Don’t feed wildlife

Young girl feeding a wild turkey at Daintree National Park, Australia.
© Marcela Torres

by Marcela Torres

I remember clearly in one of my trips to a national park while we paid the entrance the passengers of one of the vehicles that was waiting to go in started yelling that a fox had stolen a bag of food they had for their picnic. Understandably, they were very upset. But what made the fox commit this audacious act?

The fox that stole the food had probably been fed by tourists before and had learned that where there were tourists there was food. One of the principles of responsible tourism is to contribute to the conservation of the environment and one way of achieving this is to avoid feeding wildlife in the places you visit.

There are several problems that come from feeding wildlife, starting by the fact that animals become used to humans and to types of food that are not suitable for them. They then stop searching for food the natural way, in the case of this fox by hunting its preys, and they begin depending on visitors to protected areas.

This not only disturbs their feeding habits, but it also changes the relationships between predators and their prey and increases their vulnerability to other animals that are competitors or predators. At the same time, it affects the bonds between parents and their young and can contribute to spreading diseases for which they have no defenses.

There is also danger for tourists, since you never know how a hungry animal can behave and people may result with injuries from accidents. No matter how used the animal is to humans, you must never forget that it is still a wild animal guided by instincts.

It is important to have a responsible attitude during a visit to an area populated by wildlife, in order to avoid accidents for tourists and disturbing the behavior and natural cycles of animals. This way, the experience will be beneficial for all.

Biofuels for more eco-friendly flights

Air Bus plane.
© Air Bus

by Marcela Torres

Air travel has broadly been identified as a major source of greenhouse gas emissions and an important factor in climate change issues. This raises questions as to the implications of increasing costs of fuel and energy in the future and the need for tourism to be seen in the wider context of environment, resources and mobilities if it is ever to become sustainable.

Although some say planes only contribute between 2 and 3 percent of global emissions, airlines are aware of the criticism and have been tackling the problem for several years. The results? Last month, Boeing performed the first-ever transatlantic crossing of a commercial jetliner using renewable, biologically derived fuel. And this week, Lufthansa and Airbus launched the world’s first daily passenger flights using sustainable biofuel.

But the road to sustainable air travel has not been always been easy or voluntary. When the European Union adopted the Directive to include aviation in its Emissions Trading Scheme in January 2009 many airlines complained that it would hamper their operations in the region.  How does emissions trading work? Passengers and companies contribute to some conservation project to offset their carbon emissions, which are sold on a carbon market.

Some airlines such as Qantas, Air New Zealand, Virgin Atlantic, and Continental voluntarily created their own carbon offset programs to allow passengers to reduce their environmental footprint when flying even before any regulations were passed. They were certainly pioneers in the field, but questions quickly were raised about how much should tourists pay per ton of avoided carbon dioxide and about the need to favor reduction of emissions instead of offsetting schemes.

Many expected science and technology to play an important role. Tourists see scientists as key actors in providing up to date information to allow government officials to make the right decisions, while the industry relies on technology to solve the problem of carbon dioxide emissions without reducing flights.

The one big truth is that airplane travel is here to stay and that the search for biofuels to replace fossil fuels is a positive step in the right direction. Some view this progress with skepticism and criticize that the trials by Boeing and Airbus only use a percentage of biofuels in combination with kerosene. Others warn against the amount of water that will be required to irrigate crops used to produce biofuel and whether or not the increasing need for biofuels will motivate more deforestation to grow crops.

It’s a problem difficult to solve. But the fact that the air travel industry is making efforts to actually reduce emissions instead of just offsetting them is a good sign that times are changing and sustainable tourism may be possible after all.

Does accessibility to tourism make progress in Chile?

Accessible trail in the Petrohué Falls sector, Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park, Chile.
© Marcela Torres

by Marcela Torres

Accessibility to tourism for people with disabilities is one of the principles of the Cape Town Declaration on Responsible Tourism (2002). In 2009, the UNWTO adopted the Declaration on the Facilitation of Tourist Travel, calling for member states to guarantee accessibility to ensure the accessibility of tourism establishments, the availability of special facilities for persons with disabilities at no additional cost, the publication of detailed information on the availability of such services and the special training of tourism staff.

How much progress has Chile made on this topic? Pretty much, but more can still be done. According to the National Disability Service (Senadis), in Chile 12,93% of the population has some kind of disability in different degrees (2.068.072 people). A new law was passed at the beginning of 2010, Law 20.422 which sets standards about equal opportunities and social inclusion for people with disabilities. This new regulation defines universal design as the basis for the new integration guidelines.

Chile’s government agencies had already been taking action before the law was passed. For example, the National Tourism Service (Sernatur) edited in 2005 the Accessible Tourism Manual, although its impact in the tourism sector was not significant. In fact, there is no systematic information about what establishments or providers have facilities or services with accessibility for this population.

Along the same line, the National Forestry Corporation (Conaf) has an Accessibility Manual for people with different abilities in the State’s Wild Protected Areas and has been implementing Accessible Wild Protected areas throughout the country since 2006, facilitating movement of people with disabilities in trails and lookouts and adapting public toilets for people who use wheel chairs, although until now this accessibility is only present in part in just 12 of the 100 protected areas managed by this government agency.

The Senadis also has an Accessibility Manual that can be downloaded from the website and has public funds for physical access projects, but these only finance initiatives presented by public agencies, city halls and not for profit organizations. Therefore, tourism businesses must take o the costs of any adaptation for accessibility with their own resources, which probably will not happen unless they view it as a profitable investment.

Some countries, like Spain, have a headstart in this matter. Last year saw the launch of the Guide of Monuments, museums and tourism interest spots accessible for all, sponsored by the Fundación ONCE, which groups people with visual disabilities, and Vodafone Foundation. The publication gathers information about 167 accessible monuments, museums and tourism interest spots in all Spanish provinces, as well as specific details about the accessibility they provide.

In that country there are strong organizations that represent people with disabilities and have a long history of promoting inclusion. It is, no doubt, a great example for Chile which, thanks to this new law, has a unique opportunity to take a significant step forward to boost, among all stakeholders involved, a new paradigm where accessibility for people with disabilities is considered a right and not a privilege.

La Tirana Festival bets on cultural tourism

Dancers in front of La Tirana Church, in northern Chile.

© Hernán Torres

by Marcela Torres

This Saturday, July 16th, marks the celebration of La Tirana Festival in Chile, in honor of the Virgin Carmen, patron of the country. The town La Tirana, with a population of 560 people, prepares to receive approximately 250,000 tourists, of which it is estimated that 70% are Chilean and 30% are foreigners coming from neighboring countries, such as Peru and Bolivia, as well as other faraway places like Spain, Germany and Belgium.

During this festival, the place transforms as dancers and merchants flood the town where believers praise the Virgin with music, dance and offerings. Among the folk dances, the more traditional ones are the “devil dances”, called that way because of the devil mask and suit worn by the male dancers. The dance represents the clash between good and evil, mixing elements of the Catholic religion introduced during the Spanish conquest with ancient Andean rites.

The town of La Tirana reportedly marks the burial spot of an Inca princess known as the tyrant of the Pampa del Tamarugal because she inspired terror amongst conquerors and converted indigenous people of the area in her fight against Spanish rule during the 16^th century. According to the common tale, she fell in love with one of her prisoners, a Portuguese man who converted her to the Catholic faith, and both of them were killed by her Inca warriors while he was baptizing her. Her last words were a request for a cross to be placed on her tomb. A Spanish monk is supposed to have found the cross, where La Tirana is now located.

The July 16^th festival represents the mix of both cultures and is one of the most popular typical events in Chile. Although the people who live in La Tirana anxiously wait for this day, both for its religious significance as well as its increased visitor flow, the activity also presents risks such as tourists surpassing the locality’s carrying capacity.

Another challenge is to avoid having La Tirana depend economically on one specific date per year. That's why a women’s association of the town got together and obtained government funding to create a tourism information center, which opened in May 2011, betting on the fact that La Tirana has enough interesting places and activities to attract visitors all year round.

It is important to promote a sustainable development of tourism so that the festival does not have more costs than benefits and so that the local community can have the necessary tools to create high-quality tourism products and to market them efficiently in order to increase these people’s income. Festivals are an important element of cultural tourism and can, no doubt, contribute to preserve ancient traditions.

Social Impacts of Tourism

Aymara weaver who charges to have her photo taken, in Sacsayhuamán, Peru.
© Marcela Torres

by Marcela Torres

Tourism offers experiences and local cultures can provide great experiences. However, depending on how tourism activities are carried out, these experiences can be better or worse.

The most obvious social benefit of tourism is that it promotes the exchange between people from different countries and cultures. Many travelers want to learn about the local communities, get to know their traditions and lifestyles. For the host communities, this interaction can help strengthen their self esteem and their sense of belonging by feeling valued by others. Furthermore, tourism can contribute to keep alive local customs and handicrafts in a destination.

But at the same time, there is a chance that this exchange can have negative effects. Several authors warn against the danger of the “tourist gaze”. What are they talking about? Sometimes people from the local community may feel they are being seen as objects; something weird or amazing that must be observed. This has a lot to do with how the tourism industry presents a destination and its inhabitants and with the level of interaction achieved with travelers.

Another risk is the loss of authenticity. In a world that becomes more global each day, a globalization of culture is taking place and many local communities are changing the designs and way they produce their handicrafts to resemble what they believe “sells” in a market economy, or they try to imitate attractions that have no connection to their roots. Communities should focus on what they do best, instead of trying to achieve preconceived tourism ideals.

The lack of mutual knowledge and interaction between tourists and the host communities can result in complex situations, such as rejection to tourists by the local peoples or disappointment of tourists who find more of the same they can already see in their own countries without traveling thousands of miles.

Achieving a balance is not easy. That’s why the first principle of the Code of Ethics for the responsible tourist and traveler prepared by the UNWTO says: “Open your mind to other cultures and traditions – it will transform your experience, you will earn respect and be more readily welcomed by local people. Be tolerant and respect diversity – observe social and cultural traditions and practices.”

100 years of Machu Picchu and the impact of tourism

Panoramic view of Machu Picchu, in Peru.
© Marcela Torres

by Marcela Torres

Today is the celebration of 100 years of the rediscovery of Machu Picchu, a place to which many visitors are attracted because of its mystery and its imposing buildings. But the truth is that this World Heritage Site is in grave danger due to excessive tourism.

During a visit this past February, the General Director of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, warned that the Inca city of Machu Picchu is a “victim of its own success” since it suffers from a tourism pressure that is not adequate for its preservation. The international organization, which manages the World Heritage Sites list, decided not to include the site in the list of endangered cultural heritage, but recommended restricting the activities planned for the place’s centennial in order to protect it. The UNESCO’s recommendations included limiting the number of people accessing the sanctuary during the festivities and to hold most activities in the city of Cusco.

For several years, the UNESCO has promoted that visited to Machu Picchu be limited. Following the organization’s suggestions, Peru reduced allowed numbers from 2,500 to 1,800 people per day in the site’s Management Plan. This measure, however, has been adamantly opposed by many tourism companies arguing that these restrictions will only harm the sector.

The question is, however, what will the tourism industry do if Machu Picchu is destroyed? Or, as Bokova expressed during her visit, “how can we balance the pressure for tourism, the success and acknowledgement of the site with its protection and authenticity?”

The excess of tourists in Machu Picchu brings about several specific problems, such as: 1) crowdedness, which diminishes the quality of the experience for the visitors; 2) increase of garbage, particularly in the Inca Trail; 3) an intensive use of a historical site with a limited carrying capacity. I’ve been lucky enough to visit the place twice and the last time I was there the guide told us how the mythical sun clock was broken by a crane used by a production company that was filming a television spot.

Fortunately, there are representatives of some tourism companies who understand that heritage must be cared for, because it is of no use to over exploit it and have it last only a few years, and that a solution must be found among all stakeholders involved. Although nobody likes restrictions, it is important for the tourism industry to take on its role in promoting a sustainable development of the activity, so that Machu Picchu can be enjoyed by future generations as well.