Sensible Tourism
In Oaxaca, a great deal of the
tourism relies on people visiting native villages, buying crafts, etc. As I
watch tourists snap photos of ancient tiny women in traditional garb trying to
sell serapes and chillies, I can't help cringe in shame and disgust. But yet I
wonder, if the tourists didn't throw a few pesos that way, how would the woman
survive?
I've dealt with it in India, Thailand, and with Aborigines too .
It really is a dilemma, especially when you start bargaining and haggling with
them, and you realize that you're arguing over a few CENTS! You start feeling
really guilty.
There are some places that I personally think should just
be left alone, so I won't ever go there. Other places unabashedly announce
exactly what they are such as Sorrento, Italy or Panama City Beach,
Florida.
When we visited Sky City (the ancient Acoma Pueblos) in New
Mexico, it was kind of sad to look at the fry bread stands and think of what
this place used to be so many years ago. The Indians there were running
the place and obviously enjoyed sharing their knowledge.
People
with jobs or businesses catering to tourists are just like employees in any
other job or business catering to a certain clientele. They just provide
services and products in return for money.
BALI is a good
example of how natives who depend on tourism have suffered when the industry
faltered. After the bombing last October, it wasn't the "Westerners" or
Australians who REALLY ended up suffering; it was and still is the poor
Balinese, who have almost nothing now because tourism has dropped so
much.
Having one's picture taken by a tourist isn't patronizing but
a subject might conceivably feel it is humiliating, even though there's no
rational reason for them to feel that way. That depends very much on the
individual and the situation some people just don't like to be photographed and
some tourists have absolutely no respect shoving a lens in the persons face
without even speaking.
If I see some weirdo taking my picture
on my way to work or the bar I'm going to be more than a little annoyed.
It’s one thing to accidentally end up in some tourist shot, but taking photos of
the "quaint locals" without first introducing yourself and asking permission is
so obnoxious.
Our staff photographer goes all over the world and
photographs people (he has a thing for faces). He always makes a point to
introduce himself and explain who he is and why he's taking pictures and what
they'll be used for. It would be rude if he didn't explain himself first.
The greater the disparity in wealth between tourists and natives
the more dehumanising it can be. When I see American tourists in Germany
it bothers me that some places play up to the lederhosen stereotypes to make a
little money but this is a wealthy country and people don't depend on tourism,
so the government won't sacrifice its integrity for tourism or the people their
dignity as much as someone who needs photographs to feed their
children.
My friend went to a minority theme park in China and it felt
really dehumanising to him. Chinese people would walk up to ethnic natives in
costume and touch them and their hair and take pictures of them.
I guess
people need the money, but it seems very unfair that poor Mexican people can't
go to the US and take pictures of Americans dressed up as cowboys and take
photos of them and talk about how quaint and naive everything is.
For further information the National
Geographic website contains some interesting sites for the 'responsible
traveller.' 
