The Ethics of Poor Tourism - Term Paper Example

Perception towards of slum tourism Introduction Slum tourism has evolved rapidly and is practiced widely in the world, which has made it to gain the attention of scholars and the tourism industry. It has raised controversy between tourism and poverty alleviation, exploitation and ethics. Slum tourism is a tourist experience of visiting urban areas that are characterized by poverty, violence, and squalor. Many cities and towns in developed and developing worlds have slums within them. The rich leave their safe and comfortable elite homes to explore the slums. This is said to convert the insecurity and unfamiliarity slum settings into adventure and pleasure. This paper will examine the perception towards slum tourism through literature exploration (Eveline & Rivke, p 113.) In the slum, setting there is nothing that is called garbage. Everyone in the slum wants a better life, Critics argue out the slums are exploitative, and they do not have a place in ethical travelers` itinerary. Professor David Fenell, at Brock University in Ontario, questioned the fact that the tourists visit places to take pictures and observe the lifestyles of the slum residents. He believes that the main purpose of slum tourism is to make the westerners feel better of their lifestyle in comparison to the slum habitants. They feel lucky on their life situation in comparison them. However, the proponents of slum tourism argue that ignoring poverty will not take it away. Slum tourism helps them to understand what poverty means. The big issue is how to conduct it (The New York Times, 2008) There conceptual ambiguity in slum tourism is based on a failure to set specific goals of tourism. The exact thing that attracts people during the tour in the slums and favelas is not precisely known (Manfred, p. 421). The use of poverty tourism indicates that poverty is the reason for the visits. The critiques argue that tours on the human wretchedness, infirmity, and unworthy living conditions should not be termed as a tourist attraction aspect. This issue has been largely fuelled by the mass media who present the pictures of such conditions. However, the proponents suggest that the word poverty tourism demonstrates the anticipated situation that propels them to go to slums (Eveline & Rivke, p 114.) Many organizers of slum tourism encourage active role-playing of the participants aimed at helping the residents. A church group in Mexico runs a tour of local garbage dumps where the scavengers collect trash to earn a living. In the tour, they make sandwiches and provide water in bottles for the scavenger. The slum tours are aimed at helping the local. Vast majority of individuals in the slum tours feel that the tours are safe. Mexico City and Kingston are known by their violent and criminal reputations. The places receive troops of tourists from paradise (Manfred, p. 422). The number is however undermined because of the feeling that the countries are unsafe for some of the tourists. A slum tourist by the name Chuck Geyor arrived in Mumbai with a hand sanitizer. He anticipated human misery incarnation in such setting. However, he left the place with a changed mind. Instated of solicitation from the beggars in the slum, he became a recipient of gifts that included fruits and dye to smear the face for the Hindu Holi festival. This was shocking to him to find out how friendly the people were. The proponents of slum tourism argue that the tours are beyond charity. They extend to foster entrepreneurial spirit to the residents. This means as the tourist visits the slums some few dollars trickle into the shantytowns. The fact the critics agree with, but they argue that it is not a substitute for development programs. David Fenell argues that if the tourists want to help the shantytowns, writing for huge dollars will help. Tepito in Mexico has pride in their culture and barrio`s achievement despite being a site of poverty, crime, and violence. The cultural production and socio-religious innovation made the place a tourist attraction center. Some critiques argue that slum tourism in such a place is to expose the violence and poverty. However, the proponents argue that through slum tourism, the town that experiences violence can now get a market of their cultural products. This improves their living conditions, and the development is witnessed (Eveline & Rivke, p 115). Therefore, slum tourism has led to a reduction of poverty. The visitors do purchase their products and are hence, recognized worldwide. According to Kennedy Odede, argues that people have turned poverty into entertainment. This is evidenced by the fact that on days such as Christmas and Valentine, slum tourism receives many participants (Eveline & Rivke, p 115). The critiques argue that the westerners who are mainly active in slum tourism gain pleasure and fun of visiting the slums. It is seen as a leisure activity that the upper class undertakes at the end of the year. They take the photos of the slum setting and the dwellers thereby taking away their dignity. This has created controversy on the ethics of slum tourism. The use of terms such as poverty tourism expresses morally dubious socio-voyeurism aspect. The active involvement of the tourist in the tour has a unique approach to slum tourism. The proponents suggest that the tourist come to get the experience of the setting as they encourage the residents to better their lives. Ignoring of the slums will not take away the poverty of the people. The tour helps the people to come to contact and share ideas. Many slums have improved into different better setup through slum tourism (Manfred, p. 424). The views of the proponent are that when upper-class people visit such place, they create jobs such as tour guides, and the locals get a market for their products. Slums such as Kibera in Kenya have better standards because of the efforts of willing tourists to support the slum dwellers. Some scholars have the view that the slum tourism helped to minimize the gap between the reach and the poor. There is a general public opinion that the rich do not associate them with poor. The poor feel to be looked down upon by the wealthy (Julia, p. 47). However, by the actions of the visit that include collaborative working with slum residents, the opinion has changed. The rich find it pleasurable to involve themselves in charity work and be part of the development. The practice is gaining fame, and the slum tourism is rapidly becoming favorite for many as much as wildlife tourism. Slumming has made people gain fame and others selfies themselves with the slum dwellers in order to achieve recognition (Eveline & Rivke, p.113.) Some scholars have analyzed the motive behind slum tourism and have uncovered many reasons behind the tours. Some individuals have anticipation that the slum setting is filthy, violent, and poverty has overwhelmed the residents. Others visit with intentions of offering help and gain recognition. Others go for study purpose as others want to experience the life in the slum setting. On the other hand, the slum residents have varying opinion to these tours. Others feel that they are valued and recognized. Some believe that they are laughed at and their rights violated through taking pictures as a few appreciate the visits and report them as avenues to improve their lifestyle (Julia, p. 47). These reasons among others point out to the controversy that still surrounds the industry of slum tourism. In conclusion, the above information presents the perception that the public and the scholars hold on slum tourism. The critiques argue that the use of words such as poverty tourism portrays negatively the residents. This creates a perception that these people are unable to sustain their live and live in poverty. This to an extent is true but does not apply to all setting. In addition, they argue that the rich makes the tours to feel how better their lives are than those in the slum are. The act of picture taking is also dehumanizing to the slum dweller. The proponents on the other had held the perception that slum tourism is handy to the slum dwellers, and it leads to improvement of their lives. They argue that ignoring poverty is not alleviating poverty. Works cited Eveline Dürr and Rivke Jaffe. European Review of Latin American and Caribbean Studies / Revista Europea de Estudios Latinoamericanos y del Caribe, No. 93 (October 2012), pp. 113-123.: CEDLA publisher. Article Stable URL: http://0-www.jstor.org.librus.hccs.edu/stable/23294474 Julia Meschkank, GeoJournal, Vol. 76, No. 1 (2011), pp. 47-62. Springer publisher. Article Stable URL: http://0-www.jstor.org.librus.hccs.edu/stable/41148435. Manfred Rolfes. GeoJournal, Vol. 75, No. 5 (2010), pp. 421-442. Springer publisher. Article Stable URL: http://0-www.jstor.org.librus.hccs.edu/stable/41148411 The New York Times. Slum Visits: Tourism or Voyeurism (2008). Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/09/travel/09heads.html?_r=0 . Last retrieved On 6 March 2014 Read More