HAT201 - Analyzing Ethical Issues in Vanuatu Tourism: A Case Study

This case study examines the ethical and governing issues within Vanuatu's tourism sector, as highlighted in the "Vanuatu's Broken Dreams" video. It identifies corruption and unethical behavior, particularly by PO Cruises, which exploits the region's reliance on tourism for personal gain, neglecting the local population's welfare. The paper discusses the government's responsibility in ensuring revenue transparency and accountability, advocating for measures such as robust investigation, eradication of cash payments, and empowerment of local communities through financial support and education. It emphasizes the need for transparency, accountability, and smart technology to combat corruption and promote sustainable tourism practices that benefit the people of Wala and improve their living standards. Desklib provides similar solved assignments for students.

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Name
Institution
Date

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Introduction
In many societies, developments can only be achieved when the rulers are ethically prioritizing
the needs of the society. Revenue needs to be collected by specific institutions and siphoned in
the planned projects governed by transparency and accountability (Daley, 2009, p.16). Based on
the video “Vanuatu’s Broken Dreams” it is evidenced that movie is full of irrational people such
as Cruises who own ships to facilitate tourism in the Wala region but at the end of the day he
steals almost everything leaving the society with nothing to benefit from the entire exercise
(Asian Development Bank, 2011,p.2). In this case, the movie utilizes Cruises who owns Ships
that the Islanders depend on them to prosper. Indeed the ships help in faring the tourists to the
region implying that the region should be making thousands of income from this. In the video,
one can clearly see the way people of Wala were dissatisfied with how these revenues were
collected since they remain poor of which it should not have been the case. Unethical injustices
being done by revenue collectors in the video are clearly portrayed, the main perpetrator is the
ships’ owner (Mitchell & Ashley, 2010, p.10). The paper gives an analysis of the prime ethical
issue as presented in the video.
Ethical issues
To begin with, it is clear that the issue of corruption is clearly demonstrated in the video. The
audiences are able to see how much is collected from the tourists yet few people enjoy the
benefits while the majority of the people in the land of Wala remain poor. The movie is a
representation of many third world countries that rely on various sectors of the economy in order
to realize developments but the end result is the few people who are usually in the government
enjoying such benefits while the citizens have no reasons to smile (Cruise Vanuatu, 2011, p.8). It

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is unethical that the resources obtained from the tourism are not utilized for the interests of the
public but rather for the interests of a few individuals, therefore, dragging the society behind in
regards to develop.
PO Cruises acted unethically
In the video, it is evidenced that PO Cruises acted unethically, the revenue collected from the
tourism activities are stolen therefore not benefiting the citizens. Following the aspect that the
region of Walla needs development that highly depends on tourism; he takes the advantage of
having ships that ferry tourists in the region, he devised a means of collecting the revenue from
them. It is clear that the tourists’ activities in the region benefit only a few individuals, for
example, the likes of Cruises that have discovered the means of attaining their share, leaving the
citizens with nothing to benefit. They, therefore, act unethically, prioritizing their interests
through irrational means of corruption (MacPherson, 2008, p.185).
The body in charge of rectifying the issue
The government has the initiative of ensuring that the resources collected from various sections
of the economy are well collected. Based on this element, institutions should have been assigned
by the government in ensuring that the revenue from tourism activities is not stolen by a few
individuals for example Cruises. When the role is assigned to an individual, it is difficult to
control corruption since most individuals are self-centered. It will, therefore, ignite the urge to
steal from the public. The citizens will have little to benefit from the projects just the way video
demonstrates this aspect with clarity. The government is key, since not only will ensure that the
revenue is collected but also put in the right projects that benefit the public. The government will

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also fight corruption by taking the culprits to the justice institutions and return what is stolen as
well as laying them off such duties (Johnston et.al. 2012, no p).
How the issue should have been resolved
In dealing with corruption the main issue that is dominantly evidenced in the video, there is the
need for the government to create a huge transparency and great openness which is approached
in collecting the revenues obtained from tourists. The government should then account for the
revenue collected in country in a correct way and everything should be clearly stated. This is in
order to finish the corruption which is evidenced mostly in accounting for the revenues. The
resources obtained should be used in the interest on the public and they should also be of
beneficial to the people of the public . There is the need to develop a sense of moral character in
all the citizens, by first starting with the family and other institutions in the society. The upright
moral character will curb the problem of stealing from the public hence deterring them.
Additionally, smart technology needs to be devised by the government such that all transactions
will be monitored closely. The advanced approaches of authorizing transactions should be
implemented as well (International Labor Organization, 2009, p.18). Citizens should get clear
reports on the revenue collected and the plans they have for the finances such that in
implementing such plans, the interests of the public will be considered. They should be able to
scrutinize the activities tourism activities and debate the merits of various public policies that
need to be put in place in order to establish a positive difference in the revenue collection
process. There is the need to change the incentives, close the loopholes and get rid of the
misconceived rules that encourages corruption behaviors.
Recommendations

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I therefore recommend that various the following measures to curb this widely spread vice:
Boost the means of investigation in order to get the culprits
The Prime Minister should style up his game in investigating those people that are engaging in
corruption. This is to ensure that the resources to the public are used in the right way. I strongly
believe that every problem has a solution and this solution can be sought for and found. The
Prime Minister agreed that the unethical behavior of corruption could not be solved. This is not
true. An investigation committee should be set up to investigate this matter and as time goes by,
the culprits will be singled out (Brida &Zapata,2010, p.208).
Eradication of Payment in Cash
Secondly, the government can curb future corruption by eradicating payment in cash and
instead introducing bank payment for facilities. This will ensure that all the money collected can
be deposited to a bank account which is thoroughly monitored. Withdrawals of the foreign
currency can be detected and those who did this brought to books. The court system should be
independent and ensure that all the victims of corruption are brought to board. Cruise ship
management board should be done away with and a new board established to ensure
transparency and accountability in all their work. The existing leadership is the cause of this
menace and therefore all members should be removed out of office to give room for
investigations. The total income generated from the influx of tourists should be used to better the
living standards of the people that are living in the islands. This is because those who live in
islands suffer a lot than those people who live in other areas. This can be done by sparing a
certain percentage for the same like 45% and not less than that (Cheer& Peel, 2011, p.254). This

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money can be used to build permanent social facilities for the people like public toilets just like
those of foreigners to better their life. The workers in the Cruise ships should be paid by banks
and their salaries paid in time. This will aid improving their living standards and also this will
enable them to budget their salaries when they are sure of what they will get and at what time.
They can afford to live in better houses well-furnished and fend for their families making their
lifestyles better than before.
Empowering the locals
The locals should be empowered to do their own profit-generating businesses by financing
them and educating them on how best to do it. The people should consider electing the leaders
that share a dream of development with them and also those leaders who can do most
developments around their area without any corruption. It was reported that the first government
that led for the first twelve years did a commendable job in developing the country and its
citizenship (Mael, 2011, p.6).
In summing up, as seen in the video, the interests of the public are critical to being achieved
as an approach for enhancing development and effective utilization of the public resources. It is
due to these aspects that make the people of Wala aspire to have developed health systems from
the revenue collected from the tourism sectors of which it is stolen by a few individuals. The
government needs to use smart technology that is current in helping control the situation.
Accountability and transparency is the way to go in curbing the issue. Citizens need to devise
where the problem is and even call for mass actions in ensuring that the issue is handled.

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Bibliography
Asian Development Bank (2011) Asian Economic Outlook 2011: South-‐South Economic
Links. ADB: Manila.
Brida, J.G. & Zapata, S.(2010) ‘Cruise tourism: economic, socio-‐-cultural and
environmental impacts', International Leisure and Tourism Marketing, 1 (3): 205–226.
Cheer, J. M. & Peel, V. (2011) The TourismForeign Aid Nexus in Vanuatu: Future
Directions. Tourism Planning & Development ( 8:3): 253-264
Cruise Vanuatu (2011) "Pacific Ports of Call: Vanuatu, Fiji and New Caledonia".
http://www.cruisevanuatu.com/ports.html (Accessed March 2011).
Daley, L. (2009) "Hijacking development futures: "Land development" and reform in
Vanuatu", in G. Lee & T. Anderson (eds.) In Defense of Melanesia Customary Land,
Aidwatch: Sydney, pp 34-40.
Duncan, R. (2008) "Solomon Islands and Vanuatu: an economic survey", Pacific Economic
Bulletin, 23 (3), pp 1-15.
Feeny, S. (2010) The impact of the global economic crisis on the Pacific region,
Oxfam Australia, Melbourne
The government of Vanuatu (2009) Vanuatu Tourism Action Program (VTAP): Building
Tourism Today for Tomorrow. National Tourism Development Office, April.
A government of Vanuatu (2010) Key Statistics 2009-2010, Department of Statistics: Port
Vila

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International Labour Organisation (2009) Decent Work Country Programme: Vanuatu,
ILO Office for the Pacific Countries: Port Vila
Johnston, A., Howson, K. & Swain, P. (2012) Tourism Blong Yumi Evriwan: The role of
VSA volunteers in tourism development in Vanuatu. Volunteer Service Abroad, Wellington.
MacPherson, C. (2008) "GoldenGoose or Trojan Horse? Cruise Ship Development in Pacific
Development", Asia Pacific Viewpoint, (49) 2, August 2009, pp 185-197.
Mael, J.(2011)Vanuatu Domestic Market Study: The Potential Impact of Increased Tourist
Numbers on the Domestic Market for Selected Fresh Vegetable Produce. Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
Mitchell, J. & Ashley, C. (2010) Tourism and Poverty Reduction: Pathways to Prosperity.
Earthscan, London
Vanuatu’s Broken Dreams https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMACsi8j3us