Explore reading: Tradition or tourism? Read the information provided by a website about responsible travel. Choose the correct answer (A, B, C or D) for questions 1–8. Put a cross ( ) in the correct box. The first one (0) has been done for you. 27 Tradition or tourism? How to spot the difference Travelling introduces us to different ways of life and gives us countless opportunities to learn about other cultures. But are some experiences manufactured purely for tourism? And, if so, is that OK? Often so-called cultural experiences included in tour programmes are not authentic. Such a manufactured cultural experience is one that only exists for tourists, rather than reflecting the way a community or culture really live or have lived. One of our editors recalls a show that had authentic origins but was ruined by artificial elements. “I experienced a desert belly dance show outside Dubai, which felt more like a Disney resort show,” he explains. “The majority of visitors were happy as the lack of authenticity escaped them. Clearly this activity only existed for the tourists.” To learn about the background of a cultural experience, read reviews and customer comments, and ask the tour operator questions; is it run by locals, where do the profits from the experience go, have the local people been consulted in the creation of this activity, and is the experience respectful? Also, you might want to ask yourself what you want to get out of the experience – is it just to take something from the people, or to share something with them? Find out about the community you are visiting; who are they, what is their history as well as the current situation? Don’t we all agree that a visit should be safe and enjoyable for both them and us? A central question for the tour operator as well as the tourist is whether the displayed cultural experience would be this way without the tourists. Many responsible tour operators say it depends on the nature of the experience. If a ritual is sacred, it should be private, and if it’s public, it should be performed only on the proper date or place. A tradition should not be on sale, or expected to be, simply because it is interesting. Rituals and other cultural experiences offered as entertainment, or as a snapshot of a culture’s history, still have their place. However, cultures aren’t static and to expect a group to keep dressing in a certain way or performing traditional songs to suit the expectation of travellers is wrong; all cultures need to develop. Do you want to experience a culture as it is now, or as it was? Because a ritual or tradition is old, does that make it more important than the way people live today? Natasha Martin from Bannikin Travel prefers to live in the now. She finds experiencing ‘modern culture’ to be much more interesting than what she calls ‘frozen culture’ – those cultural experiences that tourism boards and tour operators promote, but that may not actually exist anymore. Finally, any experiences that are exploiting or abusing people or animals should obviously be avoided and reported. 0 What does the headline mean? A traditions and tourism have nothing to do with each other B touristic events never represent authentic traditions C how to spot and understand different traditions differentiate between touristic events and local traditions 1 Travelling A introduces us to manufactured experiences. B provides a chance to learn about different cultures. C requires an understanding of other cultures. D makes us change our way of life. D 2 Experiences created for tourists A always exploit local communities. B usually have authentic origins.. C do not include the local people. D do not really represent local ways of life. 3 Most of the tourists in Dubai A knew that the belly dance show was fake B did not mind the lack of authenticity C did not enjoy the belly dance show D thought the belly dance show was authentic 16 Language skills Extras Explore 1 Global media Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eig ntum des Verlags öbv
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