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Tourism
and the Environment
The Cook Islands
is one of two Pacific Island countries selected to participate
in UNESCO's 'Small Islands Voice Project.'
One of the
key components of this is a survey of children, youth and adult
community members on Rarotonga and the outer islands as to their
views on the environment, tourism and development. What they want
and what they don't want. How they view the changes, good and
bad, that have occurred over the past 10 years and what they would
like to see in the next 5-10 years. Once the results are compiled
and analysed they will be made available to the public.
The dictionary
defines environment as everything that surrounds us, that influences
our ability to survive. By becoming active citizens of our environment
we can be doing something that actually does good and not just
sounds good.
Just as certain
as the world spins on its axis is the fact that change will come
whether we like it or not. However, we can help control the changes
that will come and if we act and think in an intelligent, realistic
and responsible way we can use the changes to our benefit - to
make life better for all of our society, not just a select or
privileged few.
It is hoped
that you as members of the Tourism industry and participants in
this Forum take heed of these views as you plan for the future.
For these are the views of the people, the heart and soul of the
Cook Islands.
If tourism
is to be a positive development then it must pay attention to
the desires of the local citizenry for they are the stakeholders.
If tourism
development ignores the wishes of the people, if it looks for
the short term financial jackpot at the expense of long-term,
realistic and sustainable development then it will fail - it will
self-destruct. The attraction - the beauty, the very essence of
the Cook Islands, the magic that makes people want to visit here
are its environment and its people. Respect the environment, respect
the wishes of the people. For the past is our heritage, the present
our responsibility, the future our challenge. Let us preserve
this last heaven on earth. That decision is in our hands.
And we will
be judged not only by what we do, but also by what we fail to
do.
Thank you.
Bruce Gray
Presentation
to the Cook Islands National Tourism Forum, Rarotonga, Cook Islands,
3-4 December 2002
By Bruce Gray,
Director of Rarotonga Environmental Awareness Programme (REAP)
and Cook Islands Coodinator UNESCO - Small Islands Voice Project
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