Tourism: The marmite of today’s culture
Exhaustive tasks, tiresome efforts and a vicious loop of hard work – all these have only one
answer: “Be a tourist! Enjoy the world!” When you come home enraged after being scolded
by your boss, what lifts your spirit? What makes you calm and happy? The idea of visiting
Switzerland in the winter? Guessed so. Tourism is like a chocolate dessert: It’s always made
us excited and never done the opposite (do all of you agree?). So, what’s the big deal about
tourism today? Are people exploiting this fun avenue? And is the experience worth it? Read
on to find out more!
Over-tourism, as it is coined, is the Voldemort of our era. Waters of Maldives brimming with
rubbish, sites cluttered with litter – too much of this activity injures the local environment and
the broader ecosystem that thrives there. What solution has been implemented? Tourism taxes
(does it even classify as a ‘Solution’ per se)? Because, if you don’t have a salary that higher
than roughly 70% of the world, you can’t visit these exclusive places reserved for the richest.
And that’s unfair. Different sites are affected in various ways, such as overburdening energy,
and health services and your favourite McDonalds place. Perpetuated by Instagram, Mr.
Voldemort could make the local enriching cultures wear away, never to return. What’s the
light at the end of the tunnel, you may ask? Well, it makes countries prosper financially –
there are more services available (everyone loves the local harees in UAE), and the
community’s lives are sometimes made better.
My friend in Cape Town can testify to this (he makes ‘fruit’ pizzas for the people), but
tourism can provide the locals with countless employment opportunities and transform their
lives. You get to experience the thrill of interacting will all types of cultures; the dessert being
cuisines and lifestyles. Sometimes, however to attract people the old traditional businesses
are closed down, and new brand spanking shops opened instead. Who for? Tourists, not the
locals particularly. Taxes and exorbitant souvenirs and dining options are still alive; but the
locals often can’t afford it, and it genuinely makes me sad. I always try to dine together with
the locals for the experience, not for the greed or social media posts. Do you?
My young people, the world’s a maze to explore. Discover its magnificence that stretches
from Pacific to the Indian ocean, but always try to keep in the mind the local people and
culture. Try not to do something that may affect them in a bad way (you can still joke around
with them about life, and yes, I’m very guilty in this regard). Visit something new, something
very unique where not many people have gone? Want to go to go to the Swiss Alps? Travel to
Norway instead. You get to see the Northern lights, that’s an added bonus and you avoid the
effects of over-tourism. Switch up from the trends on Facebook. Buy from local companies –
ask about the culture if you’re intrigued about it, and trust me the experience will be an
unforgettable one. Make wise, insightful decisions, and plan ahead, it works all the time
(well…. we shall not talk about my trip to Brazil)!