Category: Reflective Posts (page 1 of 1)

Transformational Tourism

This was one of my favourite lectures. It was well presented, but it also hit at some pretty sensitive spots for me. I am a great lover of nature, and wish to see the natural world preserved. For some reason, eco-tourism was not necessarily a field I had considered going into before, but now it intrigues me quite a bit more.

One of the things that made me feel some sadness during this lecture was the discussion of disaster and extinction tourism. They are some of the more unsavory sides of Tourism in my opinion. The idea of encouraging people to come and see something before it is gone feels hauntingly heart-breaking to me. My immediate reaction in fact, is to say, instead of promoting this place because it will soon be gone, why aren’t we preserving it? Obviously, some places are harder to preserve than others, there are some things we have no control over, but shouldn’t we be doing our part when we can?

In terms of Eco-Tourism, the thing that strikes me  and makes me want to become part of this industry is the idea that we could practice tourism while helping to protect the natural aspects of communities and educate the rest of the world about the importance of protecting these communities. The idea of disenchantment is interesting too. The idea that science has driven some of the magic out of our lives. How could we combine science and fact with romance and art to create a feeling of enchantment. I can say for sure that I am a logical person who finds enchantment in everyday things: the sounds of birds, the feeling of sunlight, the winding trails and interesting trees and plants on a hike. How can we help people to feel wonder and have more reasons to fight for our ecosystems and natural world?

Indigenous Perspectives

One of the topics that I have been learning about lately in a few of my Tourism classes is about Indigenous perspectives. I am of Indigenous ancestry, so this is important to me for that reason, but also because this culture and history is an important element of our history as Canadians.

As we have learned, many Indigenous cultures, including our own, have a deep connection and regard for the land. Humans and nature are connected, an               d there are many Indigenous cultural traditions and customs that have to do with the land. Due to this, it is important that we respect the land and all that it gives to us. A few times while growing up, I remember going into nature with elders or others in the community I am from and listening as they taught us about some of the traditional medicines of the land and how when they collected them, they would give an offering of tobacco in gratitude. Just another example of respect and gratitude for what the land gives us.

As I also have learned, European settlers to Canada had many negative impacts on Indigenous Canadians when they came such as bringing sicknesses, taking Indigenous land as their own, forcing Indigenous people to stay on reserves, and taking Indigenous children away from their families to go to residential school to destroy the “Indian in the child”. It is now time to give Indigenous Canadians the respect that was long forgone them and consult with our fellow Canadians for a more united front. Tourism, as we know, is an industry that can encompass the land, and explores culture. It can educate and help people to expand their perspectives if done right. It is important that we consult with one another when establishing Tourism plans to make sure we know about how the land should be treated, and the truth about histories and cultures so that we can spread the authentic message.

Things to Keep in Mind When Starting a Tourism Organization

1. Location: Does your location meet the needs of the organization you want to start? Can the environment support the enterprise? Who lives in that area? What are their cultural practices like? Will this fit with their beliefs? If not, how can you work with them to make it work while being cognicent of their traditions/practices/culture? What kind of environmental concerns might the area have?
2. Laws: What are the laws in the area? Does your organization/enterprise meet the legalities of the area?
3. Target Market: Is there a market for the service/product you are trying to offer in the area? If not, why and can you alter it so it fits better? Do your research into the population of the community and the surrounding communities. Also, is it something that international customers would enjoy?
4. Sustainability: How sustainable is the product? How can you make it more sustainable for the area?
5. COVID: In this time of Pandemic, how can you offer the product in a socially-distanced and safe manner?
6. Finances: Can you afford to start this enterprise? Will it be able to support itself and make profit?
7. Future: Is this something that will still thrive or will evolve for the future?
8. Workplace: Can you create a workplace that is efficient, while also an enjoyable and supportive place for your employees and yourself?