Sunday, March 13, 2011

Tourists Forbidden!

I have just come across this piece of news about a Colombian Amazon village banning the presence of tourists as they are disturbing their traditional way of life. Have a read and please, let us know what you think. This article should also make us reflect on being a responsible tourist and being an unnoticed presence wherever we go.

9 comments:

Michael Pedrera said...

Hi María Luisa,

This is a very interesting article; I never thought that tourism could cause such rejection.

Definitely I can understand the inhabitants of that place, they must be so tired of it and, in my opinion, they have the right to do so. Tourists are not careful, they throw rubbish, they take photos to them (that is very impolite), they spoil their environment, etc. and the inhabitants do not obtain any benefit of it.

I would not like to have a tourist taking me photos while I am eating or while I am in the bathroom. We all have the right to have some privacy. This rejection may make tourists realize about the damage they can cause (sometimes unintentionally).

Cynthia Triviño said...

In my opinion, massive tourism should be forbidden in these places. Not only due to the terrible consequences for the environment, since it will suffer with the increase of visitors, but also for the effects of becoming a new source of revenues. The economic factor tends to trivialize what is important and as we have seen all over the world, when a protected area becomes a resort, the bottom line is the benefit, no more the environment. I think is very sad, although for now the indigenous are controlling the access, sooner or later the inhabitants of nearby villages will make them change their minds in order to improve the quality of life of people around. Then, the free entry will bring a huge flood of tourists, who will spend their money but just for the enrichment of a few, as usually do.
Unfortunately in these cases, the money has the power, instead of the culture, the environment or simply the life.

Unknown said...

Hello to everyone!
I have read this article about the tourism in Nazareth and it has impressed me! I have never thought the negatives consequences that tourist cause in the villages, cities or environment visited. Like always, the rich is over the poor! Nazareth’s habitants complain about the tourism that causes damage in their culture and customs but the agencies allow this kind of action because it makes a lot of money. It is a pity! The human being is the only animal that destroys himself!

Carmen said...

I consider that the measure to restrict the influx of tourists to the village of Nazareth is more than understandable. Townspeople gives much more than they receive to these prying tourists. The compensation that they received from tourism is too low compared to the losses they cause to themselves and the environment. It is a shame that tourism can be so destructive in some cases, taking into account that for the tourists themselves is almost always very enriching.

Unknown said...

Hello, my name is María de los Ángeles Cepeda Delgado. I am studying at the university of Huelva (Spain)and my teacher, María Luisa Ochoa,recommended us to read this interesting article.

To start with, I agree with what is stated in the document because I completely understand the native people's worries in Nazareth. These people cannot stand some of the tourists' behaviours when visiting their own culture, their own place, their fauna and flora, etc. What these native people need is to live without any stress, that is, they would rather live in isolation, just with their own families, their own ways of living, etc; they do not want strangers or turists to disturb them in their daily living.

However, we cannot forget about the benefits that tourism provides the city, which can even save them from the poverty. But in this case, people from Nazareth prefer not to have any turists because they want to keep living within their culture and conserving it from strangers.

Nicolás Alberto said...

I’m in agreement with the decision of these indigenous. Nowadays the general civilization has lost the respect for the environmental, culture ... So I think it’s so important to keep the knowledge of the last remaining ancient cultures. The attractive comfort of the most developed civilization life can attract the young people out of this ancient culture. Beside as they explain, the tourists haven’t been respectful with their custom, and they feel their culture is in danger.

Wir machen aus Zitronen eine Brause. said...

I think the decision is very good. The tourists have no respect of the inhabitants, they pollute the area and take photos without permission. They influence the culture with their presence, with their waste, their "modern" clothes and they do not think about it. There is a real risk that the culture of the people is endangered. So I can understand the decision "against tourists" very good. The people have a right to privacy and undisturbed life.

Ana Isabel Infante Muñoz said...

In my opinion I against tourism in that area people can be very impolite and with no manners. We take for granted that we can do everything as we please without taking into account the native people. The tourists are impossing themselves into their private lifes.

Danica said...

This article is very interesting. I think that since the people of Nazareth have no profit from disclosing their privacy, why should they keep letting tourists invading it? After all, tourists only make damage, and nothing else. There is a saying - LIVE AND LET LIVE. I think it fits here perfectly.