City of Angels...or is it?

Just to sort of continue from my previous blog. So there were 2 presentations today on international tourism and socio-cultural impacts. The last group presented on some very interesting countries. They talked about how tourism has negative impacts on many developing countries. Even looking at my own presentation(which is next week), i've found a common theme..how tourism is having more of a negative impact on developing countries than a positive one.

Yes, there are positive aspects such as income generation, money coming into the country, better standards of living(not all cases). However, the negatives outweigh more. I've found that due to money woes and people wanting to be more like the "westerners", they've started depending too much on the western region. Something that horrified me was sex tourism and how the government as well as World Bank and US. military(only durin the vietnam war) actually promoted sex tourism in Thailand. Bangkok means "city of angels", but in reality, it isn't. Bangkok(according to the presenter,who visited there) is full of prostitutes and "lady boys". They even have travel agencies that have sex tourism packages for that region. It is disgusting to think that anyone could even think of such extremes...but I guess that's the nature of human beings. We will do anything to get what we want. I mentioned the US military. They infact had asked the locals to provide for the "comfort and relaxation" of the soldiers. And to think back here in the Western society, they condemn those same actions and you get arrested for prostitution. How is it ok for you to have prostitution in the developing countries but not ok for the western countries(altho' there are a few areas that prostitution is permitted). It's unthinkable,as to how standards are so different, even tho' we are all humans and are "supposed" to be equal.

When I first started my degree in tourism...I never imagined that I would learn about all of this. I've always had the picture of how tourism is a must to many developing countries, because that's pretty much all they have to offer(other than cheap labour..but that's another topic). But having said all that...I think its the responsibilty of the nations to ensure that they encourage tourism that is not disruptive to the people, economy or the environment. Don't get me wrong. Tourism is very beneficial in the long run. It's just that we have to learn how to use it in a way that is ethical and morally sound.