Answer the following brief cases showing ethical issues in tourism and hospitality

Case # 1

One of the most famous animal attractions, and probably the most controversial, is the Tiger Temple in Kanchanaburi, Thailand. The Temple is a popular tourist destination and every day a hundred tourists or more visit, hoping for a chance to get up close and personal with 'rescued' tigers. The Tiger Temple website describes itself as a sanctuary, started when locals brought some orphaned cubs to the temple for care and the Abbot took them in and cared for them. The official website claims that there are seventeen tigers at the temple, seven of them orphans and ten bred on site.

But the reality is very different. In 2008, wildlife charity Care for the Wild International released an undercover report called 'Exploiting the Tiger'. The report used information gathered from a variety of sources between 2005 and 2008 and uncovered disturbing evidence of serious conservation and animal welfare concerns, including illegal tiger trafficking, systematic physical abuse of the tigers held at the temple, and high risk interactions between tigers and tourists. In 2013, promoted by a wave of media concerns about the Tiger Temple, their CEO went back to see if things had changed. Unfortunately, not much had. The key issues at the time of the visit centered on animal welfare, health and safety and false marketing.

1. What article in the GCET was violated in the above scenario?

2. Do you think using animal as a tourist attraction ethical? Why?

3. What are the drawbacks of wildlife tourism?

Case # 2

Every year, countless numbers of children are sexually abused by tourists. Child sex tourism is the commercial sexual exploitation of children in tourism. It exists all over the world and is committed by both foreign and domestic tourists. Despite concerted international efforts to combat child sex tourism, it is an increasing phenomenon. The internet, low cost travel, border relaxations and visa free travel are making it more challenging to monitor and prevent. Meanwhile, endemic poverty in tourism destinations all over the world ensures that there will be people in positions of power willing to exploit vulnerable children.

In Vietnam, a child's services can be sold for just a few pounds with the trafficking of child sex workers becoming increasingly popular.

Known child sex tourism hotspots include Cambodia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Eastern Europe, The Gambia, India, Kenya, The Philippines, Senegal, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand, Tobago, Venezuela, and Vietnam.

1. What article in the GCET was violated in the above event?

2. Do you agree that when we place a monetary value on people, especially children, we reduce humanity in the lowest level imaginable?

3. If you were a government official, what will you do to stop sex tourism and child exploitation in the tourism industry?

Case Study #3

In 2012, a policeman was caught on video instructing members of the remote Jarawa tribe to dance for tourists, who threw bananas and biscuits at them like animals in a zoo. Aside from the deeply dehumanizing element of such behavior, promoting tribal people as an "attraction" is deeply problematic because the tribe often receive little to none of the money tourism brings. Remote tribes or those with limited contact with the outside worldare also at high risk of disease, predatory sex and exploitation.

1. What article in the GCET was violated in the above scenario where they treat human as part of a safari?

2. What are the destructive effects of tribal tourism?

3. Is it ethical or unethical to visit tribal people? How are we going to take care of tribes and indigenous groups in our society?

Case Study #4

Hospitality Training

Larry, a high school kid looking for a summer job, was hired as a cook at a nearby restaurant. Larry had no experience working in kitchens, but the supervisor who hired him, explained that it wasn't necessary, because they would train him.

On Larry's first day, he was paired with a Senior Line Cook by the name of Tyler. Tyler wasn't especially thrilled with the idea of having to train a new guy on the busiest night of the week, and expressed his concerns to the manager. "You're our most senior employee, so that makes you the most qualified person to do the training." A frustrated Tyler didn't say much after that - and aside from giving Larry a nod of acknowledgement, his only words to him were "watch, and stay out of my way." By the time the main dinner rush hit, the entire kitchen line was bustling with activity and Tyler was doing his best to call orders, time out bills, and cook all at the same time. As more and more orders came in, the stress level in the kitchen had increased dramatically. It was at this point Tyler turned to Larry and barked, "I need you to run to the fridge and get me more hamburger meat!" Afraid to ask any questions, Larry quickly turned to look for the fridge, and as instructed, "ran" through the kitchen line to get more meat. A cook, unaware that Larry was coming through, turned to put up a dish, and collided with Larry. He never heard him coming.

Discuss some of the issues surrounding Larry's first day of training: 1. Identify and list all the things that went wrong on Larry's first day. 2. When selecting an employee to do training, how much does seniority factor in on your decision, and why? If an employee is good at their job, does that automatically make them a good trainer, and why? 3. What is the KEY takeaway your group has learned from this case study? What ethical trait Tyler should have shown to Larry?