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Tourism and Poverty

In the 1960's, it became fashionable to think of tourism as a solution to the world's most intractable problems: poverty and inter-cultural misunderstanding. Tourism could create economic opportunity in backward destinations with comparatively little investment, since the stock-in-trade would be that very backwardness - primitive culture and pristine nature. According to this optimistic scenario, tourism would bring jobs and a market for handicrafts. Economic independence would lead to cultural pride and self-determination. The natural environment would prosper due to the holistic proclivities of indigenous peoples. A sustainable symbiotic relationship between host and guest would emerge, as the survival of cultural and natural assets was recognized as a shared priority.

Tourism was also perceived as a vehicle for peace through understanding. Through first-hand experience and observation, tourists would gain an understanding of and respect for indigenous cultures; returning home, they would disseminate their views, resulting in greater equity in intercultural relationships. Similarly, the indigenous cultures would achieve a better-grounded understanding of groups once identified only as colonialists and exploiters.

Unfortunately, studies have not borne out the expectation that increased economic activity would, through a "trickle down" effect, result in a well-distributed increase in prosperity. Instead, foreign capital transfers are subject to "leakage" (costly goods and technology must be imported by the host country to support tourism). A disproportionate share of the wealth generated by tourism ends up in the hands of outside investors (who may own both local and international transportation facilities and other infrastructure) and tour operators, as well as a few local politicians and entrepreneurs. Within the host countries, foreign earnings tend to accrue primarily to the urban areas; tourism not only fails to alleviate the poverty in rural areas, but actually aggravates the economic asymmetries.

Opposition to tourism also emphasized the cultural losses incurred by the host. Problems identified include range from simple loss of privacy under the intrusive gaze of the tourist to "commoditization of culture" to "waikikinization" of tourism enclaves. The extent of the damage depends of course on the intensity of tourism. As "mass tourism" was identified with the most extreme negative consequences, exponents of various types of "alternative" tourism stepped forward, "nature tourism", "eco-tourism,", "adventure travel" …ect. The main distinguishing feature of these sorts of recreation is, supposedly, a commitment to the natural environment and to traditional lifestyles; a tourist destination focused on this market would favor environmental protection over development. The smaller volume of traffic would foster holistic cultural contact, rather than the specious spectacles contrived for mass consumption.

However, alternative tourism scenarios predicated on authentic exotic experience are intrinsically unsustainable. Unlike conventional mass tourism consumers, who may be content with physical displacement from the cultural or technological "core" to a "peripheral" area developed to accommodate large numbers of transients, alternative tourists typically seek experiences available only in the few remaining "remote" areas of the world. As these areas are "discovered," they soon become integrated into the periphery. The mere availability of access transforms a natural site, just as a culture is transformed by the presence of spectators to whom it is "exotic," or even "authentically exotic." The alternative tourism experience requires a succession of new destinations.

Note: This post compiled from various public sources, i.e. you can't sue me...

By Albatross on Feb 11, 2005, 10:21 in Friendly Talkzone.

utopiacowboy says on Feb 11, 2005, 11:06:

Texas A&M University has this to say about the tourism inductry in San Antonio:

Data from a new study spearheaded by the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce and performed by two Trinity economics professors shows that the hospitality industry generated $7.2 billion for the San Antonio economy in 2002. This is an 82 percent increase from 1992. From 2000 to 2002, the hospitality industry reported a 5 percent increase despite the dip in the economy and terrorist attacks. Hospitality remains the city’s No. 2 industry behind health care/bioscience. The Hospitality Economic Impact Study Committee included only those industries that derive a significant portion of sales from out-of-town visitors such as restaurants, travel and transportation, entertainment and lodging. More than 86,000 people are currently employed in the industry, the study said, which includes both full and part time workers.

Of course no one needs to worry about such a disaster described above occurring in Colombia because it ain't gonna happen. I don't know of a single American other than myself who has gone to Colombia or who has expressed the slightest interest in the place.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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kat1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Feb 11, 2005, 11:12:

uhmmmmmmm so i wondered what GIB is doing in colombia,or miguel,acblessing....or ipdiver or all those americans that had been in Colombia and post here and they want to go back again? ahh i know maybe they are no americans.

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utopiacowboy says on Feb 11, 2005, 11:24:

This is the internet. I don't think you can say that you "know" anyone on the internet. I am talking about people I actually know. Even for the people you describe, they are people like myself who just happened to get mixed up with a Colombian. Pure accident. For myself, I never wanted to visit Colombia prior to meeting my wife. Anyone who thinks that Colombia is ever going to have a gringo tourist industry is dreaming. In Americans' minds, Colombia is right in there with North Korea, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Colombia could bar any American from visiting Colombia and it wouldn't even register on people's consciousness here.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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ARMacleod says on Feb 11, 2005, 12:23:

Tourists? plural? My interest in Colombia came about in 2001, I became very interested, Well not so much in Colombia, more in Columbiana. Passionately interested as time wore on.

I am an industrial trainer, lecturer, instructor and contact many different people every day. I have been surreptitiously enquiring about Colombia from every group that I am teaching.

Of those who even knew its location, my talk of settling there has been met with a look of suspect incredulity. YOU ARE GOING WHERE? But, having said that, I have not met anyone in four years who has actually been there.

My ex wife has quite a large number of friends from Suramerica, and they are of the same opinion, I must be quite mad, taken leave of my senses, gone overboard, brick short of a pallet load. A dime short of a dollar, MAD.

This is the hard part. I am going to settle there, for only one reason, my wife to be will not leave the country. I would not suggest to any of my friends that they should go there on holiday and I have informed my children that they are not to come and visit me there, (except for my ex wife of course.)

But to contradict myself a little. I love the place now, I feel just apprehensive enough to make me take the normal precautions that I would not have to in other countries.

Tourist trade? No, not in my lifetime anyway. Perhaps something will happen if in a generation or two in the future all the inherent corruption can be bred out of those who control the country.

The present top man is a good man? I think that he is the lesser of the evils, not particularly good. I know also that he has to tolerate a lot of internal corruption because his position would become untenable if he did not. Good grief. I have just drifted back to my hatred of politicians again.

Ah well.. I've said my bit. Back to the medication before I begin to make sense.

Being of unsound mind and dubious disposition, I cannot be held legally liable for any indiscretions."¡El diablo me hizo hacerlo!" But don't worry, be happy.

The brain is like a parachute, it only functions correctly when it is open. Pax vobiscum.

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utopiacowboy says on Feb 11, 2005, 21:40:

You're on a roll, JamesVH!

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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Miguel says on Feb 12, 2005, 06:58:

Perception of Colombia UC makes a valid point. When I started traveling to Colombia, my friends and co-workers had that "deer in the headlights" look on their faces when I mentioned Colombia. When I tell them it takes 15 minutes longer to fly from Miami to Barranquilla than it does to fly from St. Louis to Miami, it's like some sort of geographical mystery. As long as those in the US continue to believe everything they read in the media and opt to live in their bubble, an influx of US tourists to Colombia is highly unlikely. I am aware of the dangers of travel there, as I am aware of the high crime rate in the Hood less than a mile from where I am now. I dearly love Colombia for many reasons, and on top of that list of reasons...
C O L O M B I A N O S

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Albatross says on Feb 14, 2005, 04:27:

Geographically Challenged Americans... I know what you mean... a friend of mine, who is not otherwise ignorant, actually didn't know for sure if "Columbia" was in South America... (I don't know where in the hell he thought it was)... anyway, I'm glad to hear that the secret isn't generally out and that a tourist invasion of the country is not imminent...

“Democracy - a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance." - H.L. Mencken

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