Social tourism and its ethical foundations
Minnaert, L., Maitland, R. and Miller, G. 2006. Social tourism and its ethical foundations. Tourism, Culture and Communication. 7 (12), pp. 7-17.
| Title | Social tourism and its ethical foundations |
|---|---|
| Authors | Minnaert, L., Maitland, R. and Miller, G. |
| Abstract | Although social tourism has been seen in a number of countries as having potential to counter social exclusion, formulating a definition for the term is difficult. "Social tourism" is used to describe a variety of initiatives for a variety of different social groups. These range from holidays for children from low-income backgrounds, through improving accessibility in hotels, to offering ecological holidays. This article discusses the definitions of "social tourism," distinguishing host-related and visitor-related forms, and aims to clarify its potential value in combating social exclusion. It does so by examining the ethical values underlying the way social tourism is defined and suggesting a theoretical framework for the effects of social tourism. Some ethical views of society place an a priori moral duty on the stronger strata to support the weaker. Others do not judge the support of the weaker strata as an a priori dominant ethical principle, and judge the welfare of the state by the opportunity of all its strata. Ethical positions that see stronger strata as having a moral duty to support the weaker are more likely to be supportive toward both host-related and visitor-related social tourism. Those that do not will probably support host-related social tourism, but will support visitor-related social tourism, if publicly funded, only if it can demonstrate benefits for the whole of society. In Western liberal democracies where this is a prevailing view, visitor-related social tourism might justify public expenditure as a potential tool to combat social exclusion. It can be seen as a merit good if it improves excluded peoples' handicapping characteristics, through, for example, beneficial effects in health, self-esteem, and improvement of family relationships. However, there is little research to test its effectiveness in achieving these outcomes. Further research is required to evaluate whether social tourism can have a significant role in combating social exclusion, and thus justify support from public expenditure. |
| Keywords | Social tourism, social exclusion, ethics |
| Journal | Tourism, Culture and Communication |
| Journal citation | 7 (12), pp. 7-17 |
| ISSN | 1098-304X |
| Year | 2006 |
| Web address (URL) | http://www.cognizantcommunication.com/filecabinet/Tourism_Culture/tcc71abs.html#tcc71abs1 |
| Publication dates | |
| Published | 2006 |
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