Volume 3 Issue 3 lan 1995
For Private Circulation Only
A Time to ReJlect
By the time you receiae this copy of the ANLetter, some major issues
in the kind of actiaism that seaeral of us are inuolued in, wiII be in
for tating times. As the country is draum increasingly and not
unexpectedly, into the aortex of free-market economics, a lot of the
basic freedoms are being incessantly eased away from the reach of
the cunmon persan.
The process of 'Iiberalisation' is structurally such thnt it forces
millisns of us to be bystanders of the caaalcade of progress. What
better form of tightening the organising structures of society (tlmt
it communes with its destiny 'standard of lioing'), than raising the
bogey of disintegration, chaos and anarclty? A ionstant reference to
the exarnples of such dis-organising elernents is the basis of
containing dissent utithin the dominant discourse. Dissent which is
basis of a functional democra'cy is today seen as the road-block on
the path of progress.
Of course, the smnrter oies amongst us ill be better off, participating
in the process of the politico-scimtific ascendancy that is emerging
now. this participation is justified by rejecting dissent as a functional
rmlity in the process of eaoluing netoer ways of lfuing and being.
A more insidious process is that of creating a make belieae world of
the'politically correct' leading to co-option. Take the case of the
proaisions made by the Ministry of Enaironmcnt & Forests
regarding Enaironmental Impacts Assessment. Born out of a
concerted public exercise of instilling participation as the core aalue
was a regulatory body, the Enaironmmtal lmpacts Assessment
Agency (EIAA), which in consultation with a committee of non-
gwernmental organisations Taas to eaahrale projects - new,
modifications/ expansion of existing ones. The amendment to the
notifications' states that the consultation with the committee of
NGOs wiII be at the discretion of the EIAA and that only those
people liaing around the the project site are eligible to participate
in the assessmrnt process.
What is interesting to obserae is the assumptions that underline
these sets of actions. There is a process of leading credence to the
ce4tralising process of creating a unitary cell with judgmental
?traa anz ap,huu to acfiadaze a44q ol t/re taeaZeta,(, eto f/a, eoeatofuA"r. ?ka4p eezddt
aa afftzop:te:ateq atd 4zid eo a. eofrr' ol tlo aateneat /ao aa .dlotwrcatlot . 7Ao
aaeo@. b t/z anficho at?p t44ae al t e azliou atd, aat
pswers, which because it is supposed to be shared utith NGOs
becomes legitimate. There are no contradictions in the intunal logic
with which this process works. For, the primary assurnption is that
the common person has no empowered subjectiaity. Thuefore the
decision of her/his future would haue to be determind by this
polito-scientific class and thut as the'libertarinn' ualues of this class
become a threat to the oaerarching goal of 'Iiberalisation' wen the
rEresmtatiae participation is gtaen the go-W, while
representatiaism is itself questionable.
The other serious issue thai this raises is thnt, it opens the debate
of tlu 'insidu outsider' argummt through a new aaenue whcn it
states thnt only people liaing around the project area haae accus to
such informntion. Thueby, stating thnt public interest has narrow
definitions and better still the determination of public interest will
reside in structures that haae themselaes dubious records of ensuring
participatory processes. Meanwhile, a Constitution Bench of the
Suprune Court is proposd to hear the case filed way back in 1982
in which interalia, the ability of a strangu to initiate action before
that Court in public interest unless that stranger has a direct intuest,
has beefi raised.
Concunently, thue is the reasoning in the Ministry of Tourism that
the ministries of tourism, culture and enaironment be merged to
make their functioning, especially promotion of tourism, more
ffictiae and hurdle-free. And this so that these departments do not
uiau the sqme isstres diffuently, leading to multiplicity of
intupretations. The premise being thnt there is only one version
possible that which supports the marlcet rationale.
In continuing to struggle for a political psychology that allows a
plethora of possibilities, we haae to be carefitl about copying the
image of the structures that we are in dissonance with. A possible
opening in the midst of thue dark foreboding clouds is that there
would haue to be a renetaed aigour in working usith communities
and be catq:gtic to their self-empowering strategies.
K.T .Sr,"Ltl'
 luroSrOUernr-

I share with you some observations and questions on tourism
f policy, its implementations, and tourism activists in
L developing countries. I will use illustrations from Goa and I
want to know about Kerala.
There is considerable discrepanry between the Tourism policy of
the Central Government and tourism arrival/departure behaviour
in India. For one, out-bound tourism out numbers in-bound tourist
arrivals despite the policy'sobjective of discouraging theformer
and encouraging the latter.
When it comes to in-bound tourism (the major concern of this
seminar), the policy's sole aim is to encourage the arrival of 'high
spenders'so as to increase foreign exchange earnings. Here too, we
find amajor discrepancybetween policyand practicesome of which
I illustrate below
This policy is far from unique as it is shared by every other
country of the world with the exception of Japan. What the
policy demands, is 'niche' marketing. To my mind it is not
possible to market India to a niche without changing India's
global image in some way. The analogy that is sometimes evoked
to explain such an exercise is corporate image management
strategies where it might be proposed to refurbish old and
rundown hotels, give them a new image and market the hotel to an
upper market segment. The point is that global representations of
Nations are constructed historically and politically and have to be
understood through a semiotic where power and asymmehy are
critical. It is simplistic to use behavioural assumption to
political pressures (such as a village having no connection with
tourism in Coa gets its roads flood-lit because its MLA is associated
in the Tourism Department in some capacity). The three crore
rupees received by the Goa Govemment for the exposition of
the body of St. Francis Xavier is yet another illustrationof an even t
that is designed to attract natives and domestic tourists, though
the expenditure is borne in theinterestof attractingintemational
tourists. UIhile no studies quantifying such transfers are available,
these cannot be seen as mere aberrations or deviances. All
investments are necessarily refracted through social and political
filters, deflecting from the implementation of stated policy.
It is therefore not sulprising that ever since the late eighties when
the Centre has announced its policy of attracting high spenders,
Goa has paradoxically seen an increase in the much more modest
spending charter tourists while FIIs have remained constant
(see Table). Notwithstanding the rhetoric of changing the market,
Goa has followed the classical tourist area life cycle, and is tending
to peak with charter tourists.
International Tourist Arrivals in Goa: Distributed as Charter
and Non-Charter
Foreign Charter Non-charter
tourist arrivals tourist arrivals tourist arrivale
Year A B C=A-B
1985{6 8&838 3,568 85,207

extrapolate experiences of renovating hotels to transforming fK-87 7,03,444 4,40\ gg,Mg

images of countries (even that of a niche) as some marketing
people have proposed. 87{,8 86,479 5,419 81,060

Besides the policy being based on problematic assumptions, there

88€9 93,M3 9,705 83,338

are crucial discrepancies between poliry and implementation. To 89-90 97,555 9,3't6 8&340
illustrate, Govemment spending is aimed at infrastructure
development and marketing support. Howeveq, most State 90-91 91,982 1815 85,167
Govemments (Kerala maybe one of theexceptions) havenotshown
much enthusiasm and much of the planned budget remains
91-92 96,U3 L7,102 79,74't

unspent.l 92-93 7,28,89 39,87t 88,581

While the Central Government is concemed with eaming foreign
exchange the State Governments have other prioritie. High
spenders who bring in the dollar do not generate employment and
regional development, as much as other types of tourists.
Further, a number of factors influence the expenditJre of State
Govemments. The Tourism Department of Goa has organised
festivals such as 'Carnival' or the recently concluded
'International Food Festival' with financial assistance from the
Central Govemment. These festivals attract natives rather than
tourists and even the tourists that do come are domestic
tourists. The various expenditures on infrastructure development
for tourism have to be incurred in keeping with local industry. and
Source Tourism Minister Shri Pandurang D. Raut in the Goa
Legislative Assembly on 31/3/7992
Quite incontrast to a rhetoric of intervention and change at the level
of poliry formation, expendifure and implementation ends up being
driven by the industry or local pressures. It is tempting to we the
above interpretation to suspect the motives of Government but
it is more instructive to understand the global positioning which
determines unattainable poliry objectives, and industry and local
contexts which channel investments in infrastructure. This
paradox must be seen.rs reflecting on the one hand the inability of
India (or most of our fellow aspirants in the third world) to conhol
its global image (which in turn determines the nature of tourist
demand) or at the regional level to manipulate the tourist area life
cycle premised on a semiotic of consumption and difference in the
modern world.
An aside: If newspaper reports are right, Kerala seems to aspire to
do a Goa 2 in terms of tourism development and arrivals. There
is an attempt to skip stages in the tourist area life cycle- avoid
the explorers and aim for the high spenders. I am not optimistic
about Kerala's efforts. I am afraid that the rather vigorous
marketing of 'God'sOwn Country' will make itsuspect in the
eyes of dollar bearing angels. A deeper understanding of the
semiotic of tourist attractions is called for.
Thus far my comments have been within the tourism policy
perspective.
A more radical critique has emerged from the tourism activistt
led by the movement called the JGF (|agrut Goenkaranchi Fauz -
Vigilant Goans Army.) and other grouPs. The initial resPonse of
tourism activists highlighted the loss of traditional occupations
and cultural degradation brought on by the 'hippies' in the late
sixties and seventies, etc. Gradually environmental concerns
began to dominate the movement. During this period the JGF
gained international recognition. As strategy the Government and
industry have responded by trying to discredit the movement.
Howeveq, the industry and Govemment have had to be more
cautious of their plans and violations of environmental regulations.
So long as the movement was confined to the courts and the press,
it amounted to a proxy battle in the name of the 'people'. Industry
and government were cautious but their caution and their energies
were directed towards using loopholes in the law, delays by the
courts etc. to overcome the obstacles presented by the activists.
Over the last few years there has been a shift in tourism
development and the movement.
1. The size of tourism projects have grown demanding larger Iands
for projects such as golf courses, the ]apanese village etc.
2. The projects have therefore had to shift from the traditional
touriit destination area in Central Goa (Old Conquests)3 to the
New Conquest.
3. The Government has taken upon itself the task of acquiring land
and handing it over to the Promoters.
The demand for land of these projects comes into conflict with
prospective plans that villagers have for the use of this la.nda and
in North Goa the new tourism projects are likely to up_set the edsting
tourist arrivals which are integrated in the villages.5
The movement has therefore been able to,
1. mobilise the villages and at the momenthas preempted the
developments of these projects and
2. articulate their objections through the local democratic
institutions such as the Panchayat. (\A/hile some activists might
be critical of the legitimacy the Panchayats enjoy, this is not true
of the wider society. Movements have been more successful
where they are able to articulate their demands through
legitima te institutions).
The movement is also aware that once tourists arrive they
generate options, and expectations among the people. Hence their
suggestion "The people must be equipped to block the starting of a
destructive project at its concePtion stage".b
The JGF has pioneered the demand for a reconsideration of the
propagation of softer forms of tourism from within the
Intemational Movement for altemate forms of tourism. The JGF
highlights neo-colonialism and class as the causes for the
present 'destructive' tourism policy in the third world. While the
link between global structures and tourism policy and practice
is essential, I am not sure of how the fight against tourism could
lead to the dismantlingof the present model of development - the
core of the JGF agenda. More specifically in the case of Goa, where
infrastructure developments have led to rising expectations, I am
unsure if a groject could always be blocked, even in its conception
stage itself./
Another issue that has engaged the tourism activists is the
'Representation of Goa'. The activists have demanded that the
representation of Goa as'westernised' is a distorted image
presented by the Government. While the activists have protested
the commodification of a distorted image of Goa, there is an
intermittent debate in Goa as to what constitutes Goan Culture.s
This representation of Goa to the outside has drawn flak from a
variety of opposing views. On the one hand Hindu revivalist have
argued that the westernised image is not the true image of Goa
but merely an aberration of colonialism. On the other hand, the
Catholic community (identified with the westernised image) has
been upset with the mis-represented and the distortion of their
culture being used to attract tourists. Tourism throws a
representation of culture and identity into the global market of
signs. What follows inevitably is a repositioning of identity within
the global community. The contests over identity are bound to
increase and tourism is a facilitator for such contests. The difficulty
with retrievals of images of the past toconstituteidentityisthat
such revivals are themselves colonial constructions9 posing the
question of how are we to engage with the other in our past?
In the case of Goa, the local administration has tried to be a wee
bit sensitive in its own activities not out of conviction but due to
pressures. It washes its hand of the responsibility of policing hotel
and tour operators. The Central Govemment refuses to take
cognizance of these areas of conflict.
The academic study of impacts ignore crucial and intangible
questions such as those of culture and representation that are
generated with the arrival of tourism. These indirect
consequences of tourism can be critical within the region not only
for culture but also for demographic and social
transformation. In Goa, for instance, a number of residential
colonies have been coming up for NRIs. These colonies which are
designed as investment opportunities, for NRIs to hedge against
inflation, have long term effects on land use and costs which are
detrimental to native interests economically and politically.
Strucfural Adjustments currently underway are directed towards
consolidating the market. I have argued that the market has
always been driving tourism in India notwithstanding the rhetoric
about atLracting particular market segments. The trend will
therefore continue with less rhetoric about market intervention.
I,1/hat will change is the social and economic context in which
tourism arrives.
While the demandsupply, growth and efficiency increase, the
middle class, particularly the fixed income middle class, such as
academics and government officials will find their relative
economic positions failing- and many of us are beginning to feel
the pinch (e.9. life saving drugs). On the other hand a vigorous
consumer culture will ensure that the middle class aspirations will
continue to escalate. Chasing our ever increasing dreams will be
our constant preoccupation. The category of concem is those who
fall below the demand curve. What is going to be the fate of these
people?
The poliry of liberalisation moves on and as of now there is little
in sight to suggest any prospects for its dismantling. The
possibility for an altemative model of development seems far.
This makes the task of a critique of the established mode of critique
even more urgent and there is little forthcoming on that front too.
I therefore find myself in a situation of ambivalence where on
the one hand I am uncomfortable with the onrushing changes and
on the other I can see no way out. The academia itself has long
abandoned its illusions of neutrality in understanding society.
Much as I enjoy the exploration, I am haunted by the line from
Marx's "...the point, however, is to change it." I 7.
Department of Sociology, Goa University.
Paper presented at the National Seminar on Tourism, Development,
Globalisation and Justice held on 3-4 December 1994 at Kochi, Kerala,
organised by EQUATIONS and School of Social Sciences, M.G. University,
Kottayam.
1. Sunil Jain "lburism Policy Snags', Economic Times, June 30, 1994 as
abstracted in Docrrmentation Update, Vo1.2 No.4-4EQUATIONS
2. Official data shows that both Goa and Kerala receive about one lakh
international arrivals each. However, it is important to note that Goa
collects its data from retums submitted by Hotels leading to
under-reporting (particularly foreign nationals of Goan origins who stay
with friends and relative.) Kerala, I prcsume, uses the more standard
WTO recomrnended practice of recording arrivals at thepointof entry
and departure. As the operational definitions are different this could
result in Goa's figures being unreported as compared to Kerala. I might
require to be corrected on this point, if my information is wrong.
3. The Old conquests have had over four centuries ofcolonial rule and
enjoy a higher population density, better infrastructure, higher per
ourists arc,by definitiory not ieen as people who embody
social relations. Their positions and roles as wider agents
of social change are ignored. There is, therefore a
tendency to view tourism as an unproblematic and apolitical
activity that is beyond a political critique. It is for this reason that
Govemments and inter-governmental agencies concerned with
tourism have generally not been questioned on who makes
Tourism policies and what the thrust of such policies should be.
The World Tourism Organisation (VVIO) sees the role of policy as
the means by which Government motivations can be balanced
with private sector motivations. This is primarily because it
views Tourism as one of the few development options for third
world countries, and a means of participation in the Intemational
trade in services, which form 70"h of GDP in the industrialised
countries and about 50% in many developing countries. Sirnilar
percentages are observed with regard to the share of the services
capita income and other development indicators, than the new
conquests,which have experienced only two centuries of colonial rule
and occupy a larger part of the land area of Goa.
4. In bothKeralaandGoa agriculturallabour costs arehigh. However
-agriculture
in Goa is seen as unremunerative and the-peasants are
Steadily loosing interest in it. This is rather different from Kerala. What
could be the reason?
5. There are also other forms of conflict between the early FIT
tourism and
charter tourism. For instance the charter tourist prefer to travel bv
coach (bus). This,leaves the many taxi operaiors that have been
licensed during the period of growth of the FITs idle and they have
protested the use of coaches by Hotels.
5. Roland Martins, 'Peoples Action on Tourism in Goa - A Future
Perspective' paper presented at the consultation: RethinkingTourism,.
Bah.L994.
Some of the interior villages lying outside the tourism belt have
demanded that the govemment should promote them as tourist
destinations. These villages are obviously looking for the opportunities
that tourism has opened out in the villages of the tourist belt.
8. SuchaquestioningontheidentityofGoabythe people of the state is
often seen as unique to Goa. At a Seminar on'Understanding Goan
' Culture' a partibipant from Kerala remarked that she could not imagine
a question in Kerala as regards to'what is Kerala culfure'. This question
of identity within Goa is sometimes understood merely as a
consequence of the vigorous policy of conversion of the Portuguese and
its fall out in terms of a section in the population seen as having a distinct
identity. I am of the opinion that the question is also because Goa joined
the Union much after the linguistic division of States and hence the
issue of dominance of one culture/language over the other
sub-regional cultures that have come up in some State only recently has
and will continue to be debated in Goa from tirne to.time.
9. See Romila Thapar, Cultural Tiasaction and Early India: Tradition and
Patronage, Oxford University Press, Delhi (1987) foor h detailed
discussiorl on the colonial origins of the concept of. a Hindu Indan
culture.
sector in overall employment. Similarly, Tourism services account
fot 7/3rd of totil exports of commercial services. Consumption
abroad is the most important mode of the delivery of Tourism
services, and it accounts for the greatest volume of trade.
WTO therefore reconunends that all countries, to realise the value
of the process of liberalisatiory should have a Tourism poliry,
which defines the means by which the objectives of Tourism
development are to be realised. To be'meaningfu l' these objectives
should be'fixed'in a tourism master or developmentplan which
has the sanction of the Government.
In this view, thecentralobjectiveof Tourism poliry is toachieve
balanced and competitive tourism development, with the partial
objectives of job creatiorL overcome regional backwardness,
conservation of nafure and heritage etc. For competitive
development the following factors are important.
o The Value Added Effech Through incorporation of local inputs,
to retain increasing proportions of value added income.
r Transfer of Technology Effect lncreasing know how and
technology incorporated in these services.
o Positive Foreign Exchange Effect To propitiate in{lows of
foreign investment and simultaneously reduce the import
content of tourism services.
r Effech By
Enhancing The Employment increasing the
proportion of local workers to foreign staff.
Experience however shows that as the tourism industry draws on
a country's infrastructure, the more developed and complex the rest
of the economy, the greater are the economic gains and the power
of the econo.my to retain the value added in the country.
To ensure a competitive Tourism growth, Tourism professionals and
officials are tobe encouraged to takeanactive part in the decision
making process.
For achieving rapid growth five key areas have been identified.
1. Socio-demographic factors of demand
2. Technology development and changes
3. Current trends in consumer behaviour
4. Strategy of sustainable development
5. Development and improvement of human resources
These factors will determine international Tourism flows in the
next decade.
We have to critique the existing thrust of our Tourism Policy and
locate alternatives within the reality of these factors. We have to see
how these issues are going to increase the unequal trade in global
tourism.
South Asian destinations have a marginal share of the
InternationalTourism marketandyetthe60'svision of the economic
and developmental benefits and foreign exchange eamings from
Tourism continue to dominate the developmental debate. Tourism
is penetrating deeper into our political and economic thinking and
our culfure.
In reply to a recent question in the Indian Parliament, the Minister
for Civil Aviation and Tourism stated that in pursuance of the
National Action Plan for Tourism (NAPT), an integrated plan to
attract 5 million tourists by 1996-97 will require an investment of
Rs 39,000 crores. This plan is being pushed despite the fact that
tourist arrivals increased by 2.8% and rupee earnings by 14.6%.
These figures hide the fact that India's global share dropped from
0.72%in 1988 to 0.46oh and receipts to 0.51%.
The Department of Tourism has accepted the U.5. worldview that
India is unsafe and has identified poor conununications and bad
management as the reasons for our poor performance. We have no
empowered subjectivity to deterrnine the magnitude of Tourism
flows and we accept the representative image of India that is
promoted abroad.
A clear example of this attitude is reflected in recent data released
by the Department of Tourism (DOT), Government of Lrdia. Travel
Agents aciounted for 14.6Yo of arrivals, the DOT information offices
abroad accounted for 12"/",Intemational carriers brought in7.4"h,
the national carrier brought in 7.77" and Hotel chains brought in
4.77o, Charters brought in 50%. 80'/" of the tourists were ethnic
Indians. . stop being consumer centered. Its focus should be on that form of
If we look at the performance of foreign airlines, we see another
illustration, these airlines have mopped up revenues of Rs 3524
crores of which Rs 1.940 crore, have been repatriated (55%)
Lufthansa has repatriated66.48% of its profits whilst, committing
Rs 30 core to an India Tourism Development Fund, to be taken
from the amount to be paid in royalty to Air India.
Meanwhile Tour operators and Hoteliers have been having a
slanging match over dual tariffs whidr hoteliers introduced to
cover losses due to devaluation of the rupee. Operators view the
dual tariff as discriminatory to tourists as well as reducing their
profits in a price sensitive market. Hoteliers hold that rates offered
to the travel trade are negotiated and therefore lower than those
offered to Indians who have a lower earning capacity than the
tourists. The dual tariff system has saved us Rs 587.3 crore in
foreign exchange. The Ministry is unable to settle this dispute for
the past year.
Similarly, while the DOT issues circulars to airlines to discount
tickets, the Ministry issues counter arguments to protect Air
India's traffic. Since.the bottom line is dollar eamings, every effort
is being made to increase the number of arrivals, including the
setting up of unattainable targets, without establishing that a
transfer of wealth is taking place from the rich to the poor.
The NAPT is also pushing Special Tourism Areas as integrated
development. The recent referendum in the popular media on
Bekal in Kerala, and the debate in the State Assembly on
Puri-Konark are an indicator of the disaster that such developments
are going to create. The Puri-Konark marine drive accommodates
2,227 acres of forest land, of which 576.12 acres have been
dereserved to build 1,100 rooms, a golf course, housing, an
artisan village, bus terminal and market complex. At Bekal 400
acres of coconut growing land are to be acquired for the tourist
complex, details of which are a closely guarded secret.
On the HRD front &,00049,000 trained professionals are required
within two years. Since hotel management schools are in the
planning stage, with India signing GATS, it's anybody's guess
where the staffwill come from.
Tourism is also causing landscape and habitat changes. There is
the two year old controversy on the displacement of several
thousand Gujjars from the Rajaji National Park in Uttar Pradesh.
NGO's led by the VWVF have justified the removal of Gujjars whilst
environmentalists have suggested a combined management
system. Whilst the debate continues the Gujjars are being
terrorised in a housing colony with 512 houses at Pauri.
Tourism Poliry in India, which is conceived and pushed from the
top, is always justified and legitimised by the yardstick of
customer satisfaction.
In the "free market" economies few needs are satisfied locally.
Products originate in communities that cannot consume them. The
determining factor is access to money and the empowerment it
gives to the consumer. Tourism is an advanced form of
consumerism that'depends on the distant, unknown "other" to
supply it. It compels people who have unknown names and
identities to "acrifice the means to meet their daily needs so that
the affluent tourists can effortlessly reach out for whatever they
desire - at their price.
An altemate tourism poliry mustreject thisvalue system. Itmust
tourism that encourages an exchange of cultures and wealth, a
sharingof skills and problems. This would includeboth domestic
tourism (81 miltion inlndia in'92) and thoseinternational tourisis
who wish to come at the terms of the destination. If India has
developed resistance to tourism it is because the people at the
destination have no role in decision making or in the benefits from
tourism.
We want a poliry that does not reduce us to a 'field'for which our
government has become the 'native informant', making value and
cultural statements that are neither authentic nor representative for
cultured. We rn ant a policy that asserts our subjectivity in the
n /l /l AMDOUH el-Beltagui, Egypt's minister for tourism,
ll Il I would like to see this industry become the hub of his
A A U country's economy.' In the past two years, however,
Egypt has learned some of the dangers inherent in relying on an
industry as fickle and sensitive as tourism.
Prior to 1993, tourism was Egypt's leading source of foreign
revenue, bringing in just over US$2.25 billion in 7992. A spate of
terrorist attacks late that year, however, dealt the industry a
crippling blow: earnings in 1993 were $1.3 billion, a crushing 41
percent drop in one year.
"Egypt had always been so safe, the violent events came as a
shock and they scared people away," says Elhamy EI Zayat, CEO
of Emeco Tiavel. lnElZayat's opinion, the extent of the violence
by the IslamicJihad and Gamaa-al-Islamiya hasbeen exaggerated
by ihe foreign media, obscuring the government's decisive efforts
to halt the terrorists. Although government crackdown on militant
areas appear to have neutralised the threat to tourists, People are
still too afraid to visit Egypt.
According to Mustafa el-Sayyid, a Political Science Professor at the
American University in Cairo, the terrorist attacks in Egypt had a
particularly alarming effect because of their personal nature.
"The attacks against tourists in Egypt were a major poliry adopted
by various extremist groups vis-a-vis the government " he said.
"So, while in other countries tourists felt they might be the
incidental victims of terrorist violence, in Egypt they felt they
might be targets." This fear was encouraged by Gamaa
al-Islamiya, which faxed a statement to Western media outlets in
February saying that they regarded tourists as legitimate targets.
This approach is not, in el-Sayyid's opinion, peculiar to Egyptian
extremist groups. He believes they were inspired by Algerian
radical organisations who started attacking foreigners as a way of
embarrassing their government.
The creative inspiration of these groups aside their success
illustrates the precarious position of tourism within a nation's
contextof unequal trade so thatwe do not subsidise themass tourist
and become victims of the travel trade.
Therefore the Tourism Policy must be re-defined by peoples needs,
peoples movements and peoples organisations, in co-operation
with similar bodies and counterparts elsewhere. I
Teaches at College of Vocational Studies, Delhi University and is a mernber
of the Programme Sub Committee, EQUATIONS.
Paper presented at the National Seminar on Tourism, Development,
Globalisation and Justice held on 3-4 December 1994 at Kochi, Kerala,
organised by EQUATIONS and School of Social Sciences, M.G. University,
Kottayam.
economy; as long as everything is going well, it generates a great
deal of money, but at the first sign of trouble profits evaporate.
For this reason tourism is one of the most accurate indicators of a
country's stability, both internally and extemally.
"Tourism is inseparable from politics,'' says el-Sayyid. "Since
tourism does not exist without healthy diplomatic relations, any
problem a tourist-dependent country has with foreign powers is
likely to mean a drop in tourism."
This was most apparent during the 1960s and early 1970s when the
bulk of the visitors to Egypt were from neighbouring Arab
countries. When Egypt singed the 1979 peace accord with Israel,
the number of tourists from the Arab states dropped precipitously,
but there was a corresponding increase in visitors from Europe and
the US. It was not until Egypt was readmitted to the Arab fold,
following a quiet but persistent campaign by President Hosni
Mubarak, that the number of Arab visitors began to climb.
"1 /hile I would not say that tourism is dictated by governments,
one must realise that there is an extremely powerful interaction
between businesses and governments," says el-Sayyid. "Tourism
involves a multitude of economic institutions operating in
different fields, and of course there are certain services that
government can provide, like infrastructure, communications
and foreign exchange facilities."
The militant Islamic groups that appeared on the scene, fostered by
an atmosphere of social and economic unrest, were determined to
discredit the government by striking at a major source of revenue.
The tourist industry is still reeling from their efforts. Normally, in
Cairo's Khan el-I(hanlhbazaar one must push one's way through
close crowds of bemused tourists and vendors leaning out of their
tiny shops. Now, one can almost stroll through thebazaar during
the height of the tourist season.
The economic implications translate easily into social ones.
Madiha el Safty, a Sociology Professor at the American University
in Cairo does not, howeve4 agree with the often voiced claim that
basing an economy on tourismbreeds a nation of shopkeepers. "It's
a service like any other. In fact, there is a great deal tobe said about
exposure to different cultures," she says.
It is precisely thisminglingof cultures, however, that hascaused
trouble. "Two years ago, you couldn't open an opposition
newspaper without reading that tourism was destroying the fabric
of Egyptian society, and particularly Islamic values," says el-
Sayyid. "What do you think set the extremist groups off?"
El-Safty counters with the fact that this is an extremist viewpoint
that most people disagree with. "These people come, they see the
,:.:.,'lil,, " , : ..: :1. ::: ::.:.... : :::: r :.....
The WTO has predicted that the total volume of tourist traffic
by 2000 A.D will be 650 million with the figure going up to
937 billion by 2010. East Asia and the Pacific regions are
expected to receive one-fifth of total arrivals by 2010,
implying a market share of 30 percent. In comparison, the
number of tourist arrivals in South Asia has been projected as
6 million by 2000 and 10 million by 2010.
- Tourism the Year of the Plague, The Pioneer, 14 Oct 1994.
Q. What are the major projects on which you are working at
present?
A. We are talking to the Government of Kerala to develop
major project which will be one of the biggest tourism project
ever undertaken in the country. The project, currently in the
planning stage is called Bakel project and is situated at the
Kasargod district. The Kerala Government is acquiring about
2,000 acres of land to construct a mega-tourist village. This
village will have all the amenities which a touristwill require.
Apart from this, we are talking to the state government of
Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh to
promote certain tourist spots.
Mr R Subramanian, Managing Director,Tourism Finance
Corporation of India Ltd (TFCI). Interview by Dev Chatterjee,
Fanancial Express, New Delhi 6 Nov. 1994
country, they leave. Tha t's it. People should simply be careful what
facets of alien cultures they choose to adopt."
But the selectiveness of the average citizenis not the government's
highest priority. The staggering loss of foreign currency during a
time of economic change is. Tourism might be a dangerous
industry to rest one's hopes on, but the Egyptian governmerrt has
no intention of giving up on it.
The author is an editor and senior writer for the Cairo-based EgyptToday.
This article is reproducecl from Bassiness lndia,October 7U23,1994.
Aa"a, Ak*aadzn - /4 ?,u/qte
Anna Vareed Alexande4 a rnernber of Equations' General
Body, passed (rway on Christmas Day, 1994, following a brief
illness. She leaues beh.ind her husband, Dr M P Alexande4
son Philip and daughter Mary Ann.
Her parents were both doctors in Penang (former Malnya),
where Anna was born in 1934. Anna's early education,
duing the Wa4 was largely at home. The family moued to
India in 1947, where she obtained a degree in Home Sciences
from Madras.
She was manicd in 1959, and the sdme year trauelled with
her husband to the USA for furtlrcr studies. An na graduated
with a M Sc from Ohio State Uniuersity, and they returned
to India in 1963. Anna was a lecturer in Home Scie.nces for
sonle ye&rs in a Coimbatore college, before mouing to
Bangalore in 1969.
An Orthorlox Syrian Christian, Anna had strong Protestant
conuictions, and her eueryday life reflected her committment
a
to strengthening thc role of women in Ch.urch and society.
Since 1983, slte helped teach courses on fem.inist theology at
the United Theological College, Bangalore. Along with. Stella
Faria and Jessie Tellis-Nayah, she founded WINA Momen's
Institute for New Awahening), and co-edited'The Emcrging
Christian Wornan'in. 1984, the first such effort in India.
I met Anna in July 1987 at a worhshop on writing Human
Rights. We discouered u)e were neighbours, and our families
becarne friends. Soon aftet; Anna accepted an inuitation to
become a rnember of Equations, and she serued as Secretary
till 1992.
Gentle and unassuming in her ways, Anna displayed a rare
and, genuine sensitiuity to the reality of men and women
worhing together. During a crucial transition phase at
Equatians, she wa.s inuolued in many organisational issues,
and at each point she brought her gifts ofcare, ruurturing and
trust in people. Seueral times, when things got eomplex,
contentious and. rarefied, Anna's directness and seeming
simplicity were truly examples of the compassion of her
wisdom..
Anna will be rnissed deeply by all of us, and we share with
her family their loss and grief at her unexpected passing. I
can po.y no better tribute to her mnmnry than to conclude by
quoting from a letter the staff of Equations wrote to Anna's
family upon the news of her death: Although we shall greatly
miss her gentle, gracious presence, she leaues behind a legaqt
that will be cherished. May Anna's ffi and gifts to all of us
light our path to the future.
Paul Gonsaloes
 ^ a.Illpai
ti-
zooLoGICA,r PARK
n June 5, 1,994 a protest rally against the Coimbatore
Zoological Park (CZP) was held adjacent to the
Kodungaraipallam (river) that divides the homeland of
Irula - thesecond major Adivasi community in Southlndia,between
Coimbatore and Palakkad districts'of Tamilnadu and Kerala states
respectively. Under the overcast sky and in the desolate valley of the
Anaikatti Hills when the informed minority celebrated the World
Environment Day, these Adivasis demanded action against the CZP
and others for alleged crimes against Adivasis in the name of
environment and wild life.
The assault of 8 year old Adivasi girl 'Pappa' for pulling out the
marker flag planted by the Survey department, the illegal
demolition and destruction of the houses of Vettai and Maruthan in
1991 when they refused to give up their landstoCZP, the assault of
Panikkan, detention and threat meted out to Boddan, Ramaswamy,
Rangaswamy and Muthuswamy - the list continues. They were
demanding the retum of their lands which they say were taken
away from them fraudulently. They condemned the Govemment
for coming down to the wishes of CZP.
Coimbatore Zoological Park established in 1986 as a
non-goverrunent organisation by industrialists, financiers and
hoteliers intends to establish the first ever private Zoological park
in Thuvaipathy village, 3kms from Anaikatti in Coimbatore. Falling
within the 5600 Square kilometer Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (NBR),
the Zoological park is projected to be an interpretation Centre for
NBR in about 250 acres of the most modem kind where primarily
the flora and fauna of the NBR would be recovered and introduced.
Situated 25 kms away from Coimbatore city, this park is to be built
up as a tourist Centre with tours conducted to the wild life
sanctuaries and National Parks whidr cover a substantial variety of
ecosystems in the peninsula.
With an outlay of Rs.10 crores of which Rs 3 crores have already
been raised from industrial and business houses, CZP has applied
for a "planning grant" of US $ 30,000 from the Biodiversity
prograrune of the World Wide Fund for Nafure and have registered
a proposal of US $ 3,59,750 with the world Community Services of
the Rotary International to purchase equipments and other goods.
Headed by G.Rangaswamy, the secretary of CZP (also the
Managing Director of Pioneer Mlls), this project has another NGO
- Zoo Outreach Organisation (Z.O.O) as its associate with its
secretary Ms Sally Walker as the Project Coordinator. Interestingly
G.Rangaswamy of CZP b also the President of Z.O.O and one finds
a large number of the erecutive members of CZP also in the
Managing Committee of Z.O.O excePt that Z.O.O has a number of
environmentalists, veterinarians, foresters etc actively involved. In
effect it seems clear that CZP and Z.O.O are controlled by the same
set of people with CZP being more closely held.
IN TIIE NAME OF
- TOURTSM,
I}IND GRAB
AND ATROCITIES
C R BIJOY
Z.O.O has managed to establish itself giving itself a cover as a
committed NGOfor thewelfareof wildlife especially inZoos. Z.O.O
is one of the 12 organisations through which the ntitirn Airways'
Assisting Nature Conservation programme operates with its
prinrary concern being captive breeding and tourism. Z.O.O also
convened the first regional branch of the Captive Breeding Specialist
Group (CBSG) of the Lrtemational Union for the Conservation of
Nature. CBSG-India operating through Z.O.O and in collaboration
with Z.O.O have been holding a large number of Intemational
workshops in different parts of the country. The media earlier this
year (Indian Express, January 3,\994 titled "Gene Pool in Peril" by
Usha Rai) had exposed that these workshops have been used as a
cover where foreign scientists are "believed to have flown out with
blood and semen samples of lions, clouded leopards and lion tailed
Macaques in test tubes, submerged in "Nilrogen containers".
Incidentally Ms Sally Walker had applied for permission to take out
the blood and semen samples of these very species which was
rejected by the Ministry of Environment and Forests.
Z.O.O has managed to become a member of the Animal Welfare
Board of India withMs SallyWalkerbecoming also a memberof the
Central Zoo Authority of the Ministry of Environment and Forests,
created under the Wild Life Protection Act 1972 to oversee the
functioning of zoos in the country which attracts sizable number of
tourists. With such an elaborate cloak they have been able to
demonstrate their clout with the politico-administrative machinery
and so far has managed to avoid any action against them for the
allegations made by the people, specially the Adivasis.
Wildlife from the tropical region seldom service in the zoos in the
west for long because of changed environment and weather
conditions. These zoos are in constant demand of replacements.
Global trade in wild life is moreover banned. Clandestine
operations to smuggle wild life illegally however continues. Quite
often the laws are by-passed because of loopholes in the laws. The
acquisition of wild life by a foreigner is prohibited in India but is
permissible to a resident. Quite often the residentgets the wildlife
and lends it to foreign zoos. The profit margin is enormous. Ior
example, an elephant calf costing Rs.50,000/- earns about Rs.l"7
lakhs in the West. Another problem $'ith the wildlife of tropical
region in the zoos of the West is that the chances of their
reproduction is very slender. Consequently, semen and blood
samples to test for diseases fetches a huge price. Environmentalists
and conservationists fear that with ecotourism and wild life tourism
becoming a rage with tourists the genetic stock of third world is
subject to ruthless plunder. The setting up of the zoological park by
CZP has raised the specter of threat to wild life on the one hand to
sustain wild life tourism through zoos in the West as well as the
rapidspread of wildlife tourism inlndia withits disastrous fall outs
here.
Already over 6,00,000 people of which 5,00,000 Adivasis
(indigenous people) are displaced by 421 sanctuaries and 75
national parks from amongst the 135 lakh adivasis who are affected
in the name of conservation and protected areas. Tourism projects
in and around these areas are further displacing or alienating these
people.
The CZP has already "purchased" 55 acres of land mostly from the
Adivasis where the Adivasis allege the use of coercion and
fraudulentmeans. The Peoples Union for Civil Liberties, Tamilnadu
carried out a fact finding mission in early August 1994 and
confirmed the allegations (their report is yet to be released). In
addition, CZP has requested the transfer of government lands,
mostly enjoyed by Adivasis for decades measuring around 160
acres. In addition to this the Collector of Coimbatore announced in
1993 that 400 acres of land of which 100 acres belong legally to the
Adivasis and rest held by the government would be acquired by the
government and handed over to the CZP. All these add up to over
600 acres. Once established and with the development of organised
tourism (with the Zoological Park as the operational cenhe), the
spin-off effect that it will cause by bringing in peripheral interests
to the area would be that, more lands of the marginalised will be
lost along with the destruction of the local economy.
The project is shrouded in mystery as attempts by public interest
groups to get the details of the project have failed under the plea
that the details are yet to be worked out. The manner in which CZP
has been grabbing land and the use of money and muscle power
further confirms the suspicion that the intentions of CZP are evil.
There have been attempts to co-opt or suPPress opposition to their
project. It is
feared that very soon the 500 odd Adivasis of
Thuvaipathy would be eased out of the place. The attempts of CZP
RI-RI TSOMORIRI
SHUBHENDU KAUSHIK
o, Kai and I went on a trek this summer, from Spiti valley
in Himachal Pradesh to Tsomoriri lake in Ladak.
Tsomoriri is a large and exquisitely beautifirl
high-altitude lake in the Rupshu plains of Ladak, very close to the
imaginary line that separates a concept called'India'from another
concept called 'Tibet'. I will not try to describe the beauty of the
lake and its surrounds, not only because it is quite beyond
description, but also because that is not the main purpose of this
article.
It was a long and hard trek. We crossed the 18,000 feet high
Parang la, walked along the Pare Chu river from its source to near
the point where it unconcernedly flows across the imaginary line
into Tibet, and then walked spellbound for an entire day along the
westem shore of this rather long lake. Near the northern end of
the lake, we finally reached the roadhead village called Korzok, the
first human settlement we had come across in seven days of
hekking.
The difficulty of the trek had weakened our bodies, while the
surrealistic beauty of the terrain as we approadred the lake had
begun to disarm us of our minds, so that the spell that this
carnpai
to couch their project with environment, biodiversity conservation,
tribal development etc., in the face of stiff opposition by the people
does not dazzle at least those who have faced the wrath of CZP. In
a desperate attempt to stifle the local opposition, CZP has been
literally doling out money to all and sundry in the village in tens of
thousands hoping that such huge amounts wouid shut the mouths
of the victims to suppress the truth from coming out.
FIAN, an international Human Rights organisation has initiated an
international campaign against the CZP for its human rights
violations in August 1994. A number of organisations in the West
connected mostly with zoos and others like the prestigious IUCN
are being mobilized by Ms Sally Walker for CZP to counter
allegations against CZP. I
The author is involved in the Human Rights issues linked to that of the
AdivasisinSouthlndia.Historicaldetails ofthisissueisavarlableinTottrism
Altemai,tiaes Exchange Issue 3, March 1993, ask EQUATIONS.
!
magical lake cast on us as we walked along its shore was all the
more powerful.
This spell turned out tobe short-lived, though. The moming after
we reached, as we lounged around in the meadow below Korzok
which serves as a lakeside camping ground, I felt like weeping.
'This place', I exclaimed touthoevef wouldcarc to hear,'is going
to the dogs in front of our very eyes!' Here was Tsomoriri in its first
sedson of tourism since innerline restrictions for visitors were
relaxed last autumn, and rape was on.
Maruti Gypsys and jeeps all over, tents, tourists and garbage.
This meadow, where marmots might earlier have frolicked
undisturbed, fattening up for their long winters of hibernation, had
now been invaded and taken over by a pest-species called
'people', and tumed into a picnic spot, camping ground, parking
lot and. garbage dump, all rolled into one. The marmots were told
to go dig their burrows somewhere else.
This same meadow, wide, flat and grassy, was clearly a good place
to drive around in, somewhat like the India Gate lawns, and in
sharp contrast to the suspension-testing dirt road that got you here
_
17- a,Illpai-
from Leh. One gypsy could be seen towing another one round and
round at high speed, its engine roaring, apparently for the sheer
exhilaration of driving around a high-altitude meadow on the
shores of a map;ical lake in a wild, middle-of-nowhere valley, but
actually in an effort to get the second one started. Maybe they
should set up a service centre in one corner of this meadow. And
lakeside petrol pump. And...
'There aren't too many vehicles here today,' commented the driver
of one of the seven or eight vehicles parked there, 'probably
because it hasbeenrainingiheselasttwodays. A few daysback,
I counted 25 gypsys here, and a number of chartered buses have
also been coming of late.'
The picture that hi t us when we reached Korzok was quite contrary
to what we had imagined it to be, and to what it had in fact been
until this summer. Mo had been fortunate enough, through army
contacts, to havebeentotheiaketwosummers ago. At thattime,
he had to hunt for two days just to find a driver in Leh who knew
the way to Korzok. He had, on that visit, found Korzok to be 'one
of the most primitive experiences of my life'.
Many days later, still numbed by the shock of the'carbage' that we
had seen at Tsomoriri, I tried to sum up the situation with these
lines :
Droaes of people
Driae down
To Tsomoriri,
And drizte back.
Basho must have had better things to compose haiku on in his
days. But these are not his days. Nor, for that matter, am I Basho.
We had exhausted all our fbod on the trek, so we sent out not-so-
subtle feelers among the campers in the meadow with as much self
-respect as was possible to muster in such a situation. Seeing our
hungry faces, tired eyes and badly sunburnt noses, a group of British
tourists decided that a good deed would be a nice way to conclude
such a nice picnic, and invited us over for breakfast. This group,
we found, consisted of four tourists who had driven dor,r'n from
Leh in just as many taxis, so the breakfast invitation soon got
extendedinto an offer todriveusoutof Korzok. Thiswas justwhat
we needed, and we were delighted.
You see - treat this as a confession - we had originally planned to
meet up with some friends who would drive down from Delhi in
their Tata Sierra, well stocked with wine,beer and good food, and
were therefore really disappointed to find that they had
apparently not made it.
One car less to the carnage is how I look at it now, but
undeniable fact is that dreaming about that car and the goodies on
the
it did actually sustain us during the last few days of the trek, and
that made us, in a way accomplices in the ongoing rape. Which
made me really wonder, for weren't we ordinary, well- meaning
human beings, who would just as much enjoy a 'picnic' in an exotic
setting as anyone else would? Were we, then, any different from
the tourists whom I was looking at with murder in my eyes? Or
was there, perhaps, such a thing as being innocent accomplices to
rape?
These questions need to be asked, if only to try and figure out
whom to point fingers at, and whetl-rer. We might be able to
understand the real problem better, I now feel, and thus be closer
to real solutions, if we only stopped pointing fingers at 'people',
that is all of us, and looked instead at why we do what we do - the
circumstances behind our actions, and the underlying patterns. We
would still remain responsible for our action, but not blarneworthy.
And there is a crucial difference between the two.
Back in the meadow, the guides, cooks, drivers and intelligence-
a
agents-in-disguise who had accompanied the Britishers were busy
winding up camp as we had our breakfast. The last step in this
ritual tumed out to be garbage picking. The Britishers joined in a
token sort of way and, after greedily gobbling down a second
helping of their cornflakes, so did we - in a token sort of rvay, since
it wasn't our garbage, after all. Satisfied with their hurried
cleanup, they walked off with the trash they had collected, and
made a pile a little distance away.
It is funny how people are always in a hurry when they 'vvind ul'r
camp, for one legitimate reason or another, so that when they do
their token cleanups, their faces and gestures always seem to be
saying, we would have done better if we had the time, but since
we don't, this will have to do for now - innocent, well-meaning
accomplices to rape.
As Kai and I lingered at the campsite-that-was, picking up
whatever we could of what was left behind, and Mo chatted with
the retired British colonel ancl his wife who were oLrr chief saviours
for the day, we saw a hasty fire being made of the pile of rubbish.
Almost immediately, they started preparing to get into their cars
and drive off.
I walked over to the fire and said, trying hard not to shout, 'Hey,
this lust won't dol' Some of them came back to the fire, a trifle
irritated, while the others looked on'vvitir ill-concealed impatience,
looking at watches and muttering and shaking their heads. The
smoothness of their ritual had been somewhat disrupted.
'This tin foil won't bum,' I said, sifting through the half burnt
remains of the already dying fire, 'and this can won't, either.
Plastic shouldn't have been burnt in any case.' Kai joined me at
the fire with the collection he had made, while Mo looked on with
an eloquent'don't stir up trouble, boy' expression on his face. 'ln
fact,' continued my sermon, 'you should have carried every single
bit of garbage back to Leh, and thought about burning or whatever
oui there. But you don't have a decent disposal system in Leh,
either, do you?'
'Hurry up, guys!' shoutecl the stout colonel, standing ready to get
into his vehicle, 'We've got a long way to go today..'
And so they had, I must admit, but....
10
'We will have to do something about this half-burnt trash before we
leave,' I
politeness.
said, still trying hard to keep within the threshold of
-a,rnpai
lr-
This gamewent on for five more minutes, until a dirty compromise
was reached. They got a shovel, dug a pit, and buried the
charred remains, tin foil and all. This was a sad compromise, it was.
If we had been a little less tired, or a little less in a hurry to get out
of Korzok (flights to catch and all that), or the garbage hadn't still
been smouldering, we would have carried this stuff out of here in
our own racksacks, like we were our own garbage of the trek. But
the fact is we didn't, and as we got into the vehicles to drive off, I
felt like a criminal who has helped bury a corpse and is running
from the scene.

During this game, an interesting set of transformations had taken

place among these men, from apathy to irritation and impatience
tq as they triumphantly stamped on the mud after filling up the
pit, satisfaction and then even pride. These people were actually
proud of their half-baked cleanup. The most interesting
transformation was, however, yet to come - from misplaced pride
to self righteous anger.
This is one of the things that make a high-altitude lake like
Tsomoriri so vulnerable. Every little piece of 'foreign matter'left
lying anywhere within the watershed of the lake will, sooner or
later, end up in the lake. And lie there for our children's children
to go there and admire.

'That group of tourists, the ones who left early this moming,'one
of thembeE;an in indignation,'you should see their campsite. They
left suchalotof trashoutthere!'. Said another,'Weknow the lady
who got them here. She's a tour operator from Delhi. We know
her, and we'll fix her for not cleaning up properly, just you wait till
wegetback toLeh!'
At that, we drove off in the proverbial cloud of dust, scattering
terrified marmots who had made the mistake of digging their
burrows rightbeside the road.
Tourists are not the only source of garbage at Tsomoriri (ust as
garbage is not the only problem). The road from Leh, which has
been around for a few years now has brought in the inevitable
flow of consumer goods to Korzok village and with consumer goods
has, of course, come garbage. Both the stream and the irrigation
channel that flow past Korzok are now littered with trash - broken
plastic boots, omnipresent polythme, cans, wrappers, cartons,
bottles, discarded items of clothing - all of whidr flows directly or
indirectlv into the lake.
Do you know how the lake got its name? The standard version is
based on the hanslation of 'tso'to 'lake', and'ri'to 'mountain'. A
more popular version, however, is based on the legend of a
'chomo' (Tibetan Buddhist nun) of Korzok who, one winter long
long ago, rode a yak onto the frozen surface of the lake. Realising
that the ice was too thin, she shouted out to the yak, 'fi-ri !' which,
interpreted one way, means 'watch out, we're falling!' But she
shouted too late, the yak went on, the ice broke, and the lake
swallowed them both up. And got itself a name, or at least an
additional legend to its name, a distortion from 'chomo ri-ri' to
'Tsomoriri'.
I hope we're not too late, like the chomo and her yak, as I stand on
the shore of the lake and shout out a waming -
,RI.RITSOMORIRII'
"The author is an independent researcherwho has focussed on tourism
development in Spiti area of Himachal Pradesh. Two of his earlier works,
Towards a Touism Strategy in Spiti and The Blosoming of an Afairhaveben
published by EQUATIONS.

"We will make people part of

Tourism" ?
K. M, REMA

"We will make people part of Tourism" says Mr N.M. Salim, well sipificance to dwelo'p Bekal. Tourism is the biggest industry of
known ardritect of Kozhikode Kerala who is appointed as the the world today. If Bekal is developed as a tourism area, it will
Chief Consultant for the Bekal Tourism Project after 'lntemational bring much revenue to the Govemment and also for the people
competition". there.

KMR. What is the importance of Bekal Tourism Prcject in the
uall tourisnt dev elopmmt of Kedam?
oo
NMS. Bekal is a very fertile land, full of greenery and natural
beauty. The beachisoneof the world's best whichremainsstill
untouched. So there is every prospect of making it into a great
tourist attraction. From the economic point of view also it is of great
11
KMR.What ate the objectioes of the ptoject?
IWfS. The objective of Bekal project is to attract more tourists to this
area - both intemational and national tourists. In India tourist
composition is 55-415 i.e. 55% intemational tourisb and about 45olo
national tourists. There will also be facilities for holding inter-
national co'nventions when Bekal is developed to thefull extent.
KMR. What is the lanil area of the project? KMR. What are the prooisions for sufficicnt ztater anil electricity
iWtS. We are yet to prepare the Master Plan. So we have not supply?
yet decided the total area of the proposed project. But it will A&1S. More water treatment plants will be established. It is
require a minimum of 1000 acres. expected that the necessary electric power would be available
from the new thermal plant to be set up there.
KMR. Is the project to be impler4enteil in a phaseil mannq?
Yes, naturally. Because such a big plan can be implemented only KMR. What is the a nploymmt potmtial of the prc ject?
in a phased manner. But we will do it as early as possible. The
details can be designed after some time only. AIMS. A well equipped township is coming up with more hotels,
hospitalqschools, recreational facilities all of which provide a lot of
KMR. How is the lanil to be acquired? employment opportunities.
l\ilI4S. The necessary land for the project will be acquired by the
KMR. Ate thre enploytment prcspects for the local people i.e. the
Bekal Development Authority and then it will be sold to national
unskill ed, under edu cat e d on es ?
and intemational ftusiness) groups. The profit arising from such
sales will be used for infrastructural development. IWIS. We areplanning toupdate thestandardsof living.by the
general development of the area. There are.also plan$ to set up
KIVIR. Is there sufficient gouernmmt lanil or shoulil some prittate vocational training centres in the area. The local arts will be
lanilbe acquited? preserved and promoted.
IWIS. Some private land will have to be acquired. But the point is
that we don't want tobring tourism by evicting all the local people KMR, What are the tourist facilities planneil?
from their places. Actually, we want to bring more benefits to the IV\4S. There will be hotels of all star-ratings from two-star to super
local people than anybody else. Especially in sensitive areas, where star. There will also be golf courset swimming pools, a handicrafts
there is high density of population, we will make them part of village etc.
tourism. We will help them to change their profession by which
they can avail the economies of tourism to a great extent. KMR, What are the proposeil entertainment altematitses fot
touists?
KMR. Hout many p eople utill b e ezticteil by the proj ect? Are there
any st at is tic s azt ail ab le ?
lln4s. All entertainment facilities in a tourist
area will be available
in Bekal also. Discotheques, bars and massage parlours are all parts
IWIS. Naturally, some eviction will be necessary. We can $ive the of hotels. The availability of such things will depend upon the
exact number onlyafterfinalising themaster plan. But theeffort demand.
is to do it by displacing the minimum number of households. It
is sure that they will not be evicted without any rehabilitation. KMR, What will b e the' carrying cap acity' of B ekal?
KMR. What is the total financial outlay of the project? IWIS. Around 10,000 people.
iV\4S. The total capital outlay can be fixed only after finalising the
Plan. We have to see what amount is required to rehabilitate people, KMR. Will the project afect the ecologicalbalance of the ateaT
to construct the airport, roads etc. And all this money willbe made AllVtS. What we have in mind is a plan to develop the area without
available by selling the land. disturbing its ecological balance.

timn. ruo- much money zaill b e contribute il by the goo emment.
for thisproject?
/r/lts. See, the Bekal Development Authority, which is a
government agency is implementing the project. They will sell the
land and get the money
KMR. What ate the economic bmefits anticip ated ltom the project,
both direct and indirect?
lVt4S. The main benefit is the inflow of foreign exchange. By the
end of the year 2010, we propose to build atleast 6000 hotel rooms
of international standards. There will be a variety of indirect
benefits also. There will be a lot of employment opportunities.
Providing 6000 rooms means the arrival of at least an equal number
of tourists who will need a number of services like transportation,
personal services etc.
KMR. Hozl can you ensure this zahm there are so fitany people
coming anil going, so many hotels etc zaith a lot of garbage and all?
IVI4S. Itcan'tbe done without affecting the ecology at all, but all,
efforts will be made to minimise it.
KMR. Kasaragoil is knoum to be short of utatex What are the
prooisions mztisageil for ailequate zaater supply? Is there a
ptoposal for a desalination plant?
Iri?t4S. The government surveys show that there are enough water
resources. So there is no need for setting up any desalination plant.
KMR, How zaill zaaste water be manageil?
IW[S. There will be a proper drainage system. Rerycling of water
can also be considered.

KMR, Has a cost-benefit analysis been maile? KMR. What area of forest should be cleareil?
i\&fS. No, not yet.
An4S. There is no need of clearing forests hs almost all the
constructions will be near the beach.
KMR. What are the inlrastructural facilities moisaged to be
prcduceil?
KMR. What ate the marketing plans fot the pro ject?
IVI4S. An international airport is planned in the area besides
approach roads and other transport facilities. The existing can be IWS. The Bekal Development Authority will market it nationally
improved too. and internationally. T
72
 rcm the procedings of the aboae conference we haoe translated
Mnnik Sml<ar's paper on "The RoIe of the Educated Touist in
SocialWelfare" for thepertinent issues it critiquedonDomestic and
Intemational Tourism Policy perspectiaes in the state anil in the country.
It gioa ahistoical context to the ongoing Touism debate.
"In Tagore's novel Gora (white man) the hero set out on a Bharat
Yatra to assess what were the social needs of the country. (Gora was
an Irishmary brought up by a Bengali Brahmin, who had adopted
Brahminism as a way of life). Vivekananda also became a tourist
to ftnd a spiritual solution to the social problems of the counlry.
Sarat Chandra created a Bohemian characte4 Srikant. These three
have inspired the touristic ideal for the Bengalis.
Tourism cannot be looked at from a purely economic point of view,
although at present, its economic aspects cannot be ignored. In a
capitalist system, tourism is seen as the means of enhancing private
property. In a socialist system, tourism is seen as a necessary
attribute in humanising the workers life.
In India, we adopted a democratic, socialistic pattem as our goal.
Thus we have to balance both the economic and humanising
aspects of tourism for which the national tourism organisatioru
have to be urgently re-oriented.
In the Post-Independence period both domestic and intemational
tourism have shown growth. People are looking at India, and the
prestige of our country has grown. A nation with a great tradition,
whose people are proud of their heritage and have self-respect,
will attract more foreigners. Therefore the kind tourism we wish
to promotewillbe related to our concept.of progress. Weshould
have the courage to promote a progressive form of tourism.
The independent and balanced development of our country will
open up new avenues and possibilities for tourism. As a united
natiory weare the citizens of an ancient and historically
developed civilisation. Britishimperialism extracted enormous
wealth from our country; despite their looting India with both
hands, there is still potential to develop the wealth of our country.
We still have so many riches to project to the foreigner, many of
which are yet to be discovered, inspite of what we have lost during
British rule.
Today the number of tourist destinations has grown, which will
increasein the future. Greater development of infrastructure is
being seen in the tourist map of India. Places like Durgapur,
Bhilai, Rourkela, Bokaro, Chittaranjan and Damodar Valley are now
located on the tourist map. In West Bengal, Kalyani, a satellite
town of Calcutta has become a tourist spot for the metropolis.
Haldia too will become a tourist sPot.
Touring is not synonymous with luxurious travel. Comfort and
luxury are also not the same. Comfort is certainly one of the
demands of tourism but throwing money around to buy Westem
facilities need not buy us comfort. We have just started to rebuild
our country and we are accountable for all the money that we
spend. When the structure of tourism is based on expensive
luxuries it serves the demand of the elite whilst depriving the
13
majority. Of course the foreign tourists will increise given such
a policy. That is why we are projecting our National heritage as a
part of our tourist product. However, we should not imitate the
approach of Western countries in
representing our hbritage.
Foreigners come to India and topresent our country to them is
our task. This is true of West Bengal with regard to domestic
tourists as well. Many people visit West Bengal and the Bengalis
also tour other parts of India. It is necessary to assist both the
inbound and the outbound domestic and international tourists.
For the inbound tourists there are some facilities but the outbound
tourists suffer. Generally, the potential tourist, through his
individual efforts manages to accomplish his tourism goals.
Individual effort is a part of the joy of travelling
and is a must.
However we are now in the age of co-operation and integration.
In the field of tourism also we feel the need for co-ordination and
collective organisation so that individual initiative can be fruitful.
For both inbound and outbound tourists the need of the hour isa
well co.ordinated tourism industrv.
Generally, when we talk of tourists we mean foreigners. This is not
right. Tourists are both foreigners and our own countrymen. Both
should be considered equally important. In this context we should
remember that Domestic tourism is the base for foreign tourism
all over the world. The tourism industry will be strengthened if the
base for tourism is strengthened , by encouraging Domestic
tourism.
If we are unable to facilitate the domestic tourist in seeing the
entirety of our country, how do we propose to build a stable form
of International Tourism?
The state has initiated a policy to facilitate the foreign tourist. Some
benefi ts are being receivedby the people, though hardly adequate.
There is plenty of scope for improvement.. The effective utilisation
of such efforts is yet to be made. For this one should not rely
exclusively on the state. In the Soviet Union, private organisations
have played an important role in the promotion of tourism. It is
said that youth organisations take up progranunes for youth
tourism and similarly womens organisations take the
responsibility for women tourists. Literary tourists are helped by
their mass organisations. Thus the state and private
organisations, collectively and in a co-ordinated manner have
developed a dynamic strucfure of tourism.
In our country such a system does not exist. Either we depend
entirely on the state or we do things on our own. There is no harm
in investigating whether such a poliry is correct or not. Both state
assistance and private initiative and enthusiasm are necessary.
However there is no social organisation to co- ordinate
individual effort. This is still in its infancy.
Tourists are ofvarioustypesand segmerits. Tourists travelacross
the world with their individual outlook. Often we ignore this
heterogeneity amongst tourists. For example, some like the beach,
some the hills whilst others go to rivers and lakes. Many like to go
on pilgrimage. Some want to visit academic institutes whilst others
like to see ethnic groups. Human life is full of variety and the
outlook of tourists is equally varied. In conjunction with varied
motivations, the tourists demands have to be met.
I know a foreigner who came to Calcutta only to visit the Neemtola
ghats where Tagorehadbeencremated. This is only anexample.
We can find many such examples. It is necessary to keep track of
tourists who have specific motivations. We have a general rather
than a specific approach. A few days ago I met a tourist from Brazil
who wanted to know the daily food habits of Bengalis. His friend
wanted to know how Bengalis dressed at home.
Those who come to West Bengal generally want to know ,
understand and recognise Bengali culture. To know a thing within
a few days is very difficult. Tourist spots have to be organised in
such a way so that they present a comprehensive picture of our
culture. This task is notbeingdone. Whateverisdone is devoid
of authenticity, and done in a superficial manner.
One should remember that a tourist is sensitive, often to the point
of being touchy. Lack of honesty hurts them.
BY US
n the 34 December the National Seminar on
Tourism, Globulisation, Deaelopment and lustice was jointly
held by EQUATIONS and School of Social Sciences,
Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam at Ashirbhavan, Cochin.
Discussions about tourism issues were carried on within two
different languages - of governments and industry on the one
hand, and of activists groups on the other. The seminar was not
an attempt to continue any one of those specifi c traditions nor even
to pitch an academic tent on a suitably middle ground. On the
contrary, it was an attempt to allow the different forms of
knowledge to confront and engage with each other.
In all there were around 120 participants varying from activists,
government officials, travel and hotel industry officials and
intellectuals. The papers presented are as follows: Tourism and
Welfare - Dr Errol D'Souza, Department of Economics, University
of Bombay, Bombay; Tourism and Development, The Unfolding
Dilemma - Alito Siqueira, Department of Sociology, Goa
University, Goa (this paper is available elsewhere in this issue of
the ANletter); Tourism Poliry: Need for Reorientation - Nina Rao,
College of Vocational Studies, Delhi University (also available in
this issue); Third World Therapy: Tourism and the Politics of Serious
Leisure-Ranjit Henry; Tourism Concepts for a Small World- Padma
Rajagopal, Farmer, Craftsperson, Design Consultant); Views on
Tourism Promotion - K V Muralidharan, President, Kerala
Association of Tiavel Agents, Trivandrum; Tourism Tortured? - Dr
S V Narayanan, Professor and K V K Prashant Kumar, B.E, MTA
both of Centre for Tourism Studies, Pondicherry Central University,
Pondicherry; A note on the possible Impact of Tourism on Bio
Diversity of the High Ranges Munnar - James Zacharias and P V
Karunakaran; Political Economy of Tourism Infrastructure
Developmenh An Outline, H M Manjunath, Yatna; Free Wynad
from Tourism - Thomas Ambalavayal. The copies of these papers
can be availed from EQUATIONS.
14
In the tourism professional the warmth of a welcome is lacking.
Heartfelt warmth is a must for successful tourism. Feelings of
friendship and solidariry generate heartfelt warmth. Those who
visit our state and our country should be treated as honoured
Buests. On the road, in trams and buseq at hotels and railway
stations, everywhere we should keat the tourist with humanism.
If we treat them well, the tourists will reciprocate with warmth. If
we keep this in mind we will recognise our responsibility to the
foreign tourist.
The central idea in tourism is to identify our closeness so that
tourists will be attracted. We can communicate this without
shessing our self-interest. Those who build real bridges are the
ones who engage in welfare work. As I said in the beginning let us
not look at tourism as a business, let us see it as social work. I
Translated by Pradip Biswas and Nina Rao.
Training Prcgramme
On invitation from YMCA and SCM, EQUATIONS conducted a
couple of training sessions in YMCA for the secretaries to be, from
all over the country. The training programme was conducted with
the need to promote Alternative Tourism, influence public ophion,
mobilise community participation and also to recognise that there
is a problem and for some perspective setting on the issues related
to tourism in India.
The World Student Christian Federation WSCF) organised an
Interregional Leadership Training Programme in August.
EQUATIONS provided a basic introduction to the issues involved
in Third World Tourism and also suggested a possible intervention
by the student communities on such issues. Responses from the
participants revealed that their experience in and of India has
deeply moved them in a way that has helped them see other
dimensions of the meaning of life which were not there before.
At The Asian College of Journalism, EQUATIONS discussed the
role of media in the development of Tourism image.
Studies
EQUATIONS for the East Coast Road Action Committee (ECRAC)
has proposed to conduct a feasibility study. Preceding this study, a
preliminary survey was undertakenby ShirleySusan and Sabina
Suri. The survey included identification and defining the kind of
Tourism projects likely to come up and identification of contact
groups/collaborators at the different places for their input in the
final study.
An audio-visual is also being prepared for campaigning purposes
for the ECRAC by EQUATIONS with technical help from Sangam
Communications, Madras.
North-East Inilia
EQUATIONS proposes to have a meeting in North-East to build
awareness on tourism development here. This programme has
been initiated with the first contacts being made with severai
leading intellectuals of that area. The meeting will be held
sometime in the summer of 1995.
A0630 - (G40)
The Battle Against GoIf Cutse has begun.....
Amedia backgrounder, documented and compiledby the Goa Desc
1993,33 pp
A0640 - (H00)
Thiril Woilil Therapy : Tourism and the Politics of Seious Leisure
by KOLAM - responsible tours & soft travel, Madras
Essay contains quotes from Ashish Nandy, Claude Alvarez, Romila
Thapar, Majorie Sykes, Wolfgang Sachs, Noam Chomsky to
mention the most important few. May 1993,7 pp.
A06se-(r3s/803)
BEKAL -Why? : An EQUATIONS Dossier on Bekal Special Tourism
Area Project, billed as one of Asia's largest projects. This dossier
contains a letter from EQUATIONS posing questions to
government and industry about the objectives of this Project to help
people elsewhere, faced by the challenge of the major tourism
projects. April 1994, 14 pp.
40661- (G40)
In theName of a Gatne:The Stakes in Golf
Bailancho Saad (a Women's Collective) poses questions regarding
the proposed golf courses to the Government and cites its responses.
The group's letter to the Director, Department of Tourism,
Govemment of Goa and the Govemment's written response are
included at the end of the booklet. November 7993,75pp, Rs.S/- or
$2.00 (postage inclusive)
A0667 - (G40)
GAG'M - Update, APPEN, Malaysia, December 1993, 103 pp.
Ao65e-(G1o/G02)
Report on: NationalWorkshop on declining access to anil control
oper Nahnal Resources in National Parks and Sanctuaries
Society for Participatory Research in Asia and Rural Litigation
and Entitlement Kendra. Includes papers on the issues of concem
on National Parks and Sanctuaries in India; some observations on
the issues in Parks and Sanctuaries; critical analysis of the Legal
Provisions of Sanctuary and National Park in India. October 1993,
68 pp.
A068s - (136)
Mastu Plan for the Development of Toutism in Kamataka
by Department of Tourism, Government of Kamataka
December 1993,43 pp.
40589 - 03s)
lmpact of TouristnDeoelopment: APilot Study of KovalamBeach
in Kerala Dissertation submitted to the University of Kerala by B
Vijayakumar. The study analyses the various impacts created by
tourism on the resident. April 193, 8a pp.
A06e6 - (j10)
Leisure Lifestyles - Touist Actiaities : Are Western Approaches
Sustainable? Paper presented at the WLRA Congress, Jaipur, by
David Leslie, Glasgow Caledonian Univ., The paper debates the
question whether leisure lifestyles and thus the tourist activities of
those in the western industrialised societies are sustainable.
December 7993,16pp.
40730 - (G01)
Touism Development anil Entsironmental Issues - AClose Look At
Tamil Nadu. A paper presented by Latheef Kizhisseri,
EQUATIONS atTamil Nadu Environmental Issues and JointAction
Workshop. The paper is an exploratory attempt to look at tourism
development with holistic perspective and focussing analysis on
environmental issues emerging from tourism development.
the EQUATIONS, August, 799 4, 42 pp.
4076e - (177)
ThePolitical Effects of Touinn Deoelopment, Geotge Aditj ondto
Papers fromThe Indonesian Activists Program, Yogjakarta, August
1994,10pp.
A0776 - (G10)
Draft Wildlife Tburistn Guiilelines fot Inilia, Ministry of
Environment & Forests, Government of India
March 1994,6 pp.
A0817 - (r10)
Limited Legal Reilrcss - Pollution Battles, Nomra Alvares, a
lawyer, argues that the mixed judicial record in Goa indicates that
officers of courts need to be exposed to more primary information
about the environment. The Hindu: Survey of the Environment,
7994,4pp.
A0828 - (C10)
Employnent Generation in the Hotel, Catuing anil Tourism S ector,
Dr Peter U C Dieke (UNDP), Mr Njeru Kirira (Min. of Tourism
and Wildlife), Mr Roger Doswell ([O), [O Publication, August
L993,61pp.
Ao8s0 - 011)
TOIIKISM - The Ma*eting of P aruilise
In an effort to balance declines in non-oil export revenue growth,
Indonesia is launching a series of programs to strengthen the
tourism indushy. What are Indonesia's chances against equally
aggressive tourism campaigns conducted by neighbourhood
countries? Economic & Business, Review Indonesia, No.120, |uly 30
1994,7 pp.
* Programme Associate, EQUATIONS Documentation Cell
15
 I write in response to your invitation to co t on the
"Statement of Concern" adopted at the Ninth Meeting of the
General Body of EQUATIONS and published in the luly 7994
issue of ANletter. It may be helpful to add another statement
on tourism in the context of neo.colonialism, and it would be
this:
Tourism marginalises and takes resources away from economic
development, which gives priority to economic activities that
support the quality of life of its community's residents. This may
not be the best wording, but it is an attempt to state what I see
the "visitor industry" having done to Hawaii. Tourism,
orchestrated by the state and private corporations, truly
marginalises economic development activities growing out of
a community base because they aren't seen as making an impact
on the state's economy. Policy makers forget that the colonisers
imposed export industries (sugar and pineapple) to form
Hawaii's economic underpinning, and when those began to
sag, began to build up tourism. Now that tourism, the neo-
colonial. economic activity is sagging, it again looks to attracting
a big industry with capital from elsewhere, rather than looking
at the economic activities which had been displaced by sugar
and pineapple and which had been sustaining a people. As
is suggested in the article on "Responsible Tourism" (page
10-11, July 1994)," ...any decision to further develop tourism has
to be weighed carefully with its possible outcomes... as well as
the opportunity costs of developing other economic
whidr are often more crucial for our subsistence".
Thank you for the opportunity to comment.
r I very much agree with your argument of a
development-rationale related to the improvement of quality of
life of the communities and the need for profound shifts in the
concerns of planning. Paul and Basavaraj Hebballi's report on
the Andaman and Nicobar Islands sourrCed alarming. The
BOT(build,operate and transfer) policy will certainly constrain
any control of negative i.mpacts on the fragile island worlds. The
announcement of the IGNOU programme in tourism studies and
the report of the panel discussion at trC manifest recent
developments. I'm keen to learn about the seminar in Kerala on
Tourism Poliry. The report on Bekal offered very interesting
opinions about this location.
they fall
Latheef Kizhisseri's questions are as important as
into polemics in describing the post-modern reading as
war-fare. (Understanding post-modern realities could
contribute to a more profound critique of modem tourism.)
Could you please explain to me what he means by profit
ashwamedha?* The justified criticism of the political economy
of tourism by Yatna didn't offer convincing solutions. The
inter-generational parity is being discussed in Europe too. (But
Pareto-optimality as reference is disputed). There is the need
for a new understanding of redistribution and welfare-policy.
But focussing on domestic tourists and demanding a more jirst
economywill be insufficient and not really effective. The
times of polarized counter-positions and simplifying
sectors,
class-thinking is over. The economical system is more complex
as neo-colonial critique and center-periphery thinking can ever
reach (nothing to say change).

June Shimokawa, Hawaii Area Program Office, Hawaii, USA
o Thanks for the ANletter of July 94 (Vol 3, No 1). Your editorial
- Statement of Concern - was eitiemely thought provoking.
M.Thomas. Madras
o Again, congratulations on another fine issue of ANletter. What
feed back do you get from your North American friends? Your
Statement of Concern is well done. It must have brought a new
awareness of solidarity among your general body members as
you went through the process necessary to develop it. What
prograrnmatic changes are resulting from this? I am copying the
statement for all our board members - one way for them to
increase their awareness of EQUATIONS and global
partnership.........
Have you ever considered making one page of your ANletter a
report on what you do, are thinking, personalising your work for
those of us far away? Also, as non-Indians, we often wonder
about the writers of the articles you include, what organisation
they represent, what criteria is used for choosing their articles?
And continual thanks for the copies of your Up-Date! We plan
to use this to launch an India corner in our newsletter,
Responsible Traveling. We hope the German parallel News
Watch will be translated into English soon.
Virginia T. Hadsell, Center for Responsible Tourism, USA
The contetnporary role of the economics of tourism is related
to different processes which are not considered in the article.
How tourism actually interacts and works will become more
important than such anti-tourism approach. As important as
the problematic effects are the multivarious changes whicJr
actually occur. In all the ambivalence they take forni largely
as altered opportunity structures in which individuals and
groups make (or cannot make anymore) choices and exercise
options...(capital powers, ownership, properfy rights, legal
system, etc) The inequal endowment questions and
constraining conditions have to be taken into systematic
account. Morals and justice dimensions cdnnot be imposed
but must be "produced" and emerge th-rough an according
socio-ecological economic system. This does not exclude the
criticism that opting for opendoor p9liry and putting no
restriction whatsoever on foreign intrusion while refraining
from channeling the development by strict laws and
regulations as a market-systen strategy( equitable
redistribution?) will cause long-term detrimental changes with
unpredictable consequences. But we must try to overcome
.overgeneralisations and develop a more sophisticated
approach asking different questions and a more differentiated
notion of political economy.
Wendelin Kuepers, Germany
*
Profit ashwamedha:The global war for increasing profit by aarious
mefrnq conductedby MNCs throughout the entireworld- Editor

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