Social Tourism and its Ethical Foundations

Minnaert, Lynn; Maitland, Robert; Miller, Graham

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.

Citation

Minnaert, L., Maitland, R., & Miller, G. (2006). Social Tourism and its Ethical Foundations. Tourism, Culture and Communication, 7(1), 7-17. https://doi.org/10.3727/109830406778493533

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Mar 1, 2006
• Deposit Date: Aug 14, 2022
• Journal: Tourism Culture & Communication
• Print ISSN: 1098-304X
• Publisher: Cognizant Communication Corporation
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 7
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 7-17
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3727/109830406778493533
• Keywords: Ethics, social exclusion, social tourism
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/2896741