Listener's Report (Theological Critique on Commercial Tourism)

Listener's Report (Theological Critique on Commercial Tourism)

By Dr. Miriam Chang, CJCU

The International Seminar on Tourism Development and Marginal Communities Jointly Organized by PTCA, NCCI, Chang Jung Christian University and SCEPTRE was held on Date 6-8 December, 2012, at SCEPTRE, Kolkata, India.

The theme of this seminar is: Commercial Tourism and Marginal Communities: Missiological and Theological Challenges.

In 5th Dec.
Dr. Solomon Rongpi moderated the first day seminar.
Bishop Ashoke Biswas delivered the opening and inangural address.
Dr. Huang Poho introduce the mission of PTCA and released Dr. Wati Longcha’s book ‘RETURNING TO MOTHER EARTH’,THEOLOGY,CHRISTIAN WITNESS AND RHEOLOGICAL EDUCATION. An Indigenous Perspective, which is the 4th book in PTCA serial publication.

Another Tourism is Possible

Another Tourism is Possible:

A Theological Critique of Commercial Tourism and

Re-imagining Tourism as Mission of Incarnation

Dr. George Zachariah

Porf. Taminalu Theological Seminary, India

Theological seminar on Commercial Tourism

 We are gathered here as an intentional community, inspired by Christian faith to unmask the interconnection between commercial tourism and its impact on marginal communities, and to uncover the environmental impact of commercial tourism. We do this critical reflection and analysis to develop missiological and theological perspectives to inspire our faith communities to engage in just and alternative tourism. As we have seen in the stories from Sri Lanka, commercial tourism is the invasion of neo-liberal globalization into our communities and our lifeworld. It commodifies human beings, nature, and cultures, to maximize wealth. It also dehumanizes the tourists by converting their vacation, pilgrimage and leisure into unjust and destructive activities that are dangerous to the future of life on earth. This presentation is an attempt to develop a theological and ethical critique of commercial tourism and to explore alternate practices of tourism informed by the perspectives of tourism-affected communities.   

COMMERCIAL TOURISM: An Agenda for Theological Curriculum Developmen

COMMERCIAL TOURISM:

An Agenda for Theological Curriculum Development

Dr. Wati Longchar,

Director SCEPTRE, Kolkata, India

Tourism Industry – An Ethico-Theological Issue

Group picture of paricipants

Tourism industry is spiraling and has gained a greater vogue with all its zeal and valor.  It is estimated that more than five million tourists, excluding domestic tourists, arrive in India alone, annually. Alongside oil, arms, pharmaceuticals and auto-industry, it is one of the largest industries in the world, and it is growing rapidly in a massive scale. The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) projects 1.5 billion arrivals of tourists by 2020.  A rough estimate puts 1,005 tourist arrivals in 2010. Its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) share is 5.89 trillion which is higher than GDP of the most rich countries. Excluding unaccounted laborers, tourism absorbs about 300 million people. To intensify tourism industry Governments have relaxed tax on air fuel and the budget airlines are growing. With the introduction of cheap flights, tourism industry will continue to grow all over the world.

Book Release for PTCA Series No. 4

PTCA BOOK RELEASE

PTCA series no. 4: 

Returning to Mother Earth

by Dr. Wati Longchar

PTCA Theological Seminar on Commercial Tourism

Neo Liberal Globalization and Market Oriented Commercial Tourism:

A Theological Critique

PTCA International Theological Symposium

Jointly by NCCI, CJCU and SCEPTRE

Huang Po Ho,

Prof. and vice president of CJCU, Dean of PTCA

Dec. 6-9, 2012. Kolkata, India

Introduction



Theological Seminar on Tourism

Tourism has been defined differently among the concerned scholars, no consensus being reached for its definition.  However, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has its definition of the concept which is widely adopted, that states: “Tourism comprises the activities of persons traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes.”^[1]  General speaking, tourism involves industries of transportation, accommodation, eating and drinking, retail shops, entertainment businesses and other hospitality services.  There are attempts to distinguish tourism from travel; however no significant distinctions are reached. Semantically speaking, all tourists are travelers, but not all travelers are tourists. But travelers are seldom able to be exempted from taking part of tourism; therefore attempt to distinguish the two does not make much sense to the discourses.

It is nevertheless, following the neo-liberal market economic development, tourist activities has been commercially organized to become a collective business industry. This has launched strategic promotion to encourage and gather great quantity of tourist groups, and to increase their frequencies of trips, and thus altered the nature of tourism. This new trend of commercial tourist industry affected by the market orientation has created different side effects related to the exploitation of nature (creation) and distortion of human relationship. It is this sort of commercial tourism industries that invite our attention to reflect upon theologically and to call for repentance and transformation.

PTCA Series no. 4

Though has suspended the JTCA Journal, with the hard works of Dr. Wati Longchar, our PTCA Colleague, the PTCA Series has been succesfully piling up all the important books to continue PTCA's contributions to Asian Theological Movement. Here is the new one from Dr. Wati Longchar -- Po Ho (Dean of PTCA)

PTCA International Theology Symposium

For Chang Jung Christian University and Serampore University

Theme: Commercial Tourism and Marginal Communities: Missiological and Theological Challenges
Date: 6-8 December, 2012 at SCEPTRE, Kolkata (Arrival 5th Dec, Dep. 8 Dec after dinner)

Objectives
a) Uncover the interconnection between environmental degradation through massive commercial tourism with
b) Unmask the interconnection between commercial tourism and its impact marginal communities such as women, children and indigenous communities
c) Evolve a prophetic missiological and theological education response on the issue

Activities: It will be a theological symposium – all the participants will be required to present a paper or make a panel presentation centered on the proposed theme with the view to evolve a missiological and theological response.

Partner Institute -- PERSETIA

PERSETIA -- Association for Theological Education in Indonesia

Sign MOU with Dr. Robert Setio, President of PERSETIA


 

Witnessed by Drs. Wati Longchar, Lal Tin Hre and H. Ongirwalu

 

 

 



PTCA Partner Institute - ATEM

ATEM - Association of Theological Education in Myanmar

Signing MOU with Dr. Lal Tin Hre, General Secretary of ATEM

Dr. Wati Longchar witnessed the process

 

Text of MOU signed with ATEM

Training To Be Ministers in Asia

PTCA Publication (series No. 3)

Partner Institute -- Hanshin University



   1. Hanshin University Graduate School of Theology

Sign MOU with Prof. Kang, Dean of Hanshin Graduate School of Theology



with Prof. Kang and Yeong Mee after the MOU signed

 





in Hanshin Chapel







PTCA Publications

Theological Education in World Christianity

 

Theology of Subject

MOU form for PTCA Partner Institutes

PARTNERSHIP MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

FOR

“PTCA PARTNER INSTITUTE”

The Programme of Theology and Cultures in Asia (PTCA) and  __________________________  hereby agree to sign this Memorandum Of Understanding as “PTCA Partner Institute”  to promote Doing Theology with Asian Resources through the following joint initiatives:

1.      The partner institute be permitted to use of PTCA logo and theological trend for the purpose of advertisement.

2.      The PTCA agrees to inform to partner institute all the PTCA activities and receive its publications.

3.      The partner institutes of PTCA commit itself to host local (national) theological seminar/workshop annually or occasionally according to their circumstance but at least once in three years.

4.      PTCA agrees to provide models workshop and send consultants/personnel to participate in the programme.

5.      The national theological seminar/workshop can be conducted either in local language or English can be published using PTCA logo and ISSN number by partner institute.

6.      The partner institutes agree to host PTCA lectureship from time to time.

7.      By request, PTCA agrees to fund the travel expenses for the scholar/professor and the host takes care of the local expenses.

8.      The partner institutes agree to collaborate in promoting younger theologians and Asian theology with ecumenical commitment and passion.

Termination

Either party involved may rescind the Partnership Agreement, notifying the other part at least 90 days before the suspension.

Resolution of Problems

Any question, problem, or conflict related to the application or interpretation of this “PTCA Partner Institute” will be subject to direct negotiation, through written contact, with the intention of reaching an amicable solution. 

Being in accord with this document of “PTCA Partner Institute”, the below signed, being legal representatives of the institutions involved, and presenting four copies, two in English affirm and agree to the contents and intentions of this document.

Signature:                                                                        Signature:

Dean, PTCA                                                                   __________

Official Seal                                                                    Official Seal

Date______                                                                    Date ______

Guidelines for Partner Institutes of PTCA

Working Guidelines for PTCA Partner Institutes (draft)

Programme Committee of PTCA met in Sabah Theological Seminary, Kota Kinabalu from Jan.15 to 17, 2012 to plan and strategize its continual contributions to the theological movement it has committed for last 30 years. Considering the changing ecumenical context of Asia and to promote young scholars in doing Asian theology, the members resolved to establish a working relationship with some the regional theological associations and individual theological institutes under the programme “PTCA Partner Institute”, and work through these partner network Institutes for various PTCA Programmes in doing theology in Asia The following guidelines are references proposed for the partner relations:

1. The PTCA Partner Institute should be a theological institute/or association which has interest and commitment to do theologies with Asian resources. These Partner Institutes can be established by invitation from the programme committee, recommendation from individual committee member or apply by the interested institutions.
2. The partner institutes of PTCA are entitled to make use of PTCA theological trend and excellence to characterize their institutes for the purpose of advertisement.
3. The partner institutes of PTCA will be kept informed of all the PTCA activities and receive its publications.
4. The partner institutes of PTCA should commit itself to host local (national) theological seminar/workshop annually or occasionally according to their circumstance but at least once in three years. PTCA will provide models of workshop and send consultants/personnel to participate in the programme.
5. The national theological seminar/workshop can be conducted either in local language or English. Papers of the workshop/seminar will be published by PTCA as its occasional papers. The partner institutions can also publish with PTCA logo and ISSN number.
6. The partner institutes should be willing to host PTCA lectureship from time to time. PTCA will be responsible to the travel expenses for the scholar/professor and the host will take care of the local expenses.
7. Upholding the vision of PTCA, the partner institutes should be willing to collaborate in promoting younger theologians and Asian theology with ecumenical commitment and passion.

Meeting Notes (minutes)

PTCA PROGRAMME COMMITTEE MEEETING ON
Future Planning for PTCA
at Sabah Theological Seminary, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
Held on 15-16 January, 2012

Member Present:

Dr. Archie Lee (Hong Kong), Chairperson
Dr. Huang Poho (Taiwan), Dean
Dr.Wati Longchar (India), Secretary
Dr. Wong Wai Ching (Hong Kong), Member
Dr. Daniel Namebura (Indonesia), Member
Dr. Thu En YU (Malaysia), Member
Dr. Jeffrey KJ Kuan (USA), Consultant
Dr. Dietrich Werner (Geneva), ETE-WCC
Dr. HS Wilson (USA/India), FTE

Apology:
Dr. Hisako Kinukawa (Japan)
Dr. Yeong Mee Lee (Korea)

The meeting started at 2:30 with a prayer and word of welcome from Rev. Dr. Thu En Yu, the President of STS, Kota Kinabalu who hosted the meeting.

Dr. Huang Po ho welcomed the members to this important future planning committee meeting and thanked the members for shouldering the expenses of their own ticket and the Sabah Theological Seminary for the kind hospitality.