EQUATIONS campaigns and advocacy literature

Recent publications

EQUATIONS provides access to all their publications.

2010

2009

2008

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: About EQUATIONS . 1 February 2011.
  2. Web site: Myriad Faces of Tourism . Kunal N Talgeri . Outlook Business . India . 4 September 2009.
  3. Web site: ECPAT International South Asia Directory . 1 February 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110302232456/http://www.ecpat.net/EI/Ecpat_directory.asp?groupID=6&ID=67 . 2 March 2011 . dead .
  4. News: Male prostitution, it's common! . Joeanna Rebello Fernandes . https://web.archive.org/web/20121104071719/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-07-13/man-woman/29765161_1_male-prostitution-boys-easy-money . dead . 4 November 2012 . India . . 18 July 2010.
  5. News: Child exploitation advocacy campaign goes international . Alma B. Sinumlag . Northern Dispatch (nordis) Weekly . North Philippines . 22 August 2010.
    News: Abuse of India's boys 'is rising' . Jyotsna Singh . BBC News . Delhi, India . 19 November 2008.
  6. News: Clamping down on paedophilia . S.Anil Radhakrishnan . https://web.archive.org/web/20090202125150/http://www.hindu.com/2008/12/26/stories/2008122650750200.htm . dead . 2 February 2009 . Kerala, India . . 26 December 2008.
  7. News: Predators on the Prowl . M.G.Radhakrishnan . India Today . India . 9 July 2010.
  8. News: Centre's code push to wipe off child sex tourism stain . Deccan Herald . New Delhi, India . 2 February 2010.
  9. Web site: Peoples' Forum against ADB calls for mobilization against the Asian Development Bank at the institution's annual meetings in May . Bank Information Center . 3 April 2006 . 11 January 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110717064244/http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.2710.aspx . 17 July 2011 . dead .
    News: Tourism And Its Impact . Imtiaz Muqbil . Bangkok Post . Bangkok, Thailand . 2 February 2009 .
  10. News: Slew of programmes on Tourism Day . https://web.archive.org/web/20091002000426/http://www.hindu.com/2009/09/27/stories/2009092753840400.htm . dead . 2 October 2009 . Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India . . 27 September 2009.
  11. News: Long-term tourism strategy vital for sustainable development . The Hindu Business Line . Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India . 9 September 2006 .
    News: Focus on 'Responsible Tourism' in N-E region . Karma Samten Yangzom . The Hindu Business Line . Gangtok, Sikkim, India . 25 August 2010 . ; News: ??? . Sankar Radhakrishnan . The Hindu Business Line . India . 13 May 2008 . 12 January 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080724234005/http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/05/13/stories/2008051350120900.htm . 24 July 2008 . dead . dmy-all .
  12. News: Call for steps to mitigate climate change impact . https://web.archive.org/web/20081008021340/http://www.hindu.com/2007/05/24/stories/2007052401550200.htm . dead . 8 October 2008 . Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India . . 24 May 2007.
  13. News: A voice for the voiceless Adivasis . https://web.archive.org/web/20071109054022/http://www.hindu.com/2007/11/06/stories/2007110650870200.htm . dead . 9 November 2007 . Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India . . 6 November 2007.
    News: Forest dwellers for more rights . The Telegraph . Ranchi, Jharkhand, India . 5 November 2007.
  14. Web site: Building permits for resort at Kumbalangi cancelled . Kerala Tourism Watch . Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India . 4 August 2008 . 12 January 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110726215732/http://www.keralatourismwatch.org/node/106 . 26 July 2011 . dead .
  15. News: India's tourism industry lacks accountability . OneWorld South Asia . 29 September 2008.
  16. Web site: Tourism plans for Andamans go on, tsunami notwithstanding . Syed Liyakhat . Down to Earth . India . 31 March 2007 .
    News: Biosphere in peril . Pankaj Sekhsaria . The Hindu . India . 24 June 2004 . 12 January 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110310200554/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mag/2004/06/13/stories/2004061300440700.htm . 10 March 2011 . usurped .
  17. News: NGO expresses concern over tourism Bill . The Hindu . Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India . 12 July 2010.
    Web site: Union Ministry of Tourism to evolve a Code of Conduct for all tourism service providers . Press Information Bureau, Government of India . India . 23 November 2009.
  18. News: Responsibility in tourism should go beyond 3Rs . https://web.archive.org/web/20080506174033/http://www.hindu.com/2008/05/04/stories/2008050450080200.htm . dead . 6 May 2008 . Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India . . 4 May 2008.
  19. News: Systematic ways needed to empower women . https://web.archive.org/web/20071014055628/http://hindu.com/2007/09/26/stories/2007092660910300.htm . dead . 14 October 2007 . . 26 September 2007.
    News: No Visuals that 'Commodify' Women . R.Ayyapan . The New Indian Express . Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India . 19 October 2007. ; News: Call for Databank on Women Working in Tourism . The New Indian Express . Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India . 26 September 2007.
  20. Web site: Essay Writing and Innovation Presentation Competition for Students . 27 September 2009.
    Web site: Tourism Education .
  21. Web site: About EQUATIONS .
  22. Web site: Campaigns and Advocacy .
  23. Web site: World Tourism Day 2010 statement from EQUATIONS . TourismConcern . UK . 27 September 2010 . 19 January 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110720090821/http://www.tourismconcern.org.uk/uploads/file/Equations-response%20to%20WTD10.pdf . 20 July 2011 . dead .
  24. News: NGO expresses concern over tourism Bill . The Hindu . Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India . 12 July 2010.
  25. Web site: Zones of Contestation: Call For a Moratorium on Mega-Resorts . Kerala Tourism Watch . Kerala, India . 19 January 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101130104734/http://www.keralatourismwatch.org/node/135 . 30 November 2010 . dead .
  26. News: Building permits for resort at Kumbalangi cancelled . S. Anil Radhakrishnan . https://web.archive.org/web/20080920074916/http://www.hindu.com/2008/08/04/stories/2008080455800400.htm . dead . 20 September 2008 . Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India . . 4 August 2008.
  27. Web site: Equitable Tourism Options (EQUATIONS) | Humanity-Equality-Destiny? - Implicating Tourism in the Comm . Equitabletourism.org . 12 January 2012 . 23 March 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120323224440/http://equitabletourism.org/stage/readfull.php?AID=959 . dead .
  28. News: Commonwealth Games will not boost tourism, says report . https://web.archive.org/web/20100801022452/http://www.hindu.com/2010/07/28/stories/2010072861140400.htm . dead . 1 August 2010 . New Delhi, India . . 28 July 2010 .
    News: Games rush claim exaggerated, says NGO report . Ambika Pandit . The Times of India . New Delhi, India . 28 July 2010 . ; News: No tourists in sight – Commonwealth Games and Tourism . BBC News (Hindi) . New Delhi, India . 28 August 2010 . Hindi . ; News: 1 lakh tourists for Games. Really? . The Hindustan Times . New Delhi, India . 27 July 2010 . 22 December 2010 . 20 October 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121020075244/http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/newdelhi/1-lakh-tourists-for-Games-Really/Article1-578676.aspx . dead .
  29. Web site: Equitable Tourism Options (EQUATIONS) | Envisioning Tourism in India . Equitabletourism.org . 12 January 2012.
  30. Web site: Envisioning tourism in India . https://archive.today/20120802014752/http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/content/envisioning-tourism-india . dead . 2 August 2012 . India Environmental Portal . 1 February 2011 .
  31. Web site: Equitable Tourism Options (EQUATIONS) | The Challenge and Prospects of Tourism in Goa Today . Equitabletourism.org . 12 January 2012.
  32. Web site: Equitable Tourism Options (EQUATIONS) | Claiming the Right to Say No . Equitabletourism.org . 12 January 2012 . 17 March 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120317074804/http://www.equitabletourism.org/stage/readfull.php?AID=535 . dead .
  33. News: Tourism can promote good human relations . https://web.archive.org/web/20121104065150/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-12-06/goa/28098002_1_spiritual-dimension-ferrao-centre-for-responsible-tourism . dead . 4 November 2012 . Panaji, Goa, India . . 6 December 2009.
    News: Tourism is a powerful tool . . 6 December 2009. ; Web site: In tourism, Goa church sees great new tool . Thaindian News . Panaji, Goa, India . 15 December 2009.
  34. Web site: Equitable Tourism Options (EQUATIONS) | Nature, Markets, Tourism . Equitabletourism.org . 12 January 2012.
  35. Web site: Nature, Markets, Tourism - Exploring Tourism's claims to Conservation in India . Global Focus Aotearoa . 1 February 2011 .
    Web site: Ecotourism in India . Global Forest Coalition . 1 February 2011 .
  36. Web site: Equitable Tourism Options (EQUATIONS) | Making a Difference - Dossier on Community Engagement on Nat . Equitabletourism.org . 12 January 2012 . 17 March 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120317074909/http://www.equitabletourism.org/stage/readfull.php?AID=437 . dead .
  37. Web site: Making a Difference - Dossier on Community Engagement on Nature Based Tourism in India . The African Safari Lodge Foundation . 1 February 2011.
  38. Web site: Equitable Tourism Options (EQUATIONS) | Coastal Regulation in India - Why do we need a new Notificat . Equitabletourism.org . 12 January 2012.
  39. Web site: Equitable Tourism Options (EQUATIONS) | Redefining Tourism - Experiences and Insights from Rural Tou . Equitabletourism.org . 12 January 2012 . 17 March 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120317074917/http://www.equitabletourism.org/stage/readfull.php?AID=405 . dead .
  40. Web site: Equitable Tourism Options (EQUATIONS) | Sustainability in Tourism - A Rural Tourism Model - A Review . Equitabletourism.org . 12 January 2012.
  41. Web site: Myriad Faces of Tourism . Kunal N Talgeri . Outlook Business . India . 4 September 2010.
  42. Web site: Equitable Tourism Options (EQUATIONS) | Rethink Tourism in the Andamans-Research Report . Equitabletourism.org . 12 January 2012.
  43. Web site: Rethink Tourism in the Andamans . Express Travel World . India . 31 July 2008 . 22 December 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101126055050/http://expresstravelworld.com/20080731/management04.shtml . 26 November 2010 . dead .
    News: Rethink Tourism in Andamans: report . Surabhi Agarwal . The Financial Express . India . 11 August 2008 .
  44. Web site: Equitable Tourism Options (EQUATIONS) | Unholy Nexus: Male Child Sexual Exploitation in Pilgrim Tour . Equitabletourism.org . 12 January 2012.
  45. News: Sin in sacred places . Deccan Chronicle . Secunderabad, India . 29 November 2009 .
    Web site: ECPAT International-South Asia Publications-Unholy Nexus . 22 December 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110602201204/http://www.ecpat.net/EI/SA_Publications.asp . 2 June 2011 . dead . ; News: Pilgrim sites turn sex tourism hubs . Chetan Chauhan . Hindustan Times . New Delhi, India . 13 March 2009 . 24 December 2010 . 26 January 2013 . https://archive.today/20130126085338/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Pilgrim-sites-turn-sex-tourism-hubs/Article1-388862.aspx . dead .
  46. Web site: Equitable Tourism Options (EQUATIONS) | IFIs and Tourism: Perspectives and Debates . Equitabletourism.org . 12 January 2012.
  47. Book: Change Tourism, Not Climate! . Anita Pleumarom . 978-967-5-41210-3 . Third World Network . 2009.
  48. Web site: Equitable Tourism Options (EQUATIONS) | Public Purpose: How the Tourist Destination of Tomorrow con . Equitabletourism.org . 12 January 2012.
  49. Web site: Equitable Tourism Options (EQUATIONS) | Right To Information And Tourism . Equitabletourism.org . 12 January 2012 . 17 March 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120317074952/http://www.equitabletourism.org/stage/readfull.php?AID=422 . dead .
  50. Web site: Equitable Tourism Options (EQUATIONS) | Rights of the Child in the Context of Tourism . Equitabletourism.org . 12 January 2012.
  51. Web site: Equitable Tourism Options (EQUATIONS) | Impacts Of The Proposed Himalayan Ski Village Project In Kullu, Himachal Pradesh . Equitabletourism.org . 12 January 2012.
  52. Web site: Greenwash and bluewash and all at the same time, note the use of "eco" and "responsible" tourism . FairTourism? . 22 December 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100926093851/http://www.fairtourism.org/blog/2010/04/24/greenwash-and-bluewash-and-all-same-time-note-use-eco-and-responsible-tourism . 26 September 2010 . dead .

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