Respostas para Holidays with a difference

Tribal tourism is becoming more popular. But at what cost to the locals?

1Tribal tourism is a relatively new type of tourism. It involves travellers going to remote destinations, 2staying with local people and learning about their culture and way of life. They stay in local accommodation, share facilities with local people, and join in with meals and celebrations. 3At the moment, less than one percent of holidays are tribal tourism holidays, but this is set to change.

4-5Tribal tourism is often compared with foreign exchange visits. However, a foreign exchange involves staying with people who often share the same values. Tribal tourism takes visitors to places where the lifestyle is very different from that in their home location. 6Those who have been on a tribal holiday explain that experiencing this lifestyle is the main attraction. They say that it offers them the chance to live in a way they never have before.

Not everyone is convinced that tribal tourism is a good thing, and opinions are divided. 6-7The argument is about whether or not it helps the local population, or whether it exploits them. The main problem is that, because tribal tourism is relatively new, the long-term effects on local populations have not been studied in much detail. 8Where studies have been carried out, the effects have been found to be negative.

12Travel writer Ian Coleman recalls a recent trip to Guatemala, where he saw an example of this. 'There is a village with a statue of a man called Maximon, who has a special spiritual meaning for the local tribe,' he explains. 12'The statue is kept indoors, and once a year the locals bring him out and carry him around the village. However, visitors now pay money for them to bring the statue out and carry it around, while they take photographs. As a result, Maximon has lost his original meaning, and is now just another tourist attraction'.

So, is it possible to experience an exotic culture without harming it in some way? 'With a bit of thought, we can maximise the positive impacts and minimise the negative,' says travel company director 9Hilary Waterhouse. 11'Remember that you are there not only to experience a different culture, but to help it in some way. Tourists bring money to the community, which the community can invest in local projects. 9However, this does not mean you can act the way you might do back home. The most important thing is to show respect, learn about, and be aware of local customs and traditions. Always remember you're a guest.'

13Dawn Baker, manager of travel company Footprints, runs tours to tribal areas in Peru. 'Good companies specialising in tribal tours are very careful about who they allow on their tours,' she says. 'They won't take anyone they feel is unsuitable' 13Baker offers reading recommendations so that visitors can read about the country and its cultures. 'The rewards of a trip to this country are priceless, and the more you know in advance, the more priceless they are.'

Tribal tourism travellers are often surprised at how basic their facilities are when they get there.10 'It's not for everyone, but for me was all part of the experience,' says Jamie White, who has recently returned from a trip to Borneo. 'We stayed in the same huts that everyone was living in, with no running water and no electricity. It was basic, but it was an ethical way to travel. Being comfortable means you use more local resources and so have more of an environmental impact'.