International Forum on Alternative Tourism

Last Updated (Wednesday, 26 October 2011 16:17)

24-30, November 2011, Cambodia

 

1. Introduction

 

Tourism is one of the fastest growing industries in the world and is providing opportunities for entrepreneurship and resource generation for many sectors. Simultaneously tourism today raises several concerns. The question is asked: Who really benefits from tourism? Who becomes subject of its negative impacts? The answer to this question is fairly evident. It is big business and international investors who make the profits and leave behind insignificant amounts of the profits to be distributed locally.

YMCA as a global movement that seeks to share the Christian ideal of building a human community of justice with love, peace and reconciliation for the fullness of life and creation is in an advantageous position to play an important role in promoting a just, responsible, and beneficial tourism .Since 2010 the Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs (APAY) is encouraging the YMCAs in the Region to be a monitor on the negative impacts of tourism and strive to create transformed tourism models, which are Gender sensitive, Child protective, Environmentally responsible, and Culturally appropriate, equitable sharing of the economic benefits between the various parts of the tourism equation and respect values of human dignity and global solidarity between host and the traveller. APAY also believes that such a transformed tourism can proactively pave the way for ethical human encounters and solidarity for transformation of the visitor and the community.

There has been considerable interest from several YMCAs in Asia and Pacific region to use community based alternative tourism as a tool of social transformation in poor and marginalized communities. A transformed tourism model would create other dynamics, which would have the effect of building a sense of ‘common humanity’ through equitable sharing of the tourism platform. YMCAs, in general, are also acknowledged as possessing a high degree of potential for preparing and encouraging tourists to use their leisure or vacation or pilgrimage times for transformative encounters using community based alternative tourism models that create opportunities for forms of tourism that balance self-fulfillment with social responsibility. These include ecologically responsible tours, development tourism, spiritual tourism, nature tourism, adventure tourism, justice tourism, peace tourism, volunteerism through tourism, study tours, and the like. .

To further the Alternative Tourism agenda, Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs with the support of EED and YMCA Victoria, Australia is holding an International Forum on Alternative Tourism. The forum will bring together staff / volunteers from YMCAs that are engaged on Alternative Tourism or have potential for developing Alternative Tourism initiatives in their communities together with YMCAs that have interests in mobilizing tourists to take part in such initiatives. The forum will then discuss the strategic directions for YMCA Alternative Tourism; impart training to staff on creating alternative tourism models, discuss guidelines for preparing tourist and certification of Alternative Tourism Models, explore ways for the establishment of a YMCA Global Alternative Tourism Movement as mandated by the 18th General Assembly of the APAY.

 

2. Objectives

• To deliberate on challenges and opportunities in tourism and define the unique role of the YMCA in building alternatives;
• To discuss and agree on YMCAs strategic directions on Alternative Tourism;
• To increase capacity of the YMCA staff as trainers for developing alternative tourism models in their respective communities;
• To suggest roadmap towards the establishment of the YMCA Global Alternative Tourism Movement.

3. Participants

• YMCA staff/ Volunteers (both men and women) from the YMCAs in the developing countries who have interest on Alternative Tourism and willing to work as Trainer for their YMCA staff, local community and tourism organizations etc .at local level;
• Volunteers / staffs from YMCAs in the developed /developing countries who are responsible for international programs / Volunteer service programs / Educational Tour programs etc ;
• Representatives from Ecumenical Organizations / NGOs on Tourism issues.

4. Expected outcome

• Sharing understanding on YMCAs strategic directions on Tourism
• Developing models in specific locations for advancing alternatives in tourism
• Training of staff persons at 20 YMCAs for delivering strategic plan on Alternative Tourism
• Initiation of Global Alternative Tourism Movement

 

5. Venue / Date

 

24 - 30 November 2011(Arrival on 24th and departure on 30th)

Venue: Mittapheap Hotel, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
www.mittapheaphotel.com

 

6. Registration / Participation fees

Registration fee will be $100 and Participation fee would be $ 250(inclusive of board and lodge and local transport). Additional $100 will be charged for Single occupancy room. Limited participation fee and travel subsidies are available for YMCAs that have financial constraints for sending delegates to the Forum. Registration fee is mandatory for all participants. Registration form is attached. The duly filled registration form must be reached to Mr. Jose Varghese, Executive Secretary, APAY ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) on or before 30 October 2011.

 

8. Contact details

 

Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCA

Mr. Jose Varghese
Executive Secretary
Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs
23 Waterloo Road,Yau Ma Tei , Kowloon
Ph . +852-27808347
Fax : +852-23854692
E-mail : This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

Cambodia YMCA

Mr. Bunthok Deth
General Secretary
Cambodia YMCA
House # 26B, Street 138, Sankat Toeuk La-Ak, Toulkok, Phnom Penh
Mobile Ph. +855-12446760
Office Ph. 023 882 887
E-mail : This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

IF Alternative Tourism Reg Form

(Filesize: 101.7 KB)

IF Alternative Tourism Programme Schedule

(Filesize: 8.6 KB)