The Öraefi at Skaftafell, in the shadow of Vatnajökull glacier, was one the most isolated places in Europe, blocked on all four sides by the glacier in the north, the Atlantic Ocean in the south and mighty rivers to the east and west.The excerpt above, from Iceland Review, highlights the problem of tourism - thousands traipsing through hitherto untouched communities and landscapes and what it does to both the environment and the locals.
Though the article says that there is still a rustic welcome for the "guest", it must, by definition be different - if only in the spirit of community greed. And the behaviour of tourists generally must exacerbate that problem.
I saw an appalling instance in France many years ago where the man really did drop into Pidgin French after he'd gone through the hard business of finding an "authentic" French cafe - it was highly embarrassing.
Years ago, at a pub in Goathland, I was entertaining a young lady whose stock answer to mention of any geographic destination was: "Did that". China? "Did China last October."
How does one "do" China? Intercourse with the majority of residents in each city? How many tourists take a "been there, intercoursed that" approach?
Simplified and yet to the point article here about "the ugly tourist":
The principle reason for this aberrant behavior comes from a simple case of cultural shock. The travel industry endorses a “museum-scope” perspective by promoting traveling mainly as entertainment, not as an enriching experience of cultural exchanges.Maybe it's not just the travel industry - surely it's the purpose of the visit and in this the dollar or euro reigns.
It presents a tight schedule of sightseeing and show performances but neglects to provide an exchange program for tourists to interact actively in the local environment with the people. Therefore, the tourists expect to absorb all they can without giving up any part of themselves (set of beliefs or values) in the learning part of international exchange.
Most people I know would bridle at being called a tourist - independent traveller sounds so much better - and yet one wonders how far the dislocation to communities and even wildlife can be countenanced.
I plan to ask the dolphins at Monkey Mia one day that very question but then I'd just be another tourist - Catch 22.
In all my travels Ive never been mistaken for a tourist by the locals, most of whom know a vagrant when they see one.
ReplyDeleteThe article is right - you have to be prepared to surrender part of yourself to really learn from travel. Do you think there will come a time when tourists will simply be banned from many locations?
ReplyDeleteO/T, O/T.
ReplyDeleteJames, just in case you haven't seen these, or you may be confused.
here
here
And here also. Hope I'm not to late:)
Welsh.
ReplyDeleteFWIW, my opinion.
I worry that once the EU door slams shut, the only "tourism" we will do will be within its barbed wire walls. And that will only happen if our "status" on the personal ID Card allows it. Inter-regional travel within what was once the UK will eventually require authorisation.
Leaving those walls permanently will become increasingly difficult. First will be an exit tax on your assets that will increase in viciousness, then the doors will slam.
Swim rivers, outrun dogs, or the new technological equivalent.
When the Berlin wall came down, we were appalled at the poverty.
A few months later, once files were open, we were appalled at the activities of the Starzi.
What we have in place NOW, but not being enforced, and what is coming is far worse than the Starzi ever were.
How many people think that after they have done a Mediterranean cruise they have "done" Europe?
ReplyDeleteI always wanted to go to the Galapagos Islands but now think that there are too many visitors and that can't be good for the ecology of the place.
What a lovely photo of Iceland.