Ethno-tourism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Ethno-tourism - Essay Example Even though ethno-tourism is one of the most significant sources of revenue for developing countries, it has attracted so much criticism from human rights activists. According to the critics, ethno-tourism is the exploitation of the uncontacted tribes as they are used by the governments and tourism planners for economic purposes and they are not given any benefits in return. Other critics also suggest that the exposure of the uncontacted tribes to the outside world can endanger their society from a number of aspects. The following paper will evaluate the criticism against ethno-tourism, the opportunities it provides for the developing economies and the impacts it has on the culture and society of the uncontacted tribes. IMPACTS OF ETHNO-TOURISM Developing countries like those in Africa and Asia earn significant revenues from ethno-tourism. Tourists from all around the globe seek opportunities for ethno-tourism therefore countries that provide ethno-tourism are considered to be some o f the most sought after venues for the tourists. Ethno-tourism attracts a large number of tourists because it is a unique kind of tourism. ... Ethno-tourism provides the tourists with the opportunity of initial contact with previously uncontacted people who live in ignorance of the outside world. These unconctacted people reside in tribes and their way of living provides a great example of the primitive way of living. Their rituals and traditions are unique and different from those of the modern world. Their culture and traditions make them an attraction for the tourists. One of the arguments presented in the text suggests that ethno-tourism should benefit both the visitors and the contacted tribal communities. There has been significant criticism over ethno-tourism and it has been said that ethno-tourism has negative impacts on the subject communities. One of the most prominent negative impacts of ethno-tourism on the uncontacted tribes is the social deterioration of the tribes. With the exposure to the economic system set up by the modern world, the uncontacted tribes that reside in the primitive manner may become affecte d. Their society may deteriorate with the rise in the economic divisions within the tribes. Even though tourists are highly attracted towards unseen cultures and ways of life and ethno-tourism generates high amounts of revenue, the impacts on the subject tribal communities give rise to a dilemma. From one perspective, ethno-tourism is a great opportunity for the tourists to observe the primitive way of living, and from another perspective, ethno-tourism is the exploitation of the uncontacted tribes as the interests of the tourists are considered and not that of the tribes. Individuals who criticize ethno-tourism oppose the use of such tribal communities for commercial purposes. The arguments presented to support the criticism are that; the individuals from the tribal communities are not