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.
There were three keynote addresses:

“Commercial Tourism and Marginal Communities: Missiological and Theological Challenges” delivered by Dr. George Zakariah, who did critical reflection and analysis to develop missiological and theological perspectives to inspire our faith community to engage in just and alternative tournism. Alternative Justice Tourism is a call to repentance, both the guests and the hosts reject the neo-liberal exploitative trajectory of tourism and develop tourism and pilgrimage that protect the environment, improve the economic needs of the host communities, bring about justice and peace.

Neo-liberal globalization and tourism industries: A Theological Critique

--Dr. Huang Poho
To critically examining the tourism industry its structure and practice under the Christian value of justice that proposed by the biblical understanding of the Kingdom of God. By doing this, Churches and individual Christians have to take the position of the underside weaker parties of the society, the minority aboriginals, the displaced and marginalized women and children for their missional concern.

Commercial Tourism and its Impact on Subsistence Communities

--Dr. Wati Longchar
Tourism has emerged as one important modern economic activity touching all dimensions of life. There are a few practical suggestions: (a) Develop a curriculum for ministerial candidate. (b) Integration of tourism issue in other disciplines. (c) Scholarship programme. (d) Ministerial exposure under the supervision of alternative tourist operators.

The panel discussions entitled “Commercial Tourism and Commodification of Culture and Religion” were presented by Chung Hsing (Miriam) Chang & Emma Yen (CJCU), Ms. Anna Barla (NCCI) and Thomas Birla (SCEPTRE).

Miriam and Emma presented the Taiwan aboriginal culture tourism development. There are three parties: aboriginal people, tourist and government or company. Each party in this triangle should make efforts to treat the other two as “I and Thou” instead of “I and It”. Anna presented Adivasi the most marginalized people in India. She claimed government should not treat Adivasi homeland like a zoo or a circus. They should be respected by their culture and life style.

7th December
In the morning devotion and prayer, Johanna Lin and the team members from CJCU read Bible John 3:31-35, inspired we should be the witness of the true God in tourism development.

Dr. M. T. Cherian moderated the 2nd day siminar.

Ms. Moumita Biswas delivered the speech and paper about “Tourism Developing and impact on Women and Children in Asia”. She used feminist methodology of analytical storytelling to share “herstories” the negative impacts including commoditization of woman, eroticization of labor, sex tourism, temple prostitution ,indigenous culture weakening, diseases and HIV/AIDS in Asia. She claimed restoring dignity and healing body of woman and mother nature.

Dr. Wati arrange a museum tour and city tour of Kolkata for the participants.

8th December
Morning Devotion was held by Mr. Deiiomiki Ivan Jones. He read Luke 10:38-42, and brought the message that “the only one thing” between host and guest is love and spiritual communication.

Panel Presentation was entitled as "Christian Ministry in the context of blooming Tourism Industries."

Jonah Lin (CJCU) presented two types of Christian mission in the local church in Taiwan: a life community, Lin-chi-net Presbyterian church and a culture and folk activities in Wenchin Basilica.

Rev. Christopher Vijayan (NCCI)
Church can play a vital role in the promotion of tourism. We have to think what kinds missional action church can take to establish kingdom values in the tourism market in the midst of global challenges.

Rev. Sandeep Theophil (NCCI) presented the emerging issues in the commercial tournism from the coastline of Karnataka.

Mary Chang: Christian ministry as called for holistic ministry need to lase its lens to the commercial tournism with love, compassion with teachings on justice, peace and equality for a just, inclusive and reformative tourism.

In the discussion, we realized that theological analysis and field study should interact and complement each other to make tourism community oriented, sustainable, ecological and justice.

Miriam’s personal reflection:
I am in a small population of the world having money and time to travel.
As a tourist, I am extending the boundary of a human being.
I am sharing the God’s vision and power:
“Ride on the wings of the wind
   Make the clouds your chariot” (Psalm 104:3)
I am experiencing the immeasurement of space and even reversibility of time.
It is a privilege and also an invitation from God,
Asking us to be co-workers with him
To repair and to re-create the relationships among all the creatures
on the wounded earth.
As a tourist, humble is the passport in the Kingdom of God.

2012.12.08 in Kolkata, India