GLOBALIZATION TECHNOLOGY & SOCIAL CHANGE
RESEARCHER: Mayelin Rosario
Tourism in Developing Countries
Tourism affects third world countries in many ways. It’s sometimes for the good and sometimes for the bad. In most cases, tourism affects developing countries in a negative way. “Tourism is the activities of people traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for leisure, business or other purposes for not more than one consecutive year. Tourism is a dynamic and competitive industry that requires the ability to adapt constantly to customers' changing needs and desires, as the customer’s satisfaction, safety and enjoyment are particularly the focus of tourism businesses”[1]. In other words, tourism is a way of relaxation, a travel experience, and is an enjoyable time. Tourism is also known as the world's fastest Growing and major Foreign Exchange & Employment generation for many countries although in many countries it doesn't happen this way. Although it creates jobs not all the times we see the positive side of it. When it comes to foreign exchange, it impacts the country positively.
Most of the times the beautiful countries, the beautiful beaches that we like to visit and vacation in are found in third world countries, developing countries. Those countries are identified as "countries that suffer from high infant mortality, low economic development, high levels of poverty, low utilization of natural resources, and heavy dependence on industrialized nations"[2]. This are very poor countries in which some of them depend heavily on tourism for their economy. The people in these developing countries aren’t often privileged by all of the beauty of their country. Not even by tourism and its opportunities. We see this problem a lot in the Caribbean which is the main place I’m focusing on my research paper. “The Caribbean is a fascinating and unique region. An archipelago of sunny, tropical islands naturally decorated with exotic flora and fauna, surrounded by blue sea water and gentle breezes, is the general impression of the region in the minds of most visitors”[3]. The caribbean is full of beautiful islands and beautiful, friendly and lovely people where you can spend a beautiful time. You might encounter many of these people while in your stay in your resort. They are usually workers in the resorts, but many times you find them creating their own businesses outside the hotels or in the beaches. But these people aren’t often as happy as they might look, they are very poor people and sometimes have a hard time finding jobs although tourism creates a lot of jobs.
Local people are constantly affected by tourism. As I already mention, it happens positively but many times it happens in a negative way. Often racism is encounter in the workforce when it comes to finding jobs that have to do with tourism. Many times they are rejected from these jobs. Due to this, these people are often forced to do jobs that might not be adequate for society but which tourist enjoy. Economically and socially this people are negatively affected by society.
Local people are constantly affected by tourism. As I already mention, it happens positively but many times it happens in a negative way. Often racism is encounter in the workforce when it comes to finding jobs that have to do with tourism. Many times they are rejected from these jobs. Due to this, these people are often forced to do jobs that might not be adequate for society but which tourist enjoy. Economically and socially this people are negatively affected by society.
JOBS
When talking about jobs, the local people as I said are not likely to be accessed to these jobs for some reason. “Unfortunately many companies decide to recruit their employees from abroad. Either because it is cheaper or because they can find more qualified staff there. Only very few invest in education and training of young locals”[4], the locals are not getting the good jobs tourism offers or if they do, the jobs are not that good. They have no other option but to try and build their own business around the zone or to start doing other types of jobs that might not be adequate but are the ones helping them survive financially. Many times the local people build business like markets, stores to sell ornaments and souvenir, in order to make some income which in many cases is a good option because tourist choose to buy from them and somehow it contributes to the local economy. Others choose to do other jobs.
When talking about jobs, the local people as I said are not likely to be accessed to these jobs for some reason. “Unfortunately many companies decide to recruit their employees from abroad. Either because it is cheaper or because they can find more qualified staff there. Only very few invest in education and training of young locals”[4], the locals are not getting the good jobs tourism offers or if they do, the jobs are not that good. They have no other option but to try and build their own business around the zone or to start doing other types of jobs that might not be adequate but are the ones helping them survive financially. Many times the local people build business like markets, stores to sell ornaments and souvenir, in order to make some income which in many cases is a good option because tourist choose to buy from them and somehow it contributes to the local economy. Others choose to do other jobs.
In tourist places, something that you will always find is prostitution which is the practice or occupation of engaging in sexual activity with someone for payment. In the caribbean women that do these jobs are called jineteras and men that do it are called sanky pankys or pingueros. It’s a job we often see in many places besides tourist places but it has a high demand in the tourist places. “The lack of viable work and the dependence on foreign exchange drive young men and women to migrate to tourist areas to earn a living. Sex with tourists is one of a broad spectrum of services and activities in which people engage to procure earnings”[5]. Many times these people have no other option but to do this because they need a way to survive and as I said the good jobs available they usually can’t get. This is one of the way of how we see tourism affecting the people in a negative way, jobs are not available so they have to start doing the first job they encounter to be able to sustain themselves and many times their families.
“Many of the young men and women hope that their liaisons with foreigners will lead to marriage and migration...they prefer to accept gifts of clothing, jewelry, and meals from tourists rather than to negotiate money for sex, because direct commercial transactions foreclose other possibilities and because direct commercial transactions confirm an identity as prostitute that they do not desire”[5]. Although in many cases we see them doing it for money, we also find cases in which jinetera or pingueros build a different friendship or relationship with the tourist and hope for something more than just sex. As studies confirm, when this happens they prefer to get something else from them rather than money so that they could see them in another way besides them being prostitutes. This happens so that in some future they could help them migrate. Globalization takes a big role in this case. They maintain communication often via phone calls but now they probably maintain their relationship via text messages and social media.
Locals
The local people are affected by tourism in different ways. As we already saw with jobs, is very hard for them to find jobs or if they do the jobs are not as good as they should. But when talking about the local, the communities, their lifestyle, a lot changes. The people that live around the most tourist attractions are often the most affected economically and socially. “Tourism development has also meant inflation in food and land prices, irritating locals”[6], the prices when it comes to the things local people consumed become overpriced just because they are in a tourist setting. Food and land as it says become so expensive that many times is impossible for them to get food or land so they have to travel away from their villages to get these basic needs. When it comes to the way tourism affects them socially, we see the disruption of privacy within their villages by the tourists. “Privacy has been lost in villages and neighborhoods near tourist attractions. Along the routes traveled by visitors, locals may feel the intrusion as tour buses and tourists in their cars gawk at people…attractions. But many locals are tire of being photographed and of being asked endless questions”[6], as tourist we like asking questions, we want to know everything about their culture and their lives but there's a limit which you shouldn't pass. Taking pictures without their consent is very disrespectful and still tourist do it. We also see that the local people dont even visit their own beaches, “many locals feel uncomfortable or unwelcome sitting on the sand or taking their sea baths among tourists[6]”, they might feel like they dont belong there although the beach is part of them, part of their lives and culture. They feel like their privacy has been invaded by the tourist.
The local people are affected by tourism in different ways. As we already saw with jobs, is very hard for them to find jobs or if they do the jobs are not as good as they should. But when talking about the local, the communities, their lifestyle, a lot changes. The people that live around the most tourist attractions are often the most affected economically and socially. “Tourism development has also meant inflation in food and land prices, irritating locals”[6], the prices when it comes to the things local people consumed become overpriced just because they are in a tourist setting. Food and land as it says become so expensive that many times is impossible for them to get food or land so they have to travel away from their villages to get these basic needs. When it comes to the way tourism affects them socially, we see the disruption of privacy within their villages by the tourists. “Privacy has been lost in villages and neighborhoods near tourist attractions. Along the routes traveled by visitors, locals may feel the intrusion as tour buses and tourists in their cars gawk at people…attractions. But many locals are tire of being photographed and of being asked endless questions”[6], as tourist we like asking questions, we want to know everything about their culture and their lives but there's a limit which you shouldn't pass. Taking pictures without their consent is very disrespectful and still tourist do it. We also see that the local people dont even visit their own beaches, “many locals feel uncomfortable or unwelcome sitting on the sand or taking their sea baths among tourists[6]”, they might feel like they dont belong there although the beach is part of them, part of their lives and culture. They feel like their privacy has been invaded by the tourist.
Economy
Economically the country is impacted many times negatively and others positively. Something we know is that tourism is a great way of a country getting to be known, to develop but many times when is a third world country it might not be as easy. When we talk about tourism leakage, we mean the amount of money that actually get to stay in the country from tourism. In many cases 70-90% of the money leaves the country. This is because all of the money usually stays in the airlines and hotels. “The future of tourism in the Caribbean will depend largely on the ability of the region to deliver a high quality product that corresponds to the changing tastes, needs, wants and demands of the international travel”[7], often the country has to import the needs the tourist want, such as food and drinks which the country most of the time doesn’t have and there is when leakage happens. Spending the money to satisfy the tourist needs. Enclave tourism is seen when the chances of the local community to earning something from tourism is smaller because many times the hotels are all-inclusive so the tourist don’t need anything from outside. Also is seen in cruises, the people spend most of the time aboard and have everything they need. Infrastructure cost is probably the one that affects the most. The country has to spend money constructing airports, roads and many other infrastructure just for tourism. Economic dependence is seen many times in developing countries when these start depending on tourism for their economy which as we see many times does not help as much. Many times depending on tourism is risky because although tourism is ongoing and people are always traveling, countries can encounter natural disasters that might cause people to stop traveling, vacationing in these places for a period of time. To end this, seasonal jobs are not secure, they might have it now but you don't know if next month you will be there. And this doesn't happen often because as we already saw the locals don't usually get those jobs. [7]
Economically the country is impacted many times negatively and others positively. Something we know is that tourism is a great way of a country getting to be known, to develop but many times when is a third world country it might not be as easy. When we talk about tourism leakage, we mean the amount of money that actually get to stay in the country from tourism. In many cases 70-90% of the money leaves the country. This is because all of the money usually stays in the airlines and hotels. “The future of tourism in the Caribbean will depend largely on the ability of the region to deliver a high quality product that corresponds to the changing tastes, needs, wants and demands of the international travel”[7], often the country has to import the needs the tourist want, such as food and drinks which the country most of the time doesn’t have and there is when leakage happens. Spending the money to satisfy the tourist needs. Enclave tourism is seen when the chances of the local community to earning something from tourism is smaller because many times the hotels are all-inclusive so the tourist don’t need anything from outside. Also is seen in cruises, the people spend most of the time aboard and have everything they need. Infrastructure cost is probably the one that affects the most. The country has to spend money constructing airports, roads and many other infrastructure just for tourism. Economic dependence is seen many times in developing countries when these start depending on tourism for their economy which as we see many times does not help as much. Many times depending on tourism is risky because although tourism is ongoing and people are always traveling, countries can encounter natural disasters that might cause people to stop traveling, vacationing in these places for a period of time. To end this, seasonal jobs are not secure, they might have it now but you don't know if next month you will be there. And this doesn't happen often because as we already saw the locals don't usually get those jobs. [7]
Although the we see tourism impacting the economy in a negative way, it also has a positive impact on it. For example, when it comes to foreign exchange, the country has some earnings on it. Us a tourist need to know a certain amount of money from other currency to bring to the visit and exchange it in the country and this is an earning to the country. Contributors to government revenues means that the country is making some money from tourist by taxing them. Generation of jobs is another way of impacting positively. Tourism makes a lot of jobs in hotels, restaurants, taxis, nightclub. Although we don't see the locals in these jobs many times, its still generating jobs. Although we see infrastructure investments affecting negatively, it has its positive side. It impacts the local community positively by constructing the new roads, the airports, by having better water, public transportation, and electricity. And by last, it contributes to the local economy in a minor way. As I already said by the infrastructure, the local business they get to create. But this happens in a very minor way.[7]
The purpose of this research was to educate about tourism. Not only about tourism, in specific my interest was to educate about what is behind tourism because we always talk about tourism as the best thing and of course we are because when we go on vacation we enjoy and have an amazing time in those countries. But since I'm interested in traveling and vacationing I wanted to know more about what was behind the tourism. I wanted to know more about the local people and how are the impacted by tourism.I haven’t been to many countries yet but the ones I’ve been to, I’ve seen a very amazing yet impacting difference between the tourist side and the local side of the countries. It’s a very big difference which us as tourist wouldn't believe existed.
To end, by this research we see and learn alot about the impact in the local, socially and economically. We see how many jobs are creating but we still see the local people not getting them. But we also see them creating their own business in which many times they are successful. We also see the locals and their privacy being disrupted by tourism and the tourist themselves. Overall, the caribbean is an amazing place to go vacation although its many times negatively impacted. Visit these places if you have the chance but also help the local places in any way you could.
To end, by this research we see and learn alot about the impact in the local, socially and economically. We see how many jobs are creating but we still see the local people not getting them. But we also see them creating their own business in which many times they are successful. We also see the locals and their privacy being disrupted by tourism and the tourist themselves. Overall, the caribbean is an amazing place to go vacation although its many times negatively impacted. Visit these places if you have the chance but also help the local places in any way you could.
Resources
[1]-“What is Tourism?” What is Tourism? - BC Tourism Industry - go2HR, www.go2hr.ca/bc-tourism-industry/what-tourism.
[2]-nationsonline.org, klaus kästle -. “___ First, Second and Third World.” First, Second, and Third World - Nations Online Project, www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/third_world_countries.htm
[3]-Jayawardena, C. (2002). FUTURE CHALLENGES FOR TOURISM IN THE CARIBBEAN. Social and Economic Studies, 51(1), 1-23.
[4]-Grape, S.(2016) Green Aid? Traveling to Developing Countries. International Young Naturefriends
[5]- Cabezas, A. (2004). Between Love and Money: Sex, Tourism, and Citizenship in Cuba and the Dominican Republic. Signs, 29(4), 987-1015
[6]-Gmelch, G. (2003). Behind the smile : the working lives of caribbean tourism
[7]-Eman Abbas Follow. “Economic impact of tourism.” LinkedIn SlideShare, 12 July 2012, www.slideshare.net/EmanAbbas/economic-impact-of-tourism-13613739
[1]-“What is Tourism?” What is Tourism? - BC Tourism Industry - go2HR, www.go2hr.ca/bc-tourism-industry/what-tourism.
[2]-nationsonline.org, klaus kästle -. “___ First, Second and Third World.” First, Second, and Third World - Nations Online Project, www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/third_world_countries.htm
[3]-Jayawardena, C. (2002). FUTURE CHALLENGES FOR TOURISM IN THE CARIBBEAN. Social and Economic Studies, 51(1), 1-23.
[4]-Grape, S.(2016) Green Aid? Traveling to Developing Countries. International Young Naturefriends
[5]- Cabezas, A. (2004). Between Love and Money: Sex, Tourism, and Citizenship in Cuba and the Dominican Republic. Signs, 29(4), 987-1015
[6]-Gmelch, G. (2003). Behind the smile : the working lives of caribbean tourism
[7]-Eman Abbas Follow. “Economic impact of tourism.” LinkedIn SlideShare, 12 July 2012, www.slideshare.net/EmanAbbas/economic-impact-of-tourism-13613739