Distinction between Tourism and Travelling - Essay Example

Tourism is Only about the Pursuit of Pleasure August 15, Introduction To begin with, tourism has become a real urge for pleasure sought by many individuals and their families. People from all over the world tend to be present at the destinations they once read or heard about. It is an attempt to come closer to something desired and wanted for a definite period of time. To say more, to be called a tourist is also a kind of privilege for many people around the globe. They are eager to bear such a status at least once a year. Thus, tourism is a great and desired leisure time for people sick and 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. Evaluation 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. There is a pitfall for everyone thinking of solely positive effect of tourism worldwide. Hence, capitalist preferences drive many tourists to consume more than ever before compared to their own locations. In its turn, the financial issue is one of the most significant drives in choices made by tourists (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). Hence, it is indicative of many people to be troublemakers instead of normal tourists, as they intrude into the milieu of the cultural and ethnical diversity taken care of by locals with no excuse at all. 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, they feel like they have already covered all expenses. Besides, there is a clear distinction between tourism and travelling. Andrews (2011) admits in his study that tourism does more harm to the environment than travelling, as the former touches upon invasion, pollution, and narrow-mindedness while the latter is characterized by discovery, understanding, intelligence, adventures, and broad-mindedness. By and large, 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 possible cultural merge in mind (Weiermair & Mathies, 2004). It is all about the financial substantiality of individuals. Thus, as long as a tourist pays for a tour along with providing a definite destination with invasion and destruction, he/she thinks as if such a payment is enough. On the other hand, tourism, leisure, political activities, rights of individuals are all incorporated in the field of global economy and globalization at large. That is to say, tourism and leisure are socially constructed and are relevant to the power of a man’s feelings and his/her state of mind (Andrews, Deconstructing tourism & leisure, 2011). In the historical cut, individuals tried to perceive multiculturalism when travelling around the globe. In some cases, it was favourable (Vasco da Gama and India) while in others (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 the 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 influence on 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 during the colonial age. Thus, it is a hidden drive for pleasure in its further pursuit. Tourists tend to gain momentum of pleasure through analyzing how local communities minister to 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 a huge imprint on those places. Newcomers are welcomed by the local powers. However, it is true if a tourist is ready to buy or order something at that place. In this respect the implications of globalization cannot be underestimated. Burns & Novelli (2006, p. 83) note as follows: “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 cross-cultural intervention by dint of 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. The only thing they forget is that the world is everyone’s responsibility, meaning that one should not take care of solely his/her native country but other countries as well. Normally, globalization requires people to work hard annually with an incentive 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 strive to show their identities up against 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 behaviours toward life and environment. The beach is a luminal zone where transformations of people’s behaviours 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 the 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 is at a stone’s throw. 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). Public exposure of human bodies is taken for granted. In the era of seemingly total demoralization, it has a huge power of attraction and serves as a means for communication. Besides, leisure has become a way for self-fulfilment 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 accordance with some constructive decisions. 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 functionally better in the way they used to hearty-party. Once again, it amplifies the pursuit of pleasure but not of aesthetic prerogatives in their somewhat snobbish meaning. The critique of tourism in the Third World countries and the opposition between the North and the South seem never-ending. Driven by pleasures, people tend to forget about the rationality in using natural resources and cultural wholeness 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 (it is especially true for Europeans and whites all over the world). Admittedly, there is no mention of sound-mindedness in keeping up with different destinations and with rational attitudes toward them. 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 man-made dangerous flows, such as drugs, prostitution, etc (Equitable Tourism Options (EQUATIONS), 2006). Thus, there are different places of touristic activities known for their direct preference of some sexual or drug entertainments, such as in Pattaya or in Goa. By no means, tourism is too significant for poor southern regions of the world. However, it is largely concerned more with negative effects on the environment. 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 boastful manifestation. 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). A set of feelings is what one experiences during holidays in some exotic countries. However, Dr. Andrews sounds quite complete in combination with the rest of publications by the author. Insofar, it is clear that tourists are spoilt by their devil-may-careness in choices and in attitudes toward exotic 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 the environment on the whole. Tourists are recognized by their aptitude to consuming every now and then. Obviously, here lies a pit of fallacies regarding the notion of 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. Andrews in combination with other materials provide one with a deeper understanding of an obscure side of tourism and travelling all around the globe. Tourists are more inspired to commit something unusual at the place where they are far from relatives and where nobody knows them for sure. 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 springs up. Thus, I feel responsibility in the overall awareness of fragility of the exotic cultures along with their multifaceted nature in order to keep it vivid and live for the next generations. Conclusion Therefore, the lesson taught by Dr. Andrews and colleagues made me think of my own vision of the world and the 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 is an unstoppable flow of hazardous effects on the environment to be solved collectively. Nevertheless, I would rather keep the sound way of behaviours while holidaying for the sake of my life and lives of people around me. Entertainments and pleasures should not just veil people’s minds while taking tours, but rationality and careful attitudes should emerge instead. Reference 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