Tourism Ethics

Ethics, the correct or official definition, as defined in Webster’s Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary states: 1) the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation 2) a set of moral principals or values (Merriam-Webster, 2008). In a utopian world that would be the ideal but in all reality being ethical or practicing that philosophy is not easily done. A quick look around the world today and one sees corruption, never ending conflicts and wars, and simply greed, dishonesty, and deceit occurring everywhere. Ethics play a role in everyday life; it especially is true in the business world. Business ethics fall under close scrutiny today, due to the corporate greed, scandals, fraud and cover up; all of which are shown through the media (Ilten, 2009). Ethics simply means knowing what is right and what is wrong and then making the right choice.

More and more companies and organizations are formulating internal policies pertaining to business and corporate ethics. These policies are put in place to identify the company’s expectations of workers and to offer guidance on handling some of the more common ethical problems that might arise in the course of doing business. Greater ethical awareness is always the main goal and purpose for these codes and guidelines (Ferrell & Fraedrich, 2009).

Tourism ethics is not as clear cut as business ethics. Tourism ethics, though important, appear to operate under or walk a much thinner line between what is right and what is wrong. There certainly are similarities, but in the same respect tourism ethics must be looked at with an entirely different perspective. One must understand that tourism is based on service rather than a physical good. The activity is associated with rest and relaxation, sport and access to culture and nature; it is definitely a service to be experienced with an open mind, it is an irreplaceable factor of self-education, mutual tolerance, and for learning about...