Tourism and Violence by Hazel Andrews

Author:Hazel Andrews [Andrews, Hazel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Social Science, Human Geography, Business & Economics, Industries, Hospitality; Travel & Tourism, Sports & Recreation, Cultural & Social Aspects
ISBN: 9781472402530
Google: IxKdBQAAQBAJ
Publisher: Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.
Published: 2014-12-28T02:52:36+00:00

BiH, Palestine, Europe: The TEMPUS Programme

I have written in more detail (Selwyn and Karkut 2006; Selwyn 2010a, 2010b) about the TEMPUS projects that I and colleagues conducted in BiH and Palestine from 2000 to 2006 (and continuing).

The TEMPUS Programme (see above) was initiated by the EC in 1990 as a response to the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the prospect of Eastern European countries joining the EU. In 2002 it expanded to include the Mediterranean region with an overall aim to encourage inter-university co-operation structured around projects that focus on academic subjects identified as being priorities by the partner countries concerned. The two projects with which we were involved in BiH (Selwyn and Karkut, op. cit.) and Palestine were concerned with pilgrimage, tourism, and cultural heritage and consisted of working with networks of universities in and next to the EU (Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Bologna, and London in the BiH case; Bethlehem, Joensuu (Finland), and London in the Palestinian case) to compose and deliver Master’s courses in Tourism, Pilgrimage, and the Cultural Industries. Additionally, the two projects produced a national tourism strategy for BiH and contributed to policy and planning strategies for tourism and pilgrimage in Palestine.

Amongst the more original outcomes of the BiH and Palestinian TEMPUS projects was a number of suggestions about projects for the future. They were all presented in some detail to representatives of the International Community in Sarajevo and Bethlehem.

In the case of the BiH TEMPUS we put forward a plan for the restoration of the library system throughout BiH. The original (Yugoslav) national library system was set up under Tito by the novelist and Nobel Prize winner Ivo Andric (with his Nobel Prize winnings). We proposed the setting up of a single and unified tour guiding school in two BiH cities of Sarajevo and Banja Luka. This would work on the development and teaching of a cosmopolitan history of BiH and the region. Thirdly we suggested that the Muslim pilgrimage site at Ajvatovica (presently the largest Muslim pilgrimage site in Europe) be further incorporated into the municipal and national framework of the BiH economy. Finally, we proposed the setting up of a national design centre in which professional designers from all quarters of BiH and beyond could explore designs from the varied cultural traditions of the country.

The Palestinian team produced other projects of which the following four are examples. Firstly, we proposed a strategy for re-integrating local municipalities, such as Bethlehem’s neighbour Beit Jala (traditionally an attractive holiday spot in the summer because of its relatively high, and thus cool, position in the area) into the overall Palestinian tourism economy. Then we devised a plan for small-scale tourism in the village of Battir, near Bethlehem which would engage the village municipality, the women’s association, and a nascent craft industry. Thirdly we proposed the setting up of a Palestinian tourism board, on the grounds that tourism development cannot be led either by the public or private sectors alone. Fourthly, we demonstrated the need to develop the Visit Palestine website (visitpalestine.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.