Tourism: A Two-Faced Industry

Traveling across the globe is a dream many strive to make a reality. Every person embarks on their journey with a different goal in mind: some go to explore a nation’s history and culture, some go to sample all the local foods and others go to simply relax. The latter can be deemed the stereotypical traveler, one who perhaps goes to the spa instead of venturing into the depths of a city, or stays in large resorts in place of local hotels. In this manner, tourism becomes a commercialized, albeit lucrative, industry.

Savannah Bitzas (SAR ’20) experienced firsthand the striking nature of tourist traffic while abroad in Venice with a friend, and it does not appear to be a pleasant experience noted that for tourists and locals alike.

“It was a beautiful city and really unusual,” she said. “We were both so surprised that it was so crowded; we literally had to wait to cross footbridges! We took a water taxi from the airport to our hotel and the driver said that 32 million people come to visit each year and that last year 60,000 locals left.”

Tourists who desire the full and authentic experience of what a country can offer are suffering at the hands of this commercialized industry as well, so much so that it becomes overwhelming.

“Overall, it was a great city and I am so happy I went, but I don’t know if I would necessarily go back because it was so touristy,” said Bitzas. “We ended up going to the glass island of Murano on our main day in Venice because we were just too overwhelmed with all of the people. Murano was much less crowded and a lot more quiet.”

Overpopulation during peak seasons appears to be a trend abroad amongst popular locales. Carolina Blázquez Gándara is a resident of Mallorca, a Spanish island that attracts tourists.

“During the summer, the island doubles its population,” said Blázquez Gándara. “It’s very crowded and it’s not nice anymore.”

While tourism is a highly sustainable industry to many countries, the fact that the majority of local people are turned off by tourist behavior and traffic speaks volumes to what tourism has become, or at least connotes.

“Of course we need them, but we kind of hate them—we don’t like tourism to be so massive,” said Blázquez Gándara.

“We are very aware that we need tourists, but I would love [Mallorca] to clean the image of the island and to attract people for another kind of tourism, not just the packages of partying and alcohol,” said Blázquez Gándara. “Just something more cultural and environmentally friendly.”

The impact has become so severe that several nations and cities are setting legal parameters on how many tourists are allowed in in general or to certain areas. An article in Condé Nast Traveler titled “15 Places Telling Tourists to Stay Home,” outlines 15 locations that are placing limitations on tourism. Some of those listed are Norway, which is regulating the number of hikers to certain natural spots; the Galápagos Islands, which is barring tourists from venturing to certain parts of the island after being listed as an endangered heritage site in 2007; and Venice, which is hoping to ban cruise ships from entering its harbor.

In Mallorca, Blázquez Gándara points out the failed implementation of eco-taxes. Tourists used to pay a certain amount each day to go toward the welfare of the environment, but they no longer exist since tourism companies were not in favor of these taxes. Although construction along the beach and coastline are not permitted, there is still plenty of room for improvement.

Conversely, there are nations such as Costa Rica that thrive on ecotourism. While ecotaxes failed in other nations, ecotourism flourishes as a means of showcasing their culture and provisions. In a similar manner, Puerto Rico highlights their natural attractions, and it proves to draw tourists of many kinds. Laurie Garriga, a resident of Puerto Rico, has said that the majority of the island’s tourists visit from docked cruise ships. However, local tourism companies actively emphasize the environment and ecotourism.

Garriga said that with the rise of services like Airbnb and Uber, the type of tourist that travels to Puerto Rico has changed.

“I think it has become more diverse…you see people that come from cruise ships to stay the day, but I have seen a lot of people interested in the colonial cities and ecotourism,” said Garriga.

However, even a country that places so much importance on their environment and culture succumbs to commercialization. “

In Old San Juan, there are a lot of places catered to a certain type of tourist, like the stereotype of the people that take a cruise and buy a lot of souvenirs,” said Garriga. “Certainly there are lots of shops for things like that.”

Garriga also said that popular culture has played a heavy role in bringing in tourists to the country.

“The music video for the song ‘Despacito’ was filmed in a very impoverished place of the colonial capital [of] Old San Juan, and the neighborhood is called La Perla,” said Garriga. “Now with the popularity of ‘Despacito’ there are a lot of tourists coming just to see [the place].”

As for the residents of La Perla, they are enthusiastic about the frequent visits to their neighborhood since it brings increased movement to their shops, thus sustaining their livelihoods.

There are many facets to consider when it comes to tourism. It can be an ugly market that thrives on feeding the creature comforts of visitors. Not only this, but it is detrimental to the environment. A common theme mentioned is that tourism brings a financial gain to help sustain economies that are suffering or would be otherwise.

Although tourism is a lucrative business, it can come at a cost. There seems to be no sense in enabling an industry that destroys the environment in which locals live, even if it does help them thrive economically. Granted, Garriga said, “If you come respectfully and with genuine curiosity, then you are going to be well received.” That should be the golden rule of tourism.

By Anjali Balakrishna | Photography by Eva Vidan | Design by Chloe Guo