Negative Impacts from Tourism - Assignment Example

Tourism What are the main issue, conclusions and findings that are presented in the article (700 Words) This article deals with the ongoing debateof authenticity in heritage tourism, the tourist's search for authenticity in the destinations and tries to understand and analyse the issue. It also emphasizes the fact that all too often the "authenticity" tourists are made to visualize are merely distortions of the past. This article discusses this issue based on the desire of the tourists for authenticity, how the heritage industry accepts it, and ultimately to what extent of authenticity will be sufficient to satisfy the tourist. Tourism has now grown into a stupendous worldwide industry. Utilising man's instinct to travel to make commercial sense has resulted in various governmental and tourism related entities vying for a share of the wallet. Since the penchant for real, genuine, authentic destinations are on the rise, many are being touted as such and aptly exhibited to trigger interests in the tourist. This is called "staging" and this has led to the loss of authenticity. This article deals with how there is a loss of authenticity of the destinations due to the necessity to conform to expectations as perceived by the tourists. "Staged authenticity" involves manipulation of local cultural phenomenon to cater to the expectations of tourists arriving there. This may be in the form of hosting shows to adding cultural expressions and cultural aspects of the local culture that closely align to creating an experience for the tourists. These shows may not necessarily be replicas of the original culture. Tourism can turn local cultures into commodities when religious rituals, traditional ethnic rites and festivals are reduced and sanitized to conform to tourist expectations, resulting in what has been called "reconstructed ethnicity." As long as tourists just want a glimpse of the local atmosphere, a quick glance at local life, without any knowledge or even interest, staging will be inevitable. It leans more towards creating that unique experience than preserving local culture or involving the locals as a part of that culture and bringing the tourist into the unique world for a glimpse. However, this article also says that while these hyperactive contrived experiences may satisfy a postmodernism oriented tourist, it may fall short when a genuine authentic experience-seeking tourist is in contact with it. The article also argues that though it is important for the experience to be real, often even in the genuine historic sites, it is not possible to recreate accurately every aspect of the past. This is because the past is an immense entity of which we are fortunate to have a glimpse of certain pieces of the puzzle. We will never be able to comprehend in totality of what life was at that point in time. In addition, to make it more viewable to the public, it is often necessary to sanitize the site and provide basic amenities and odour removal so that the tourist is not turned off exploring it. Therefore a minimal amount of doctoring when the lines between the real and the "doctored" are almost invisible, the experience for the tourists is more authentic and satisfying. Once a destination is sold as a tourism product, and the branding of the destination starts duplicating an experience to the tourists that may or may not be exactly what the tourists want. Perception of an experience by the tourists is very individualistic and subjective. This is because each individual perceives an experience differently. While a few staged local shows and a photograph moment with the locals may be sufficient for a certain group of individuals as a long-term memory there are another set of tourists who are disappointed by the lack of true cultural aspects. In conclusion, the article stresses the following points. The definition of "authenticity" is by itself very subjective because how the scholar, researcher and the heritage manager visualize it may be different from how the tourist perceives it. While there are some of them who seek out the "real" experiences, the bulk of them are happy to take home memories of a staged experience. Yes, "staging "does dilute the experience, and alienates the locals, and idealises the past distorting reality but this is of concern for the traveller who is search of that lasting and memorable authentic experience. Moreover, in the tourism industry, the quality of the service is perceived by the experiences and expectations being met and this would eventually dictate the degree of authenticity in the places to be presented in the future to the discerning tourist. How effectively are issues being considered in the article, in terms of: Reference to - or parallels, which can be drawn with - findings from the wider literature and/or documentaries, which focus on related issues/themes (800 Words) Definitely, this well-written article discusses the issue of authenticity in tourism very fairly. It is quite a widely debated subject and is a growing phenomenon due the exploding tourism industry and destinations vying with each other to attract the tourist. With commoditisation and "Disneyfication" being omnipresent, the urge to have that genuine authentic experience is now gaining ground as an alternative among the touring masses. "Staging" has become inevitable and the effects of staging are definitely a cause for concern. The article puts forth various examples to prove how staging distorts the local culture and isolates the local residents. The following example is also along the same lines and reinforces the fact that commoditisation may not be healthy for the local culture. Creating molas, which are the blouses worn by Kuna women in Colombia, is an art that began with designs that reflected the conception of the world, of nature, and of the spiritual life of the Kuna Nation. Now it is increasingly being transformed, through tourism, into a commercial trade that causes loss of its spiritual value and quality. This is changing the designs of the molas to correspond to the interests of the tourists, while at the same time the Kuna women are losing their knowledge of the old designs and the interpretations and meanings of the mola designs. This example also emphasises the fact that the article suggests that staged authenticity may not always be beneficial to the localities involved. It is sad that tourist demand for souvenirs, arts, crafts, and cultural manifestations has led to the local artisans responding to the growing demand by customizing their products and designs to produce those items that are more popular and sell easily. This commodisation has whittled away intrinsic design intricacies and specialties unique to a culture that is its basic essence. In a counter perspective Waters [1966, cited in Pearce, 1994, p.107] also notes tourism's ability to preserve traditional cultures: "With a modest amount of help, the native craftsman practising a dying art finds a new demand for his product and then employs young apprentices, thus teaching his trade to a new generation." However, many cultures have traditionally attached enormous symbolic and spiritual significance to their arts, crafts and ceremonies [Pearce, 1994]. According to Pio Saqui [cited in Duffy, 2002, p.112] at the University College of Belize, it is not uncommon to find Maya children who believe that the baskets are made purely for tourists and have no significance beyond their material value. Here is an interesting case study in the July 31, 1982, Cultural Survival Quarterly, Issue 6.3. In a recent work, Suze Mathieu compared rural voodoo ceremonies with urban performances of voodoo dancing for tourists and other urban people in Haiti. The study's aim was to examine what happened to the voodoo dance forms and rituals under this transformation. The requirements of urban staging dictated that the urban performances be quite different from those occurring in rural areas. They had to be brief; cues had to be obvious and even exaggerated. Rural ceremonies involving hundreds of people and lasting for many hours have a much more elaborate and subtle development. Urban impresarios have developed their own choreographic styles, costumes and aesthetic forms to meet these requirements. While they self-consciously arise from and continue to be influenced by rural ceremonies, they are considerably transformed by the time they reach the urban stage. At the same time, urban performances for pay have not replaced rural ceremonies. Although some foreigners sponsor rural ceremonies, their overwhelmingly religious and communitarian aspects remain strong. Both kinds of experiences have elements of authenticity. The heads of urban troupes are apparently concerned with trying to convey something of the meaning and beauty of voodoo to their audience. Moreover, the urban audience apparently gains a meaningful experience of Haiti that they may appreciate in a sympathetic way. Is this experience necessarily or usefully viewed as a "false" one For the moment at least, tourist voodoo and rural voodoo activities coexist without apparent conflict." Another interesting thought about authenticity (Cohen 1988:375) "a cultural product, or a trait thereof, which is at one point generally recognized as in authentic may, in the course of time, become gradually recognized as authentic, even by experts". Furthermore, these suggest that post-modern tourism represents both 'a clear enunciation of the fetishism of the ordinary', the disappearance of everyday reality within 'an overstated version of the Real' and 'a Technicolor version of what is' (MacCannell 1992:188). This 'Technicolor version of what is' is also reflected, according to MacCannell (1992:188), through a 'post-modern valorisation of surfaces', destinations developing a consciousness of them 'as a model' learning to 'profit from ... [their own] image'. This is just an exaggeration of the original occurrences to attract and cater. This article must be complemented for covering relevant issues in close adherence to popular public opinion and is considerably effective in the consideration of the same issues in equivalent documents. The space that is given in the article to explore the issues at hand - i.e. should more or less space/time have been extended in critically appraising certain issues Should certain sources and/or perspectives/images/case studies that could have developed the debate further have been consulted (270 Words) The article was little long but was well spaced out, it started with the main issues being highlighted and introduced. It dealt admirably well with the staging, loss of authenticity and the distorted experiences of the tourists due to the staging process. It graduated into explaining the different kind of distortions faced by the tourists like sanitised and idealised past, unknown past, ethnic intruders and relative authenticity and invented places. It reinforced it with sufficient examples and they were quite convincing. It dealt critically with how staging is interpreted by some individuals as a memory to take home but by others as disappointment in being duplicated by an unoriginal phenomenon. The last concluding analysis was sensible since, although not having any kind of staging may be what heritage researchers and scholars desire, it may not be sustainable tourism in the real world. It is eventually the quality of service and the fulfilling of expectations of the tourists that count. However great the patina or the history, the tourist spot is made sustainable only by the number of visitors it lures and the availability of the revenue for its upkeep. Hence, the article could have tried to think along those terms and suggest a plausible way to strike a balance between preserving local culture and generating those great memories as well for the tourist like eco-tourism. Wearing and Neil [1999, p.77] assert that ecotourism should aim to "Promote and foster a respect and an increase in awareness of other cultures, in fostering mutual beneficial relationships between hosts and guests". This seems to be a viable alternative to "staging" and authenticity need not be compromised. Conversation with long-term residents of the historical sites gives us an insight of real world experiences, which are genuine and uncompromised. This gives us a deeper insight than any staging can and can be a great experience. The article could have explored this area a little bit. The investigative nature of the inquiry and the systematic or other ways in which the research materials have been gathered and presented/organised. Is the presentational and/or methodological style of the article problematic in any way (or not) (125 Words) The article in my opinion has been presented factually and systematically. This definitely is a very prevalent issue and there will be no end to the amount of material that can be incorporated into the article. Hence, this article has definitely provided sufficient examples to make its point. There is nothing problematic about the article and the flow of the information is smooth and interspersed with sufficient references and examples to keep the reader absorbed. Maybe an incorporated survey of tourists opinions who are able to discern the real from the staged experience, and their degree of satisfaction with " real" and "staged" experiences may have added more punch to the content of the article. This is definitely a good research article with substance and organization. What are the strengths and/or perceived weaknesses of the article In academic terms, what would you have liked to have seen more or less of (75 Words) It did hold my interest in the fact that a lot of the material seems to trigger the thought process. With globalisation , where tourism makes commercial sense an is a great revenue generator, this article set me thinking about how far "staging" can be justified by those managers in heritage tourism and to what extent the tourists will be willing to take it before they shy away from the experience. The absence of factual data regarding tourist opinions may have been a drawback. Was the effectiveness of the article/text restricted due to the length of the article (50Words) Though the article was not extraordinarily long, maybe a shorter and crisper article will enhance its readability and effectiveness to a less inclined audience. To an audience interested in the subject, I do not think that the length in any way deterred its effectiveness. Sources Wearing, S and Neil, J (1999) Ecotourism: Impacts, Potential and Possibilities, Oxford, Butterworth Heinnaman MacCannell D. (1976), the Tourist: A New Theory of the Leisure Class, Macmillan. (1992), Empty Meeting Grounds The Tourist Papers, London, Routledge. Shanks , Cheryl Nine Quandaries of Tourism Artificial Authenticity and Beyond Retrieved December 13, 2005, from Faculty of Arts and Science, Harvard University Web site: http://www.fas.harvard.edu/drclas/publications/revista/Tourism/shanks.html Cohen, E. (2002) 'Authenticity, Equity and Sustainability in Tourism' Retrieved December 13, 2005, from Journal of Sustainable Tourism, Vol 10, No. 4: 267 - 76 Web site: http://www.arasite.org/kccohen.html Greenwood, Davydd J. (1982) Cultural "Authenticity" Retrieved December 13, 2005, from Cultural Survival Quarterly | Issue 6.3 Web site: http://209.200.101.189/publications/csq/csq-article.cfmid=67 Kelner, Shaul (2001) Narrative Construction of authenticity in Pilgrimage Touring Retrieved December 13, 2005, from Cohen Centre for Modern Jewish Studies Brandeis University Web site: http://www.cmjs.org/files/ASA2001.pdf Negative Socio-cultural impacts from Tourism Retrieved December 13, 2005, from United Nations Environment programme on Tourism Web site: http://www.uneptie.org/pc/tourism/sust-tourism/soc-drawbacks.htm Toledo Ecotourism Association - Socio Cultural Impact Analysis Retrieved December 13, 2005, from Community Ecotourism and eco-tours in Ecuador at Piedra Blanca Web site: http://www.piedrablanca.org/belize-ecotourism-socio-tea.htm Read More