An Important Aspect Of Anterior Cruciate Ligament...

Introduction An important aspect of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is a postoperative rehabilitation program that aims to return the patient to their daily work activities as soon as possible. There are many variations to a rehabilitation program that have common checkpoints that a physical trainer strives to complete. One variation that is used deals with neuromuscular electrical stimulation and its use to counteract strength loss present after ACL reconstruction. The purpose of the randomized controlled trial was to compare the effect of utilizing traditional neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) or a neuromuscular electrical stimulation integrated knee sleeve to a regular postoperative rehabilitation program. Background The primary goals of rehabilitation of ACL reconstruction are to reduce inflammation, regain normal range of motion, recover neuromuscular strength and functional performance, and ultimately retrain the patient’s body to perform everyday activities once again. Superimposing NMES on a voluntary muscular contraction was shown to be more beneficial to the patient than utilizing a NMES or voluntary muscular contraction separately. Intensity and duration of the NMES treatments were important factors that influenced treatment outcomes as well as overall patient compliance when high stimulation levels were applied. There were two different means that NMES was administered, a traditional Polystim device with lead-wires and a KneehabShow MoreRelatedMost Common Sports Injuries Of Young Kids And Female Athletes Tearing Their Acl1365 Words   |  6 Pagesdifferent kinds of common injuries such as a broken leg, rolled ankle, or a sprained knee. The one I will be researching and describing is the ACL injury. Which is one of the most common sports injuries? As Medical Definition states, The ACL is a ligament in the knee that crosses from the underside of the femur (the thigh bone) to the top of the tibia (the bigger bone in the lower leg). In essence, the ACL is a vital part of an athlete s lateral lower body movement which is crucial in any sportRead MoreMri Of The Knee Ligament Tear1283 Words   |  6 Pages MRI of the knee -Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tear Introduction The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is an important structure in maintaining the normal biomechanics of the knee and is the most commonly injured knee ligament. ACL tears may be partial or complete. A partial tear can involve both or only a single bundle to varying degree, can range from a minor tear involving just a few fibers to a high grade near-complete tear involving almost all of the ACL fibers. Anatomy and physiologyRead MorePrevalence Of Injuries During Sports Activities Essay1897 Words   |  8 PagesKnee joint the most frequently undergoing to reconstruction surgeries, especially of repair and rebuild an anterior cruciate ligament tear among the most economically costly sports injuries, habitually requiring expensive surgery and rehabilitation (Joseph A. M. et al, 2013) (Rosemont I., 2015). Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of a pair of the cruciate ligaments in the human knee (Agur A. M., 2015). It is a broad ligament joining the anterior tibial plateau to the posterior femoral intercondylarRead MoreThe Anterior Cruciate Ligament ( Acl )2485 Words   |  10 Pages â€Æ' Background The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a strong rope-like structure that runs through the center of the knee connecting the femur to the tibia. An ACL prevents the femur from moving anteriorly while weight bearing, helps prevent rotation of the joint and is the primary stabilizing structure of the knee and its integrity is essential for walking and any physical activities (Sports Medicine Australia, 2015). An ACL sprain or tear is one of the most common knee injuries, especially amongRead MoreThe Anterior Cruciate Ligament ( Acl )1689 Words   |  7 PagesThe Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) is regarded as critical to the normal functioning of the knee, its disruption causing functional impairment, meniscal lesions, and the early onset of joint degeneration (Daniel 1994). The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) of the knee originates from the anterior aspect of the tibial plateau, inserting on the lateral femoral condyle. The ligament resists anterior translation and medial rotation o f the tibia to the femur (Dai, 2012). Injury of the ACL is now theRead MoreThe Roles Of A Research : Proper Evaluation Of Sources In Research1570 Words   |  7 PagesProper evaluation of sources is important in research because without reliable and credible sources, the research done holds no credibility. Three sources will be critiqued and evaluated in order to convey how they work together to create a competent research paper. The first source is an academic journal that discusses ligaments and tears and how the advancement of this research and clinical trials display a higher success rate in recovery than previous methods. These methods include surgeries usingRead MoreAcl Injuries Essay5930 Words   |  24 Pagesis the rehabilitation of surgically repair torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Five subjects with this type of injury had been followed weekly with their rehabilitation process and have been noted by date by the supervision of Ashik Popat, PTA. My focus in this project is to learn how patients become candidates for surgery and how rehabilitation can return people back to their maximum attainable status. As an intern, I will gain important experiences of understanding how a physical therapistRead MoreSchool Of Physical Therapy And Rehab Programs1671 Words   |  7 Pagescatching a pass from Tom Brady and attempting to juke the defender in front of him. Wes planted his leg on the turf and it looked as though his foot got caught underneath him with his knee bent, nearly touching the field. Walker had torn his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) on that play. The wide receiver suffered a season ending injury while he was leading the league with 123 catches (Marx 17). Although some factors put more people at risk of tearing their ACL, this can really happen to anyone. EvenRead MoreA Study On Open Chain Exercises1906 Words   |  8 Pagesintervention of appropriate treatments for patients post ACL reconstruction. 2. How will the study contribute to existing knowledge? This study is important to determine whether the use of open chain exercises are beneficial for increased quadriceps strength earlier in the rehabilitation protocol. It is important to make sure that this increased strength does not come at the expense of increased anterior ACL laxity. This is important for physical therapists because it will help improveRead MoreTreatment And Treatment Of Rehabilitation941 Words   |  4 PagesTREATMENT Following a specific anterior cruciate ligament injury diagnosis, the first and most important decision for a patient is whether to undergo non-operative or operative management of the injury. In order to establish the most opportune method of treatment there are many components that must be considered, although the decision is ultimately dependent upon the age, activity level, and preferences of the patient. Most often, nonsurgical treatment is chosen for older, more sedentary individuals

Influence of Internet and Information Technology - 5400 Words

Informing Science InSITE - â€Å"Where Parallels Intersect† June 2003 Influence of Internet and Information Technology on Work and Human Resource Management Peter Baloh and Peter Trkman Faculty of Economics, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia peter.baloh@uni-lj.si peter.trkman@uni-lj.si Abstract Internet has transformed our lives and the way we communicate, how we learn, how we work and spend free time, in essence – it has more or less changed every aspect of human society one can think of. This paper deals with the influence of Internet and information technology on work and human resource management. It observes main novelties and (inevitably coming) changes in areas of staffing, motivating and leading and discusses possible†¦show more content†¦Secondly, combining that with elements of human-resource management we try to predict basic consequences that IT could have on the way employees are rewarded and the way new employees are acquired. The paper is structured according to introduced methodology – section two contains presentation of how Internet and IT have influenced some of the areas of organization s personnel function and a few consequences of that. In the third section mainly various opportunities that organization can take to adjust to the new situation both in its environment and within the organization. Current Influence of the Internet and IT The number of Internet users has grown over 300 million in year 2000 (predictions for year 2005 are set for one billion), a third of USA s economic growth in the period 1996-99 is directly attributed to the Internet explosion. There are over 2 billion web pages and more than 17 million registered domains (State of the Internet, 2000). These facts already indicate that the Internet has significant effect on how, why, where and when people work. The Internet and IT have the most prominent influence on more educated, skilled and ambitious people, especially those, that are regularly working with information and communication technology (ICT). Since they are also the ones that occupy important positions in organizations hierarchy and are therefore of great significance for the overall success of theShow MoreRelatedDoes Social Networking Have A Positive And Or Negative Affect On Individuals?942 Words   |  4 Pageswith friends/family, receiving information, and building relationships. S ocial media has a positive impact on individuals in society because individuals are able to connect with one another via email, twitter, facebook, instagram, snapchat, and etc. With more options of social networking websites, individuals are able to receive information about what is currently happening around the world, or even in their own town. Individuals are not only able to receive information within seconds, but inform othersRead MoreThe Arrival And Proliferation Of Technology1330 Words   |  6 Pages The arrival and proliferation of technologies that are created leads to one understanding of a social adept community with a developed connection, an effective communication with others, and an understanding of cultures. With societal innovation and the combination of technology and the internet, it introduced a social connection and efficient platform for the community. On the other hand, one may understand that such technological advances cause people to be distracted and isolated. In such a spectrumRead MoreInformation Literacy Influence, Scholarship, Practice, and Leadership1068 Words   |  5 PagesInformation Literacy Influence, Scholarship, Practice, and Leadership The mastery of literacy is a fundamental aspect used by scholars in advance studies research and development where leaders gains essential data that is crucial in their decision-making activity. The integration of information literacy into the academic learning is critical to capitalize the characterization of leaders’ ability and credibility within the leadership arena. In this paper it will summarize the key points and discussRead MoreEssay about Cyber Studies1499 Words   |  6 PagesCyber Studies This essay will argue that the influence of new technologies are changing the relationship between the media and their audiences. This concept will be explored by examining the current media communication model and how new technologies influence it’s future. Future media possibilities are raised and the implications of them for the relative industries are discussed. This essay is molded around the idea that these new technologies are giving audiences the power to shape the futureRead MoreImpacts Of Technology E Commerce1471 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿Impact of Technology in Business – E-Commerce Since the introduction of the Internet in the 1950’s, development of technology began for use by the military until it was soon introduced to the public for commercial and private use. Throughout the decades ever since, technology was then on the road to sudden rapid expansion, with a big boom in new hardware, software and internet capabilities such as faster computer speeds, faster internet connections and efficient software. Convenient services appearedRead MoreThe Impact Of Technology On Our Brain968 Words   |  4 PagesTechnology has a big impact on peoples’ daily life. People rely on the information on webs without truly evaluating the trustworthiness of the site. There might be some trustworthy webs but most of them doesn’t contain an accurate and precise information. Since all the information are available on internet, we complete our tasks through internet and never truly utilize our brains. In other words, our brain becomes more indolent and worthless due to the easy accessible of information and lazinessRead MoreInternet Technology And The Internet Essay1424 Words   |  6 PagesThe Internet Nowadays, the rapid development of technology and science can bring us many conveniences. And as this developing continued, people are not satisfied with traditional tools and habits. The first technology I want to mentioned is the Internet technology. First of all, what is the internet technology? Internet technology is the ability of the internet to transmit information and data through different servers and systems. Internet technology is important in many areas that allows peopleRead MoreCyberspace : What Technology Can Not Do For Us1564 Words   |  7 PagesWith the advent of communication technology, people can connect with others easily and know the latest information immediately. It enriches individuals’ experiences and knowledge. In the essay â€Å"Democracy in Cyberspace: What Technology Can Cannot Do for Us†, Ian Bremmer explains that individuals use communication technology as a powerful weapon to pursue freedom and democracy, but governments manipulate it to publicize their official view. Communication within technology also accelerates the path of globalizationRead MoreThe Effects Of Digital Media On Society s Media1714 Words   |  7 Pagesideas in an attempt to influence audiences. The effect is further enhanced when digital media, particularly the Internet, enters the competition for the limited supply of audience attention. The saturated mass media industry no longer has the benefit of reach it used to have, especially with millennials, in this attention economy filled with fragmented audiences (Webster Ksiazek 2012). More businesses and marketers have turned their efforts to digital media to influence consumers (Mulhern 2009)Read MoreThe Impact Of Social Media On Sociology855 Words   |  4 PagesDevelopment of technology over the years has become more and more evident as the society picks up on new methods to improve living standards and conditions. Technology, as we know it, is the use of scientific knowledge with the purp ose of solving certain problems or make life easier. The initial use of scientific knowledge has changed over the years as human beings keep innovating ways of making living easier as well as advance the standards of living. This is what has always been described as technological

Tourism Reduces Poverty- An Argumentative Essay †Free Samples

Question: Discuss about the Tourism Reduces Poverty- An Argumentative Essay. Answer: Introduction The term poverty denotes the condition in which the basic amenities of a person or a community like food, shelter and clothing are not met. Poverty is of two types-absolute poverty and relative poverty. The term absolute poverty refers to destitution and is a condition when people are unable to meet the sufficient resources (Hagenaars 2017). On the other hand, relative poverty is a condition when people do not enjoy minimum living standards. Given the reference of the report used in this case, the tourism industry has created the most number of employment in the developing countries. It was found that tourism has generated an amount of US$50 billion to USD$260 between the period of 1990 and 2007 for the developing countries. It was found that out of 46 of the 49 LDCs (Least Developing Countries), tourism is the main source of foreign exchange (Gmelch and Kaul 2018). The aim of the paper is to elucidate and support the contention that tourism reduces poverty with a focus on India and employs scholarly evidence to substantiate the argument. The paper sets to argue that tourism is beneficial for the reduction of poverty and also document counter arguments regarding the same. Tourism industry and its potential in the alleviation of poverty Tourism has direct, indirect and induced impacts on tourism. The induced impact of tourism is its contribution through the provision of direct and indirect employment. The impact of tourism has been found to be beneficial for the rise in GNP (Gross National Product) as it creates employment for the multiple stakeholders like the hotels, restaurants, handloom and handicraft industry, flea market, guides and local shopkeepers. Tourism development as an aspect in any country has been studied from the perspective of financial growth or economic modernization. In the area of development, the emphasis of most countries have been on identifying patterns of economic growth that augments the development. There are two critical paradigms of tourism that is related to poverty. One of them is tourism being labour-intensive and provides small-scale opportunities. Secondly, there is a thrust to revive the natural resources and value the cultural heritage which are significant for the marginalized section. Vanegas, Gartner and Senauer (2015) strongly beliee that tourism becomes an inclusive opportunity for women as it generates employment for them. It has been found that countries such as Bolivia, tourism has filled up 60 per cent of the seats; in case of Muslim countries it has been 10 per cent (Chen, Petrick and Shahvali 2016). The service orientation of the tourism industry combined with the emphasis on low-level domestic tasks enhances the possibility of employment for the women as they are largely involved in the employment sector. Tourists visit the country and return to their country, however the income ushered in through the tourists is instrumental for the contribution to the human capital. This generates income that is effective in developing the infrastructure to forge new business that is significant for the for generating income for the growing population in the context of India. Hugo and Nyaupane (2016) are of the opinion that in many developed and developing countries of the world tourism is the vehicle for earning foreign revenue. It also creates direct and indirect employment. Tourism has been reported to contribute to 5 per cent of the worlds GDP (Step.unwto.org 2018). WTTC (World Travel and Tourism Council) have reported that tourism contributes to 12 per cent of the GDP of the world and 40 per cent of the GDP of the developing countries of the world. In 2010, it was reported that tourism contributed to 12 per cent of the total GDP (Sharma and Kumar 2018). Tourism has been accounted for generating 8 per cent of employment and it is predicted to generate employment for 324 million and tourism also accounts for 36 per cent of the service exports in the advanced countries of the world (Brako and Joseph 2017). It is found to be the primary economic exchange for 47 per cent of the worlds economy. . It is also reported that it contributes to 66 per cent of the service exports for the developing countries. It is argued that tourism is considered as a major cause for poverty alleviation, generation of employment and also fosters human development. Tourism has indirect impact on the generation of income and employment. In the context of India, tourism is found to be contributing to one-third of the foreign exchange of the worlds foreign exchange revenue in India. In India, the tourism industry is the most vibrant industry and is predicted to be a multi-million industry. It was found that travel and tourism would generate culminate to 24, 931, 000 jobs for the multiple stakeholders in the tourism industry (Seetanah et al. 2017). This means hotels, travel agents, transportation and airlines will benefit from such a trend. According to Kalaiya and Kumar (2015) Kachchh is touted to be a bastion for immense possibilities to attract tourists from all over the world. There is a robust revival of the tourism sector thus making the Kachchh region a frontrunner in the tourism sector. It has been found that the Rannutsav in Kachchh has indirectly contributed to the livelihood of the local communities. The entry fee alone generated 516955 INR and the footfall of the tourists are 66656 in 2011 that includes NRI , foreign tourists, Gujarati community as well as the non-Gujarati people (Tang, Tiwari and Shahbaz 2016). The activities of hot air balloon and other terrain vehicles lead to the generation of 2.24 lakh INR. Tourism industry and the scope of alleviation of poverty Scholars who staunchly believe in the positive impact of tourism are of the opinion that the tourism industry generates employment for the poor and enable them to earn their livelihood (Antonakakis, Dragouni and Filis 2015). In this light, the PPT (Pro-poor tourism) needs to be discussed. The concept of Pro-poor tourism, also known as PPT, has been credited for generating multiple advantages for the poor. This orientation of tourism has a pro-poor approach as it ensures their growth. This can be witnessed in the creation of part-time employment along with a cluster of different livelihood benefits like access to road, markets, health, potable water and education. Mowforth and Munt (2015) argues that this kind of approach to tourism is not just labour intensive but is inclusive of women and also boosts the informal economy. Apart from private enterprises, the concerned communities, government, NGO and the tourists all have key roles to play in the alleviation of poverty. Irrespective of the size of the country, tourism is considered to provide boost for the generation of finance (Ravallion 2017). Tourism is believed to have strong linkage with other sectors of the economy like fisheries and agriculture. This kind of connection will augment the growth of tourism. Ravallion (2017) is firmly of the opinion that the rise in demand for one sector, it is believed that there will be a growth in the other sectors too like the transport sector. Tourism is premised on the natural resources which are the assets of the poor and therefore can be easily developed. Tourism also involves women who can become important vehicles in the alleviation of poverty. The variegated infrastructure related to the development of tourism like electricity, road and communication are believed to be pertinent for the several rural communities who would otherwise been deprived from the infrastructural provision (Holden 2016). Apart from direct and indirect modes of employment, tourism also has i mplications for induced employment. This underscore on re-expenditure of the income generated through direct and indirect means of employment. High employment opportunities in the tourism sector is contingent on four key areas that includes the presence of low paying jobs, pervasion of temporary and part-time jobs and seasonal intensity (Antonakakis, Dragouni and Filis 2015). Tourism is found to exhaust a series of non-traded goods and services from the local suppliers. Holden (2016) contends that over the past decade, there has been a remarkable proliferation in the tourism industry compared to other industries. The correlation between the alleviation of poverty and tourism is not a new issue but it has existed since 1960s. Countries that veer towards using tourism as a major source of income are found to be growing a faster pace than other competing countries. Another luminous example of reduction of poverty using tourism is the possibility of slum tourism in Dharavi (Nisbett 2017 ). Private players, charitable trust and various NGOs can come together and create tourist itineraries. It will also enable tourists to challenge the stenotypes in India and be aware about the detrimental effects of globalization. Argument against the role of tourism in the alleviation of poverty Studies have shown that tourism might always be in favour of the marginalized communities and poorer section of the society. It is reported that tourism has been in favour of the local elites, expatriate and international and international enterprises therefore generating low income and limiting the scope of employment for the poor. If the framework of tourism is poorly planned, organized and executed then it has potential to destroy the ecological system, it can raise the cost of living for the local communities and can have pernicious effects on the cultural, social and traditional lives of the people. Brako and Joseph (2017) argues that economic growth and development is not the only parameter for the alleviation of poverty. There needs to be a complete reorientation that would advocate the cause and interest of the poor. There needs to be a reconceptualization and reinterpretation in the existing laws, rules, regulations, customs and practices that would play a pivotal role in th e reduction of poverty. Contrary to the popular notion of tourism having the potential to reduce poverty, critics have argued it can lead to the commercial0ization of poverty and expose the concerned poor people to more problems (Nisbett 2017). In case of the Dharavi slum tourism, objections were raised by the government as it demeaning the image of the country in front of the foreign tourists and could counter the benefits reaped through tourism. Tourism can pose threat if it generating employment for one sector like fisheries and agriculture and is limiting the opportunities for other sectors. This leads to the condition of employment distortion. In case, technical staff and expatriate managers are employed at a higher rate, the local communities may express resentment on their loss. Another negative aspect related to tourism is related to the seasonal nature of tourism and therefore, it is not a sustainable option for the poor throughout the year (Mowforth and Munt 2015). Tourism poses threat to the destruction of cultural assets and the degradation of the cultural resources. In the broader context of the global issues related to the depletion of the resources and degradation of the environment, tourism can have negative effect on the environment. As noted by scholars, tourism as an industry demands a lot of expenditure and therefore, the lack of engagement of the poor can reduce the attraction of tourism from the poor destinations. Therefore, the income that would be generated would not benefit the poor but the affluent and well-off sections of the society as consistent with the trickle effect. Since tourism is directly proportional to the socio-cultural, political, environmental and economic condition, the absence of social security and insurance can push the poor towards more vulnerable condition (Vanegas, Gartner and Senauer 2015). This would be especially in a situation when there would be the downswing of demand. Tourism may also lead to the increase in crime like drug pedalling and trafficking. Many poor localities lack the adequate transport and communication that is main basis of support for the growth of tourism Conclusion The main argument of the essay was that the tourism industry plays a significant role in alleviation of poverty. The tourism industry creates employment for the local communities and provides them an opportunity to introduce their culture and talent to the tourists. For the developing countries, especially there is a need to boost the tourism industry and tap the benefits reaped through it as foreign exchange will increase the Gross Nation Product (GNP) of the country. The Kachchh region in Gujarat is a luminous example in this line as it has created benefits for multiple stakeholders. However, thrust on tourism to alleviate poverty can also have its detrimental effects. The advantages reaped through tourism might be limited to the affluent and well-off sections of the society and the benefits are never reached to the poor. Tourism can also pose threat to the cultural assets and natural resources of the poor communities and heighten their problems. The seasonal nature of the industry will not incur sustainable benefits for the poor, therefore exacerbating their conditions in the lean season. Since tourism is contingent on the improvement in transport and communication, poorly developed regions inhabited by the local communities will not be able to reap the benefits incurred through tourism. References Antonakakis, N., Dragouni, M. and Filis, G., 2015. How strong is the linkage between tourism and economic growth in Europe?.Economic Modelling,44, pp.142-155. Brako, P. and Joseph, S.T., 2017. Study on How Economic Reforms Have Affected Tourism in India over the Decade. Chen, C.C., Petrick, J.F. and Shahvali, M., 2016. Tourism experiences as a stress reliever: Examining the effects of tourism recovery experiences on life satisfaction.Journal of Travel Research,55(2), pp.150-160. Gmelch, S.B. and Kaul, A., 2018.Tourists and tourism: A reader. Waveland Press. Hagenaars, A.J., 2017. The definition and measurement of poverty. InEconomic Inequality and Poverty: International Perspectives(pp. 148-170). Routledge. Holden, A., 2016.Environment and tourism. Routledge. Hugo, N.C. and Nyaupane, G.P., 2016. Poverty Alleviation in Third World Countries through Tourism Development: A Comparison Study of Costa Rica and icaragua. Kalaiya, A.B. and Kumar, A., 2015. Tourism as a development tool: A study on role of tourism in economic development, employment generation and poverty reduction: Special focus on Kachchh.International Journal,3(7), pp.189-197. Mowforth, M. and Munt, I., 2015.Tourism and sustainability: Development, globalisation and new tourism in the third world. Routledge. Nisbett, M., 2017. Empowering the empowered? Slum tourism and the depoliticization of poverty.Geoforum,85, pp.37-45. Ravallion, M., 2017.Poverty comparisons. Routledge. Seetanah, B., Nunkoo, R., Sannassee, R.V., Georges, P. and Jaffur?, W.M.Z.R.K., 2017. A meta-analysis of the tourism and economic growth nexus.BEST EN Think Tank XVII: Innovation and Progress in Sustainable Tourism, p.180. Sharma, S. and Kumar, K., 2018. Tourism and Its Counterpart in Sustaining the Indian Economy.Multidisciplinary Higher Education, Research, Dynamics Concepts: Opportunities Challenges For Sustainable Development (ISBN 978-93-87662-12-4),1(1), pp.344-347. Step.unwto.org. (2018).Tourism and Poverty Alleviation | Tourism and Poverty Alleviation. [online] Available at: https://step.unwto.org/content/tourism-and-poverty-alleviation-1 [Accessed 23 Mar. 2018]. Tang, C.F., Tiwari, A.K. and Shahbaz, M., 2016. Dynamic inter-relationships among tourism, economic growth and energy consumption in India.Geosystem Engineering,19(4), pp.158-169. Vanegas Sr, M., Gartner, W. and Senauer, B., 2015. Tourism and poverty reduction: An economic sector analysis for Costa Rica and Nicaragua.Tourism economics,21(1), pp.159-182.

Responsible Tourism free essay sample

The growth of tourism across the world has been spectacular – in the last 10 years, tourism industry recorded a growth of over 10%, accounting for 10% of the world’s economic activity and is one of the main employment creating sectors. UNWTO is predicting over 1500 million international arrivals by 2020, over double the present level. UNEP and UNWTO have encouraged policy makers to adopt strategies, policies and tools of sustainable development. In summary, these are about strengthening the benefits through tourism while minimizing the costs. There is also the realization that tourism can play a role in addressing poverty, by bringing sources of income closer to some of the poorest communities. Governments have to play a leading role in the process of sustainability – as the authority of regulation, the body responsible for public assets and resources affected by tourism, and as policy makers. Kerala has recorded remarkable levels of growth in tourism arrivals in recent years. We will write a custom essay sample on Responsible Tourism or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Kerala recorded 6. million domestic tourists and 4. 28 foreign tourists arrival in the year 2006, the average annual growth in domestic tourists is more than 18 % over the past decade. The annual growth rate for foreign tourist arrivals is over 20%, and over 5% for domestic tourists. Government has recognized the potential of tourism to provide employment, to raise resources and to become a prominent economic sector in the state’s economy. Improvement in infrastructure, better air connectivity and innovative marketing has resulted in the boom in the tourism sector. The tourism industry in Kerala Kerala has about 300 hotels, with a room inventory of about 10,000 classified rooms. It is estimated that there would be another 10,000 rooms in the unclassified hotels, guest houses, homestays and other informal accommodation. It is to be noted that more than 80% of the room inventory is owned and operated by businesses which are locally owned. Kerala tourism is a suceess story in marketing chiefly because of the projection of a consistent brand image, innovative promotion strategies, positive perception of the overall environmental quality and safety and security of visitors. It is also the success of the private businesses that have delivered a quality of experience and service that has made the destination very popular. Lastly, the Department of Tourism (Kerala Tourism) has built up a productive partnership platform with the private sector in the marketing and promotion front resulting in an aggressive and sustained brand reinforcement and promotion effort. Kerala Tourism recognizes that sustainable tourism can go hand in hand with large volumes, and is not confined to a niche alone. The concerns of Kerala Tourism are : †¢Managing dynamic growth †¢Maximizing the contribution of tourism to local economic prosperity †¢Ensuring fair distribution of economic benefits locally, and harnessing tourism for poverty alleviation efforts †¢Human resource development to capture employment opportunity for local populations †¢Minimizing environmental impacts †¢Pursuing multi-stakeholder engagement Impacts and Concerns Alongside the rapid developments, there are also concerns about the negative impacts of tourism in the state. Prominent economic concerns are the minimal impact of the developments in the economic scenario of local populations, leakages, over dependency on tourism, restriction of employment for local population etc. Other aspects like environmental degradation due to unregulated development, loss of common property resources and pollution have also been highlighted. The Responsible Tourism Intitiative in Kerala Department of Tourism has decided to develop policies, strategies and plans for sustainable tourism. Accordingly, it was decided to adopt the guiding principles of responsible tourism, in economic, social and environmental spheres. A multi stakeholder, participatory approach was advocated to take the initiative forward. It was recognized that the first step to adopting the principles of Responsible Tourism will have to be an extensive consultative exercise, which would determine the contours of the overall strategy. The State RT Initiative was kicked off at the state level consultation. This paper proposes to detail the steps taken as part of the RT initiative, leading up to the formal inauguration of the programme. The issues and concerns of major stakeholder groups that emerged during the discussions are listed in detail, as these describe the perceptions and opinions about the tourism sector before the multi stakeholder engagement was initiated. State Consultation The objective of the consultative workshop was to engage all stakeholders in the formulation of a strategy and policies; and to ensure effective coordination of actions and an ongoing dialogue between stakeholders. The effort was to bring together diverse opinions and persons with knowledge and expertise, and to ensure the commitment of support and resources to a common, shared agenda. It was with this in view, the Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala decided to organise a state-level consultation on Responsibility in Tourism in association with the International Centre for Responsible Tourism. The two day workshop was attended by wide range of stakeholders including representatives from state government departments, local self governments (panchayats, municipalities and corporations), different segments of the tourism industry, civil society organisations, NGOs, academicians and media. The discussions were moderated by Prof. Harold Goodwin, from the International Centre for Responsible Tourism. The department’s partnering with an NGO with a track record of emphatic criticism of government policy and performance, to spearhead the initiative was met with surprise from many quarters. Both partners entered into this partnership expecting a great deal of flak for associating with the ‘other side’. However this was a well though out move – the credibility of the government in pushing for responsibility among a skeptical civil society that was waging a war against the ‘damage’ that tourism was inflicting on the environmental and socio economic fabric of the state was crucial for effective stakeholder engagement and collaborative action. From the point of view of the NGO this was perhaps the best opportunity to engage the government for developing sustainable frameworks and models that would address the negative impacts of tourism. For the industry this association would do good only if it helped generate greater good will and understanding locally about the opportunities that tourism provided for the local economy, and bring heightened value to the tourist experience which would, in turn fuel an increase in quality business. The programme had to bring the various stakeholders in the industry, the local government and the civil society together for a meaningful debate and agreement on areas of collaboration for responsibility. Keeping this in mind, the programme was divided into two – the introduction of the theme of Responsible tourism in the Kerala context and detailed thematic discussions. During the introductory presentation and discussions, there were presentations on the different perceptions of the impact of tourism industry, case studies and the development of a discussion framework. The second day was devoted to thematic discussions where the issues regarding economic, social and environmental sustainability were articulated and documented. For sub group discussions, the participants were categorized into three groups: 1. Local self governments Civil society organisations 2. Tourism Industry 3. State Government departments and organisations The undiluted perceptions in respect of issues faced by the industry, as well as those created on account of tourism activity were to be elicited from each stakeholder group. Each group was therefore asked to freely discuss on the issues related to economic, social and environment responsibility from their point of view. The views of each group are given below in some detail, as these bring out vividly the different perceptions of tourism. I. Local Self Governments Civil Society Organisations The issues identified by the group are summarised below: Economic †¢Opportunity costs are not taken into account while implementing tourism projects †¢Special Tourism Zones will bring in lot of inequalities and does not match with the concept of responsible tourism. The method of calculation of tourism statistics is not correct leading to wrong projects on infrastructure development †¢Importance is given only for foreign tourists †¢Expenditure pattern of tourists not monitored properly †¢The exact requirements of the tourism industry are not known locally †¢No involvement of panchayats in tourism projects †¢No tourism projects are reported in gramasabhas †¢Large amount of subsidies and incentives given to tourism industry †¢No bench mark data available for economic, social and environment aspects †¢Over dependence on tourism in some tourism destinations Local governments have been lax in assessment and collection of building tax and entertainment tax Social and Cultural. The local labourers are not given proper recognition and opportunities for employment †¢Labour standards are not maintained †¢Traditional jobs are lost †¢Low education standards in rural villages denies jobs †¢No consideration for people working in the informal sectors †¢Promoting art forms is not culture tourism †¢Commodification of art forms †¢Change in food habits of local community; promotes menu suiting foreigners †¢The dangers of sex tourism †¢Contradictions on State and panchayat Raj act not recognised.