Untitled

604 travel writer
satisfying both active visitor and sedentary armchair
traveller.
Further reading
Adams, P.G. �1983) Travel Literature and the Evolution
of the Novel, Lexington, KY: U niversity of
Kentucky.
Batten, C.L. �1978) Pleasurable Instruction:Form and
Convention in Eighteenth Century Travel Literature,
Berkeley, CA: University of California. �A
detailed critique of the genre in the eighteenth
century with useful discussions on authenticity.)
Casson, L. �1974) Travel in the Ancient World, London:
Allen and Unwin. �An introduction to travel
writing and literature in ancient Greece and
Rome.)
Fussell, P. �1980) Abroad:British Literary Travelling
Between the Wars, Oxford: Oxford University
Press. �Discusses a range of travel literature in
the early twentieth century.)
travel writer
JOHN TOWNER, UK
Imaginative literature has always incidentally
featured destinations or forged links between
writers and places. In the last hundred years there
has been a massive growth in travel writing as a
specialist, non-fiction genre in its own right whose
prime subject is touristic. Both kinds of writing
exert a powerful, but under-researched, influence
on tourism.
treaty
A.V. SEATON, UK
Treaties promoting trade in tourism have political
and economic ramifications and serve as integral
parts of the world's political economy, with
bilateral agreements as the most common form.
Usual objectives of treaties and agreements include
increasing two-way tourism, supporting efforts of
national tourism organisations and their promotion
offices, improving facilitation, encouraging
reciprocity in industry investment, promoting
standardisation and sharing of statistics,
suggesting cooperation on international policy
issues, and fostering consultation and a focus on
education, training and mutual understanding.
A significant agreement with worldwide trade
impact on tourism is the General Agreement on
Tariffs and Trade �GATT). Signed in 1994 by 125
nations, its sub-agreement, the General Agreement
on Trade and Services �GATS), sets forth global
trading rules for service industries providing
procedures for liberalisation of trade through
intergovernmental negotiations. The member
countries agreed to submit commitment schedules
specifically outlining national trading rules for each
service sector. Over 100 countries have submitted
schedules in tourism, more than in any other
service sector. GATS is legally binding, with
signatory countries agreeing to specific rights and
obligations which may be disputed, settled or
enforced through established procedures. Its rules
guide member countries towards progressive
liberalisation of commercial policies including
gradual accord of market access, national treatment
and most-favoured nation status to all
members.
The North American Free Trade Agreement
�NAFTA) is a regional trilateral treaty arrangement
using GATT principles. NAFTA principles apply
universally to all sectors including tourism, and
exclude only those singled out in the annexes.
Under NAFTA, the United States, Canada and
Mexico accord national treatment to tourism
services. This signifies treatment as favourable as
that accorded by a province or state to those
residing within that domain. The effect is liberalisation
of intra-border trade in tourism services and
reduction of barriers. NAFTA requires annual
consultations to monitor implementation of
tourism provisions which ensures regular review
of tourism matters, and encourages more positive
regional relations.
Tourism treaties and agreements aim to reduce
existing worldwide barriers and deter formation of
new ones. They are critical components in free
trade in tourism, increasing business opportunities,
raising receipts, increasing job opportunities
and promoting more peaceful progress toward
national and international economic and social
goals.