The Global Risks of Tourism - Essay Example

?To begin with, tourism has become a modern trend for the last few decades. People from all over the world tend to be present at destinations they once read or heard about. It is a strong desire toward a discovery of place to be highly popular with the majority of tourists. To say more, to be called a tourist is also a kind of privilege for many people around the globe. Thus, tourism is a great and desired leisure time for people tired with their annual responsibilities at work or in family (Shaw & Williams, 2002). However, it should be noted that tourism bears hazardous effect on the environment and cultural authenticity due to a mass flow of people irrespective of the local traditions and rites to be taken care of. First and foremost, tourism is a result of consumerism. It deals with a set of services people have at their disposal for a particular amount of money. The financial issue is one of the most significant drives in touristic choices (Haan, 2008). That is to say, tourism and consumerism are close in their practical meaning with landscape as the main medium of attraction for tourists (Aitchison, MacLeod, & Shaw, 2001). In turn, capitalism is always consumerism regarding to the notion among Western countries. Hence, it is indicative of many people to be troublemakers instead of tourists, as they intrude into the milieu of cultural and ethnical diversity of some people with no excuse as long as they are driven by the idea of their right for letting loose in accordance with money they spent for such a pleasure. Besides, there is a clear distinction between tourism and traveling. Andrews (2011) admits that tourism does more harm to the environment than traveling, since it the former touches upon invasion, pollution, and narrow-mindedness while the latter is characterized by discovery, understanding, intelligence, adventures, and broad-mindedness. In this vein, tourism is a mark of a person’s identity looking at the places one visits and the services one prefers most of all with an idea of a cultural merge in mind (Weiermair & Mathies, 2004). It is all about the financial substantiality of individuals. Thus, they want to pay for their pleasure in terms of the price to be paid for that. On the other hand, tourism, leisure, political activities, rights of individuals are all incorporated in the field of globalization. To say more, tourism and leisure are socially constructed and are subject to the power of a man’s feelings and inner states (Andrews, Deconstructing tourism & leisure, 2011). In the historical cut, individuals tried to perceive multiculturalism when traveling around the globe. In some cases it was favorable (India, Africa) in some other (Magellan and the Philippines) it ended up ferociously. Nonetheless, tourism has become an exploration of one’s ability to cope with different identities and in close relation with the local authenticity. The works by Paul Gauguin, Somerset Maugham, Jules Verne, and many other representatives of art and literature were among the pioneers of the global trend for cultural and aesthetical tourism. However, it was nice at a glance from the very outset. It changed significantly with the advent of commodification versus authenticity. Cole (2007) points out in his study that commodification of different places (so attractive for tourists) leads to negative outcomes based on the political manipulation over the villagers for the sake of the tourists’ well-being. In fact, such a trend designates the very purpose of tourism in this or that location and in accordance with this or that cultural identity. Talking on the commodification and authenticity, one should bear it in mind that tourism is a direct search for difference and dominance as long as some experts compare it with neo-imperialism (Andrews, Creating ‘the Other’: People as Tourist Commodities, 2011). In addition, it is Western people who are more devoted to explore other countries in the same manner as their predecessors did in the colonial age. Thus, it is a hidden drive for pleasure and its pursuit. Tourists tend to grasp the moment of pleasure in seeing how local communities serve them (Veal, 2002). Of course, it is a case of irrationality leading toward total decline. However, such perils make tourists even more devoted to visiting countries and places of the world with the idea of leaving an imprint on those places. Newcomers are welcomed by the local powers if the former are ready to buy or order something. In this respect the implications of globalization cannot be underestimated. Burns & Novelli (2006, p. 83) note the following statement, namely: “Therefore in the case of globalization, the impermeability of group borders is imposed by circumstances that are external to the direct confrontation of the local and global culture.” This is the reason why there are too many misconceptions concerning inter-cultural intervention through tourism. Furthermore, it is a point to highlight the detrimental flow coming on the part of tourists aimed at gaining pleasures, first of all. Such a fixed idea seems to be spreading over tourists resided in different countries. In other words, a chase for unbelievable and unforgettable pleasures makes tourism far from some cultural or aesthetical virtues. The question is that, normally, globalization requires people to work hard annually with a reward of vocation as a result. Thus, people strive to break loose once such an opportunity appears. It is no surprise now why tourism is only about the pursuit of pleasure. With an idea of sunbathing somewhere on the beach, people urge for showing their identities off before the wide public present on that beach at the time. This is why, the study on human body is vital in sociology as a medium for changeability in people’s attitudes and behaviors. The beach is a luminal zone where transformations of people’s behaviors occur (Knox, 2010). Thus, tourists are especially recognized in their passion for the beach and the sea as a dimension of personal intimacy and individual states of body and mind. The body is a core idea of going to the beach. Everyone is aware of his/her sexuality coming from the shapes of body and its individual look as well. In this respect the male part is likely to go to the fitness gyms and the female part adores body-shaping before the vacation comes. One feels electric once he/she becomes a part of an erotic and highly-sexualized community of beautiful people. In this respect the atmosphere gets electric as well due to a passionate devotion of each beach boy/girl on the spot: “The beach fairly sizzles with the erotic voltage of bare-breasted, bare-buttocked beauties and virile stalwarts, but still decorum keeps the sensual stew at a steady, socially acceptable simmer” (Cited in Knox, 2010). Here comes the truth of why people expose their bodies to everyone. It is also all about consumerism and selling one’s beauty to the public. Leisure has become a way for self-fulfillment in close relation to the social development (Andrews, Investigating Tourism & Leisure - Perspectives on Research, 2011). Thereupon, tourism and leisure are the result of different impulses in the construct of the society. Local powers and people on the whole seek to reach the social equilibrium in its relation to the economical and political spheres of social life. The main goal is to reduce the state of alienation by means of tourism and leisure activities within the society. In turn, it makes people happy and content regarding their way of living. Once again, it amplifies the pursuit of pleasure through traveling and tourism. The critique of tourism in the Third World and the opposition between the North and the South seem never-ending. Driven by pleasures, people would likely to forget about the rationality of using natural resources and cultural unity at a definite place. As a matter of fact, people seem to take it for granted as long as they feel their dominance in the situation. Consumerism and the capitalist model are paramount, strange as it may seem. This is why there is no mention of sound-mindedness in keeping up with different destination and with no harmful attitude toward it. Individuals differ in their desires and addiction to some kinds of leisure. In this respect both positive and negative effects are discovered. Exotic destinations and those being the most popular for foreigners and newcomers are too vulnerable for different dangerous flows, such as drugs, prostitution, etc (Equitable Tourism Options (EQUATIONS), 2006). Thus, there are different place of touristic activities known for their direct preference of some sexual or drug entertainments, such as in Pattaya or in Goa. Admittedly, tourism is too significant for poor southern regions of the world. However, it is largely concerned more with negative effects. Thus, tourism is relevant to a set of risks. Dangerous or illegal activities during the vacation state on how people seek for self-realization as a means of boast and showing individuality. Having sex in Thailand for Europeans and Australians, observing terror in the hotspots, overexposure to sunbathing, lack of preparatory measures before visiting exotic countries present a sufficient risk for people’s health and their lives as well (Andrews, Risk ,Tourism & Leisure, 2011). No wonder, tourists are too delirious to commit something strange and prohibited while holidaying somewhere abroad. Dr. Hazel Andrews justifies the stupidity of how tourists take gamble on dangerous activities before taking a trip to some destination. In his article, he strictly highlights the statistics and dangers of sex tourism and drug tourism as well. His observation embraces a host of destinations worldwide so as to make others aware of dangers they may run into unintentionally for themselves. While enjoying time on vacation, tourists engage with a sense of freedom. Moreover, a tourist is one to practice and perform idea of play, fun, carnival, and overindulgence to food and drinks (Andrews, Tourism Performance, Pleasure, and the Body, 2011). In this case Dr. Hazel Andrews is likely to ruminate on the idea of embodiment and sightseeing as something personal for an individual. A set of feelings is what one experiences during holidays in some exotic countries. However, this article seems quite complete in combination with the rest of publications by the author. Insofar, it is clear that tourists are spoilt by their narrow-mindedness in choices and in attitudes toward different destinations. In addition, looking through all readings indicated and properly used in the paper, it is vital to admit that tourism is not just a way to take fun. It has plenty of hazardous impacts on the local communities (villagers), cultural versatility, and environment at large. Tourists are recognized by their aptitude to consuming every now and then, and here lies a pit of fallacies regarding peaceful tourism. In fact, the risks for tourists while holidaying are likely to be shared and spread in their native communities or places of origin. Such a circulation of diseases, drugs, broken psyches, and amorality seems to let civilized societies down in their development. What is more, the readings by Dr. Hazel Andrews in combination with other materials provide one with a deeper understanding of an obscure side of tourism and traveling all around the globe. Eyewitnesses are grouped in their relevance of the main interests. Tourists are more inspired to commit something unusual at the place where they are far from relatives and close people as of the workplace. Hence, it is a kind of play for those trying to get lost into the wild with no change of mind. This is where the difficulty lies. Thus, I feel responsibility in following respectful and sound attitudes toward exotic cultures in the sum of its multifaceted nature so as to keep it vivid and live for the next generations. By the way, the lesson taught by Dr. Andrews and colleagues made me think of my own vision of the world and nature in decline. By saying this, it is necessary to underline the perils of globalization and demographic boom evident today. Thus, there is plenty to talk about social and cultural identities people possess. Beach culture and tourism are more and more considered with what an individual is and what he/she is not (Andrews, Tourism, Consumption, Commodification, Authenticity & Hyper-reality, 2011). This trend seems everlasting for the contemporary progressive mankind. Nevertheless, I would rather keep the sound way of behaviors while holidaying for the sake of my life and lives of people around me and for the next generations. Reference List Aitchison, C, MacLeod, NE & Shaw, SJ 2001, Leisure and tourism landscapes: social and cultural geographies, Routledge, New York, NY. Andrews, H 2011, Creating ‘the Other’: People as Tourist Commodities. Andrews, H 2011, Deconstructing tourism & leisure. Andrews, H 2011, Investigating Tourism & Leisure - Perspectives on Research. Andrews, H 2011, Risk ,Tourism & Leisure. Andrews, H 2011, Tourism Performance, Pleasure, and the Body. Andrews, H 2011, Tourism, Consumption, Commodification, Authenticity & Hyper-reality. Burns, PM & Novelli, M 2006, Tourism and social identities: global frameworks and local realities, Elsevier, Amsterdam. Cole, S 2007, Beyond authenticity and commodification, Annals of Tourism Research , Vol. 34, No. 4, pp. 943-960. Equitable Tourism Options (EQUATIONS) 2006, The Tourism Critique and Tourism Movements in Goa, EQUATIONS, New York, NY. Haan, Hd 2008, Landscape, leisure and tourism: socio-spatial studies in experiences, practices and policies, Eburon Uitgeverij B.V., Amsterdam. Knox, D 2010, Tourism, Experience and the Body. Shaw, G & Williams, AM 2002, Critical issues in tourism: a geographical perspective (2 ed.), Wiley-Blackwell, Hoboken, NJ. Veal, AJ 2002, Leisure and tourism policy and planning (2 ed.), CABI, New York, NY. Weiermair, K & Mathies, C 2004, The tourism and leisure industry: shaping the future, Routledge, New York, NY. Read More