Tourism and Citizen Diplomacy

By the Citizen Diplomacy we understand the engagement of average citizens in representing of a country whether voluntarily or through private sector programs and activities that aim is to increase cross-cultural understanding and knowledge between people from other countries. (US Center for CD) Citizen diplomacy may take place when official diplomacy fails or is not reliable. Most often it takes the form of scientific exchanges, cultural exchanges, and international sport events. Indeed, everyone who is engaged in creating greater mutual understanding and respect between countries is s Citizen Diplomat whether it is a student, teacher or even a tourist.

Consequently, one of the American organizations, the Global Exchange, which primary focus is on the human rights, came forward with an idea of Reality Tours. The aim of tours was to give a chance to Americans to visit different countries and discover the truth about how word perceives them. Their personal experience should also give them the opportunity to grasp the difficult problems away from the world portrayed by the mass media. These also suppose to help them to view American foreign policy from a different angle while relating to similar issues in their own communities.

Indeed, there is a number of countries where the USA does not have formal diplomatic relations and discourage the US citizens from traveling into this regions. These are countries which are described by the government as ‘rouge states’ which support terrorism and often seek the WMD. The disagreements between the US and Iran, North Korea or Cuba and Venezuela are, however, not necessarily well understood by Americans. Especially, that media often do not offer independent information and follow the official lines. As a result many of these states and their populations become victims of negative image assigned by the western governments.

Thanks to the Global Exchange initiative, many Americans have got a chance to promote diplomacy and dialogue in places where formal diplomacy failed. In fact, many argue that ‘individual travelers to these countries arguably do more to promote diplomacy and world peace than many of the actions of their governments’. (Travel Pulse, 2010) The Reality Tour helped many individuals to see ‘rouge states’ form a totally different perspective and changed their attitudes towards their population and customs. They could see the true reality of these countries rather then the reality showed by the media. Martha Hennesey, after a 2008 Reality Tour to Iran said: ‘I heard their concerns about their president's ability to lead. I felt their happiness at meeting Americans, and listened to their praise for our country and for our pursuit of democracy’. (Travel Pulse, 2010) Sophia Michelen who visited North Korea in 2010 reported: ‘There isn't a place on earth like it…Those who haven’t visited the country and experienced the cultural interactions my group did will not understand that gentle diplomacy did and can exist between the citizens of both countries’. (Travel Pulse, 2010)

The Reality Tours started in 1989 and enjoy growing popularity among Americans who want to make a difference in the places where official diplomacy struggles. Currently, the program organises 70 trips every year to almost 40 countries and continues to expand the list of its destinations.

Sources:

US Center for Citizen Diplomacy

http://uscenterforcitizendiplomacy.org/pages/what-is-citizen-diplomacy/

TRAVEL PULSE, December 03, 2010

http://www.travelpulse.com/global-exchange-offers-reality-tours-to-encourage-citizen-diplomacy.html

www.globalexchange.org.

http://www.facebook.com/RealityTours