The Brighton Evening Argus 25th Jan 2005

Brighton and the tsunami

Some of the problems with the beach tourism industry in the Indian Ocean can be traced back to Brighton argues Justin Francis, Managing Director of Brighton based on-line travel agency responsibletravel.com.

In 1821 Brighton’s fishermen rioted on The Old Steine after having been moved down the beach following complaints from some of the world’s first beach tourists who were upset about coming face to face with ‘the locals’.

Brighton was one of the birth places of beach tourism and ever since tourists and local people have come into conflict over natural resources, with the income from wealthy overseas tourists mostly holding sway over the needs of local people.

Most of us watched the impact of the tsunami on fishermen and coastal communities with horror. Many Brighton residents who understand how dependent Thailand, Sri Lanka and The Maldives are on tourism have contacted responsibletravel.com to ask whether it would be a good idea to visit these countries in 2005.

Our answer has been that most of our local partners in the affected destinations have contacted us to say that they are open for business, in desperate need of income from tourism as jobs and livelihoods depend on it, but that the blanket media coverage has scared tourists off.

Our fear is that most tourists who do book to the Indian Ocean in 2005 will simply end up staying in hotels owned by overseas companies, eating in the hotel restaurants, and going on excursions or day trips to ‘see’ the local people.

As in Brighton in 1821 local people will often have been removed from the ‘best’ areas to make way for tourists and very little of the money they spend will ‘trickle down’ to reach the poorest people – those we’ve watched on our TV screens - who need it most.

But there is another way. Responsible travel is about more real and authentic holidays that bring you closer to local cultures and nature, whilst giving more back to local people in whose homes we are visitors.

Our advice to travellers is to think local – spend at least one night staying in locally owned accommodation, hire a local guide, use local transport, and eat in local restaurants. Feedback from our clients reveals that a more enjoyable holiday, and a more responsible holiday go hand in hand.

In Brighton in 1851 some of the fishermen diversified into offering boat trips and bathing platforms for tourists. In the Indian Ocean in 2005 there are many more local people involved in tourism who need your custom. Make a choice to travel responsibly to the Indian Ocean in 2005.