Conceptualising sustainable tourism – ethics, inequalities and colonialism.

This paper focuses broadly on ethical consumption and more specifically on an emerging consumption practice within the tourism industry, sustainable tourism. The paper engages with ethical consumption and sustainable tourism in order to establish if we could conceptualise sustainable tourism as an emerging form of ethical consumption: consuming places, spaces, environment and culture, within the context of a globalising world. Tourism is now considered the fastest growing industry in the world; international travel is becoming common place for an increasing number of individuals, although inequalities clearly exist in access and distribution. This paper will examine the historical trajectories, aims and objectives of both ethical consumption and sustainable tourism in order to unpack commonalities and inconsistencies between the two. Finally the paper shall offer a post-colonial critique of sustainable tourism in relation to two central concepts within sustainable tourism – ecological sustainability and human rights. Overall, this paper serves to encourage discussion surrounding sustainable tourism and ethical consumption and argues that there is a need to approach both with a critical eye and an element of caution if we are to progress in the challenge of tackling global inequalities