Civic responsibility: A national and a local responsibility

‘We have one final chance to create the perfect home for ourselves and restore the wonderful world we inherited. All we need is the will to do so.’ Sir David Attenborough, 2020

Afactor that is a vital mechanism to the implementation of a sustainable and responsible tourism activity has to be the practical implementation of a sense of civic responsibility, that sense of behaviour which is so important to creating a convivial and positive quality of life. Unfortunatly, this is a factor we seem to find difficulty with on these islands – whether at the national level and involving government or even at a local level and involving individuals.

At the national level, we are all conscious of the roadworks and projects allegedly improving our quality of life; ironically these are destroying our characteristic landscape, the cultural heritage and the traditional scenario of these islands and actually turning the islands into a concrete jungle teaming with cars and a cacophony of commercial outlets.

To illustrate how we sometimes lack that sense of civic responsibility as individuals, I should describe an incident which I was involved in only last week. Walking through Iklin, I came to the parade of small shops and the parish church − there parked on a parking space reserved for blue badge holders was a vehicle − there was no blue badge displayed. I really felt that this was so unacceptable that I reported this through social media; the owner replied but instead of being apologetic, he became more and more arrogant and aggressive in his reply (at which point I just closed that pointless dialogue). Unfortunately this does indicate the unfortunate level to which some people have stooped, utterly oblivious to what is correct and responsible in civic behaviour. How can we ever understand the very basic qualities of hospitality and service if we show no care in our civic responsibility?

Sir David Attenborough has spent a lifetime circumnavigating this planet and showing us the beauty and remarkable splendour of creation; now he is leaving a legacy for us and future generations that comes with a warning label and he has encapsulated that thus: “A life on our planet is my witness statement and my vision for the future. It is the story of how we came to make this, our greatest mistake, and how, if we act now, we can yet put it right. See the world. Then make it better.”

Why is it that we have been so reckless over the years? What is it that leads us to destroy our world rather than care for it? How can we be so apathetic towards the civic responsibilities we should nurture? We need to think globally here and act locally; we have to start with our own civic responsibility if we want to live a better life, if we want others to share a better quality of life. This sense of civic responsibility should come naturally if we really believe in hospitality and service. There are three basic factors we need to remember to be more responsible:

Commitment – we all should be committed to ensure a healthy, safe and quality-driven life and also to respect the planet we live in by enforcing the principles of sustainability.

Trust – We should build a sense of trust between ourselves and learn to live as communities and societies instead of disparate islands.

Synergy – Let us work together, each doing his/her little part in putting together the basis for a better quality of life.

These three factors need to be understood by all stakeholders of this world − government and politicians, the business community and the local community. If we ignore this opportunity to work together and continue to destroy the character, culture and environment of these islands, then we cannot ever ensure a sincere sense of hospitality and service to our visitors – we will lose that attractiveness which draws these visitors to any destination.

In a post-COVID world, those aspects of sustainability, responsibility and safety will be the primary factors that determine the decisions taken by people to visit other countries or not. Are we ready to act correctly in this new reality?