5.

Of all the truisms about tourism, perhaps one of the truest is that it empowers people of
different cultures to interact, learn and evolve. Although this has led some to worry
about local culture disappearing because of such interaction, my stance is that any kind
of restriction or ban on tourism would not only fail to protect local culture, but also yield
no benefits whatsoever.

Granted, one might agree that by banning tourism activities in certain places, the
traditions and cultures in these areas can be preserved. This is predicated on the
assumption that with the presence of foreign travelers, native people will be affected by
other cultures, ways of life and languages. According to this theory, local people may
start to reject their own way of life and beliefs to adopt more exotic ones, thinking that
these are more enlightened and modern. Without such interaction, perhaps they would
not compete their cultural values to others’, hence preserving the historically and
culturally unique traditions, customs, and practices of their area.

However, this line of reasoning is not sound because the widespread use of the Internet
exposes people to foreign things, mindsets, and values regardless. This means changes
in different facets of life are inexorable and a form of indoctrination would ensure if the
authorities decided to take away their citizens ‘chance to learn by deliberately restricting
their access to the world. The corollary of this control would be the loss of critical
thinking, which subsequently would have stultifying effects on the progress of a society.
Furthermore, since tourism is a lucrative industry that also employs a lot of people, a
ban on it would result in huge job and economic losses.

In conclusion, prohibiting tourist activities for the sake of local culture is an unwise
proposal. This is because it is pointless to try to stop change and such a ban would upset
the equilibrium of the local economy and cause hardship for local people whose living
depends on the influx of holiday makers.

3.

 UNESCO urges Cambodia not to forcibly evict residents of Angkor Wat temple
complex

UNESCO is urging Cambodian authorities not to carry out forced evictions at the
renowned Angkor Wat temple complex, after Amnesty International detailed the impact
on evicted residents and accused the U.N. cultural agency of failing to challenge the
Cambodian government over the issue. UNESCO has now ordered Cambodia to submit a
new report on the state of conservation of Angkor Wat by Feb. 1, and says that it should
include a response to Amnesty’s findings. UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay said
Wednesday that living conditions for residents at the World Heritage site are a
‘’priority.’' Amnesty said in a report Tuesday that the evictions of an estimated 10,000
families by Cambodian authorities since last year violated international and national
law. It said that the evicted people have received little or no compensation and that the
government’s two main resettlement sites have inadequate facilities in terms of roads,
water and electricity supplies and sanitation. UNESCO said the report ‘’provides new
light on the situation on the ground,” and invited Amnesty representatives to the
agency’s Paris headquarters to discuss it. UNESCO said in a statement to The Associated
Press that it ‘’calls on the Cambodian authorities to make an explicit commitment not to
carry out forced evictions in Angkor and to ensure that all necessary corrective
measures are put in place urgently to ensure full respect of all human rights for those
communities concerned.’’ There are more than 1,200 World Heritage sites worldwide.
Angkor Wat was given that status in 1992, in part because of fears that the growth of
human settlements on the site posed a possible threat to its preservation. However, the
designation was not clear regarding existing settlements, which until last year were left
basically undisturbed, the Amnesty report said. Cambodia is now keen to develop the
area for tourism which lapsed during the coronavirus pandemic. Opening a conference
on Angkor Wat, Azoulay said Wednesday: ‘’The aspirations and living conditions of local
residents should be further taken into consideration, as requested by the World
Heritage Committee. This is a priority for UNESCO. … It is a crucial responsibility to
empower local communities, including the most vulnerable ones.” The king of Cambodia
and Cambodian government officials were present as she spoke. The Amnesty report
quoted a speech that then-Prime Minister Hun Sen gave last year saying the site risked
losing the World Heritage designation unless residents moved away. He said those who
did not do so voluntarily would get no compensation.

 King Charles III observes marine drill and visits conservation projects in coastal
Kenya

King Charles IIIobserved a drill by an elite unit of British-trained Kenya marines and took
an interest in environmental projects in the coastal city of Mombasa on Thursday, the
third day of his first state visit to a Commonwealth country as monarch. Earlier in the
visit, Charles cited the “abhorrent and unjustifiable acts of violence” committed against
Kenyans as they sought independence, though he didn’t explicitly apologize for Britain’s
actions in its former colony as many had wanted. Charles, who holds the rank of Captain
General of the Royal Marines, and Queen Camilla visited the Mtongwe Naval Base in
Mombasa on Thursday. The British monarch inspected an honor guard and together
with Kenya’s President William Ruto attended a military ceremony. The king later visited
a turtle conservation site at Nyali beach in Mombasa and saw how organizations are
cleaning up the ocean and using plastic waste to make dhows, school desks and chairs. A
youth group that educates young people about marine conservation gave the king a
badge recognizing him as an environmental “warrior.” The king also visited a coral
restoration project and fixed a coral on an artificial nursery structure that was taken out
to the ocean by a boat as he watched on. The king and queen had earlier watched as
Kenya Marines demonstrated a covert beach landing, after which they met the marines
and their families. Kenya and the United Kingdom have a longstanding defense
cooperation agreement and in May this year, they partnered to create the first marine
military commando unit meant to boost the Kenyan military as an anchor of East Africa’s
regional stability and security. Kenya and Somalia have faced militant attacks from al-
Qaeda-linked al-Shabab, including in Mombasa,. A marine conservation expert, Neville
Agesa, told The Associated Press that the king’s visit was a “big boost to marine
conservation efforts by the community” and sends a message to local political leaders to
visit projects at the coast and “move the discussion away from the boardrooms to real
action.” The visit has also sold the projects to the world, and this can help push for
resources and encourage resilience among the communities,” he said.

1.

 The first thing to do is conduct a thorough assessment to identify potential risk,

which helps to understand the vulnerability and come up with some strategies.
Secondly, we can use techology like monitoring systems which can detect
diasters. Also, disater-resistant designs should be implemented. For example,
using materials that can withstand high winds, earthquakes, or floods can help
prevent damage to buildings and structures.
 I think if we have suitable measures, policies and laws, tourism is a way to foster
culture. Sustainable tourism and cultural persevation are closely intertwined. By
preserving cultural heritage and promoting sustainable tourism practices,
destinations can ensure the long-term viability of their tourism industry. This
involves balancing the needs of tourists with the preservation of cultural and
natural resources to ensure that future generations can continue to enjoy and
learn from these unique destinations. : Sustainable tourism encourages authentic
cultural experiences that allow travelers to engage with local communities in
meaningful ways. This can include homestays, cultural festivals, and community-
based tourism initiatives that provide visitors with insights into the daily lives and
traditions of local residents.
 Restoring culture after war is a comprehensive process that involves rebuilding
physical infrastructure, preserving cultural heritage, fostering social cohesion,
addressing trauma, and promoting reconciliation. At first we need to conduct an
assessment to understand the extent of destruction, which helps to come up to
suitable measures and develop plans. Then, we should raise awareness among
people.