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Great Cities of Africa:
Globe 2008 Building Better Cities Excerpts: Civic Tourism
begins with what some consider an outlandish claim, which is
that tourism, one of the largest industries in the world,
could help communities preserve their quality of life. The
industry's argument generally ends with 'economic
development,' but we're suggesting tourism could help
protect historic neighborhoods, save the environment, and
preserve cultures &endash; in addition to strengthening the
economy. Does it always? No, and some people argue tourism
does the opposite, that it ruins 'sense of place,' that it's
the problem. We're suggesting tourism can be part of the
solution. So, is Civic Tourism another
exercise in whining about how tourism 'ruined our town'? No,
that approach only builds walls we're trying to tear down.
Or do we believe Civic Tourism is the only way to do
hospitality? Of course not! It's simply another tool to help
diversify a town's portfolio. What we do hope to do is
foster a constructive dialog about how we can inspire public
interest in an industry that has tremendous potential to
change communities, at the same time we inspire in the
industry a corresponding commitment to the place in which it
works. Tourism, for instance, is
often caught in the 'economic development' box. Whenever the
industry needs to defend itself it invariably falls back on
jobs, bed taxes, and other financial incentives. Certainly
tourism brings dollars, but nearly every other sector makes
that argument, and surveys suggest many residents would
forgo tourism's economic benefits if they could 'just have
my old town back'. Civic Tourism encourages the industry to
do better, not just more. The industry misses an opportunity
by staying stuck in the economic development box, by not
showing how tourism can help places preserve their character
&endash; an argument that connects to the values that
resonate with citizens continued
METROPOLIS,
8th World Congress and Africa Travel Magazine supports the
"Metropolis Project" where government decision- makers,
researchers, and non-governmental agents discuss policies
and programs for integrating immigrants and minorities. Thus
they will effectively manage the impact of immigration and
diversity on city life. Metropolis fosters exchanges that go
beyond the stating of positions, beyond descriptions, and
beyond advocacy. The Project provides unique opportunities
for stakeholders who share a vision of improving society
through collaboration and partnership to engage each other,
to acknowledge problems openly, and to work, unfettered, to
solve them. 2005 Motto: "Tradition and Transformation - The
Future of the City," The World Congress is also the General
Assembly of the world wide METROPOLIS network of capitals
and large cities with over a million inhabitants.
e-mail:
cornelia.poczka@senstadt.verwalt-berlin.de
. 1-888-278-6186 ext 255 or ext 256 . (613) 233-5179 ext 255
or ext 256 Sister
Cities International
Otside
the Box.
WORLD
URBAN FORUM .
GLOBE
2008 -
CITIES
. CiIVIC
TOURISM
Addressing the
challenges of incorporating sustainability principles into
the design, development, financing, construction, operation
and governance of cities. For more information on the GLOBE
2008 Conference and Trade Fair, www.globe2008.ca
Cape
Town, South Africa
Learn the
Benefits of the International Executive Service Corps
Visit
http://www.iesc.org/
From the Web (City
Mayors.com)
Civic Tourism Can Help Preserve Historic Towns
By Dr Dan Shilling,
Project Director, Civic Tourism*
1301 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Suite 850
Washington, DC 20004
Tel: 202-347-8630, Fax: 202-393-6524
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