Tourism is a billion-dollar industry. Research indicates that tourism contributed $5.81 trillion to the global GDP (Gross Domestic Product) in 2021. While this figure may seem significant, it does not depict the true size of the tourism industry. Firstly, tourism and travel were still well below the pandemic level and are expected to increase exponentially in the coming years. The other reason is that it is hard to assess the true impact of tourism since it involves many other sectors of the economy, such as the hotel and the food industry, to name a few.
The True Impact Of Tourism
The impact of tourism is not limited to the global economy. The tourism industry is responsible for 10.4% of all economic activity around the world. In the wake of easing travel restrictions, a massive surge in tourism and travel is expected, and 429 million people are expected to be employed in the tourism sector globally by the year 2029.
Statistics and numbers do not fully encapsulate the impact of tourism because it goes beyond economics. Travel and other tourism-related activities have a significant environmental effect. In addition to this, there are social and cultural issues that often go unaccounted for. Many indigenous people, as a consequence, do not view tourism in a positive light. They do not regard it as a sustainable means of making money; instead, they regard it as another form of colonialism.
Tourism Or Neocolonialism
In many regions around the world, memories of colonialism are still rife. Multiple countries are still struggling to overcome the adverse consequences of decades and even centuries of colonial control. It is only natural that citizens of these countries vary from people coming from developed countries, most of which happen to be their former colonial masters, for leisure and recreation.
There is an inherent lack of comprehension since tourists want to enjoy the seemingly exotic places without giving any importance to the history or culture of the place. They may enjoy the biodiversity; however, ignoring the hardships and glossing over the history of the people and the places are nothing short of tone deaf.
Tourists simply want to have a good time. They want to unwind and relax in the lap of luxury. It may not be as exploitative a relationship as the colonial institutions of the past. Indigenous people are also profiting from it in the form of earning foreign exchange and getting a boost to the local industries. However, the adverse impact of tourism, in the form of negative environmental consequences, destruction of biodiversity, the commodification of local culture and heritage as well the rampant spread of Capitalistic ideals. There are several examples of such voyeuristic forms of tourism, like the sightseeing and photography of ni-Vanuatu children.
Tourism today has given rise to a new form of Orientalism. The ‘us versus them’ ideology remains intact. Tourists nowadays like to post their adventures on social media, depicting places they travel as exotic and fantastical. Many places around the world have become famous for attracting social media stars due to their quality to get views and become viral.
Breaking The Bonds
As it now stands, there are pros and cons to hosting tourists. It is hard to assess the net effect since not all benefits and costs can be monetized. What tourist hosting countries can do is implement stringent policies and rules to keep themselves insulated from the adverse effects of tourism. Encourage ecotourism and keep a check on local businesses, so exploitation does not occur.
Tourism can help countries to come out of the shadows of their colonial past. Economic growth can help spur sustainable development. Earning from the tourism sector can be used to finance other sectors so countries can reduce dependence on one sector, as that is also not a feasible course of action. In this manner, tourism can become the engine for growth and development.
Related reading: In search of the Lost City of Paititi (Part I)
