World Tourism Day: Bringing Cultures Together

by Marcela Torres

Each year, on September 27, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) celebrates World Tourism Day, with the purpose fostering awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic value. In 2011, the celebrations are focusing on tourism and bringing cultures together.

According to the UNWTO, in 2010, 940 million tourists travelled to a different country, coming into direct contact with tangible – art, monuments – and intangible – music, food, traditions – culture. World Tourism Day 2011 (WTD 2011) is a celebration of this unique interaction and aims at furthering understanding of the values of cultural diversity.

“The message on this World Tourism Day is that, thanks to tourism, millions of people from different cultures are being brought together around the world like never before,” says UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai. “This interaction between people of different backgrounds and ways of life represents an enormous opportunity to advance tolerance, respect and mutual understanding”.

WTD 2011 also draws attention to the importance of preserving and promoting the cultures of the world in all their forms. Culture, which compels millions of tourists to travel and spend, is of immense value in itself, but is also a vital tool for the development of a sustainable tourism sector. As such, it must be thoughtfully managed and protected, as set out in the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism which states that: “Tourism policies and activities should be conducted with respect for the artistic, archaeological and cultural heritage, which they should protect and pass on to future generations”.

Ancient cultures in Chile

In Chile, the State acknowledges and Chilean indigenous peoples are the descendants of human populations that have been present in the national territory since Pre-Hispanic times, that conserve ethnic and cultural traditions and have the land as the basis for their existence and culture.

The State acknowledges the following as Chile’s main ethnic groups: Mapuche, Aymara, Rapa Nui or Easter Islanders, those of the Atacama or Lickan Antay communities, Quechuas and Collas in northern Chile, and the Kaweshkar or Alacalufe and Yamana or Yagan in the southern fjords.

According to the last census carried out in Chile in 2002, 4.6% of the interviewees identified themselves with one of these ethnic groups. Of these, the majority (87.3%) declared to be descendent of the Mapuches. They are followed by the Aymaras (7%) and the Lickan Antay (3%). The rest (Colla, Rapa Nui, Quechua, Yamana and Alacalufe) add up to 2.7%.

Protecting cultural wealth

Tourism is an economic sector based on human interaction, exchange and dialogue. WTD 2011 is a call to all those involved in tourism to act in a way that is conscious and respectful of culture, which promotes intercultural dialogue and ensures that local communities fully participate in, and benefit from, the development opportunities of tourism.

 “Culture is one of our most precious assets and needs protecting. As we launch World Tourism Day 2011, I call on all people to conduct tourism in a way that preserves and enriches the cultural wealth of the world for future generations,” says Mr. Rifai.

Be careful with that bonfire!

Torres del Paine National Park.

© Hernán Torres

by Marcela Torres

All over the world there are protected areas of great natural beauty and we need to be careful not to damage them when we visit so that they can be enjoyed by future generations. Fire out of control is one of the greatest risk factors, particularly in forests and grasslands.

In February, 2005 a forest fire that lasted 10 days in Torres del Paine National Park destroyed more than 13,000 hectares (32,000 acres), approximately 7% of its area. The cause was the inflammation of a gas stove a Czech tourist used in a grassland area where camping was not authorized. The disaster was such that the Czech Republic quickly offered help to restore the damaged sectors and sent Czech experts. The forest cooperation project “Assistance to renew Torres del Paine National Park ecosystems damaged by the fire” ended in December, 2010. It ran for five years and included forestation with 180,000 Lenga (Nothofagus pumilio) plants.

Torres del Paine National Park is one of the nature tourism icons in Chile. Located in the Chilean Patagonia, it covers a total of 181,414 hectares (448,284 acres) and is among the preferred worldwide destinations for trekking, particularly for its famous W circuit. In 1978 it was declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, because it is among the most representative regions of the different ecosystems in the world that also provide opportunities to measure human impacts on the environment.

The rock formations known as the “towers of Paine”, the Grey and Dickson glaciers, the numerous waterfalls and lakes and its abundant wildlife, that includes endangered species such as the Condor, the Puma and the Huemul deer, are among the main attractions of this protected area. After the 2005 fire, it was believed that tourists would have learned about the importance of staying in the areas set aside for visitors.

However, in February, 2011 a new fire was again cause for grief. An Israeli tourist that lit a bonfire in an unauthorized area initiated another fire that did not have the same catastrophic consequences as the previous one because the rain that was falling helped control the flames. The tourist was expelled from the National Park and declared an unwelcome visitor because of his irresponsibility.

The National Forestry Corporation (CONAF), the government agency in charge of managing protected areas in Chile, has clear regulations for visitors that can be downloaded from the website in Spanish and English. It seems worthwhile to be reminded of some of them to make sure that we act as responsible tourists when visiting a natural area:

• Follow the instructions given by the park rangers, including times for visiting, signs and maintenance of facilities in the Protected Wilderness Area.
• Follow rules for safety. Walk only along marked trails and roads. In case you are planning a long hike, do not go alone, and take the appropriate equipment and clothes. Inform the park rangers about the route and time of return of your trip.
• Make fires only in the places provided for doing so. After making a fire, put it out using large amounts of water. Wildfires and people with a careless attitude are always a potential danger to nature.

Now that the high season for tourism in Chile is approaching, we hope we will not have to witness a new fire in Torres del Paine National Park. Conserving our wonderful natural heritage for future generations is a task for all of us.

A “gringo’s” guide to Chilean food

Mote con huesillo, pastel de choclo and empanada.

© Hernán Torres

by Robert Bell

If wining and dining is your forte, Chile will not disappoint. And what better way is there to celebrate Chile’s Independence Day holiday on September 18^th than feasting on traditional delicacies?  The smell of shish kabobs (anticuchos) sizzling on the grill at a Patriotic Party (Fonda) on a sunny day is a fondly memorable experience. In fact, September is one of the best times to be in Chile as the weather heats up and the atmosphere becomes festive. There is plenty to do and see, and of course, to eat.

As a “gringo” living in Chile I’ve come to appreciate traditional dishes such as pastel de choclo (a baked pie filled with meat, hard-boiled egg, onion, and olives topped with a crispy layer of mashed corn) and my personal favorite charquican (a hearty stew with beef, squash, potatoes, and green beans). They are both unique and delicious. Chile also offers plenty of great seafood, especially in the scenic and popular summer vacation stop, Viña del Mar. Crab cakes, razor clams with melted cheese, shrimp-filled avocado, and sea bass are all fantastic selections on the menu. Empanadas, which come in a variety of styles, from the typical pino filled with beef, to chicken and shrimp with cheese, are a popular Independence Day dish.          

Chileans also have a sweet tooth, and some of their traditional desserts are simply addictive, like pastries filled with jam and glazed with merengue. Manjar (boiled canned condensed milk) is a brown, creamy spread that is liberally applied to just about anything, from donuts to cheese. And as the weather starts to heat up, the thirst-quenching mote con huesillo (a juice made with dried peaches and wheat) is a refreshing multi-tasking dessert/hot day beverage served chilled.    

And speaking of drinks, Chileans are proud of their pisco brandy, which can be bought with different alcoholic percentages ranging 30% to 50% and is usually served sour, and beer (the latter more average than great). However, Chilean wine is quite possibly one of the best; Chile has grape varieties, like Carmenére that aren’t found anywhere else in the world.

For many, Independence Day isn’t complete without some Chicha, a light and very sweet grape cider which has more alcohol than wine. It is an acquired taste for the uninitiated; I have met Chileans who don’t like it either. So after feasting on some typical Chilean cuisine, there’s really only one thing left to do: would you care to join me to dance the Cueca?

To climb or not to climb Uluru…

Uluru, Northern Territory, Australia.

© http://www.new7wonders.com/

by Marcela Torres

Only a couple of months are left to vote for the New 7 Wonders of Nature. Among the favorite places featured in this initiative is the Australian Aboriginal sacred site Uluru –also known as Ayers Rock-, one of the country’s most recognizable natural icons. The time seems right to ponder over a question that has for decades been the subject of a much heated debate: Should tourists be allowed to climb the rock or not? Respecting indigenous cultures and local traditions is at the core of the responsible tourism concept and it is the center of the controversy over Uluru.

The UNESCO World Heritage Site -located 450 kilometers (280 miles) west of Alice Springs, in the state of the Northern Territory- is climbed by more than 100,000 people every year. The sandstone formation stands 348 m (1,142 ft) high above sea level and measures 9.4 km (5.8 miles) in circumference. Those who have been fortunate enough to visit the site, say Uluru appears to change color depending on how light strikes it at different times of the day and year.

But the popular climb of the monolith has long enraged local Aboriginals, the Anangu people. Under Aboriginal law, they are responsible for protecting Uluru and its visitors. They say the site is sacred and have called for the climb to be banned since Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park was placed in their hands in 1985.

The Anangu people believe that during the time when the world was being formed, the Uluru climb was the traditional route taken by ancestral men when they arrived at Uluru. Because of this spiritual significance, they prefer that - out of education and understanding - visitors respect their law and culture by not climbing.

Safety is also an issue. The path is about 1.6 km long and takes about two hours to complete. Since it can be treacherous, the first part has a chain to hold on to. It is reported that 36 people have died and many more have been injured attempting the climb, something that worries traditional owners.

There are environmental concerns as well. Park officials say the climbing path has been worn down by the constant tread of tourists and erosion is changing the face of Uluru. The lack of toilets and garbage cans on top also means tourists leave behind waste that is affecting nearby waterholes.

Money is the matter

The park estimates that around 38 percent of visitors climb each year, down from 74 per cent in 1990. Even so, tour operators in the region continue to offer the climb as the main attraction of the visit to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and they often do not inform clients of the cultural and spiritual significance of the place. The first time many tourists hear, "Please don't climb Uluru" is when they read their entry ticket.

The market demands it, people want to climb, and since there is no law against climbing Uluru Ayers Rock, many companies continue to feature the same popular offerings: sunrise, climb, sunset.

Until now, the national park’s management has employed a strategy of visitor education to face this issue, with interpretive signs expressing the distress that climbing causes the local owners and asking that visitors participate in alternative activities. However, changes in attitudes and behaviors of visitors usually take place in the long term and sometimes it is necessary to apply more direct management techniques such as banning an activity to ensure the conservation of the natural attraction and ensure that tourists will show the necessary respect.

In 2009, the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Board of Management took the initiative in drafting a 10 year management plan recommending closure of the climb, highlighting that the activity is culturally insensitive. Although the measure did not have strong political support, climbing Uluru has its days counted anyway.

Under the terms of the lease the Anangu elders granted in 1985 to the National Parks Service, the right to climb expires in 2020, and the national park is currently recruiting a professional to oversee the closure of the climb. If the climb is permitted beyond this date, the lease would have to be renegotiated.

Some industry stakeholders argue that the prohibition could lead to reduced visitor numbers and that it would have serious financial implications for the Anangu, who receive 22.5 per cent of all gate receipts and have sole rights to undertake commercial activity within the National Park.

There are several attractive alternatives, however, of tours within the park with activities that do not upset the traditional owners. Tours include walking expeditions to explore rock formations and Aboriginal art sites around the base, escorted by local guides and an interpreter. Visitors learn about myths of creation, bush foods, traditional didgeridoo-playing, dot-painting and spear-throwing.

A brochure available at the Cultural Center in the park carries an important message from the Anangu elders:

“That is a really important sacred thing that you are climbing . . . You shouldn’t climb. It is not the real thing about this place. The real thing is listening to everything. Listening and understanding everything. Why are we going to tell you to go away (and ask you not to climb)? So that you understand this . . . so that you understand, we are informing you: Don’t climb. And maybe that makes you a bit sad. But any way, that is what we have to say. We are obliged to say. And all the tourists will brighten up and say: ‘Oh, I see. This is the right way. This is the thing that is right.’

This is the proper way: No climbing.”

Share your responsible travel experiences! - MyNatour Ecotourism Contest

by Marcela Torres

"Tell me, I'll forget. Show me, I may remember. But involve me and I'll understand” - Rabindranath Tagore

If you practice responsible tourism, here’s your chance to share your experiences and spread the word! Mynatour ecotourism community, sponsored by WHL.Travel, is launching the first-ever ecotourism travel blog contest.

The idea of the contest is to promote ecotourism and responsible tourism through a travel blog competition where the audience is involved in electing the best ecotourism story. Users will be able to upload their holiday experience, evaluate how they have been eco-friendly on their holiday or how to improve their experience towards a more sustainable level in the future.

Participants will be required to join the Mynatour ecotourism community to take part in the contest. To allow everyone to express his/her best way the travel blog will include the possibility to enter a text of max 1000 words, 1 main photo and max 4 additional images. A specific area of the travel blog (250 words) will be dedicated to evaluate their best ecotourism practices “on the road”. Furthermore if they have been on a normal tour competitors will be able to provide in the same section tips or thoughts about how the destination or they can improve with eco friendly practices.

Most importantly, the contest will allow participants to vote for their favorite travel blog. The top ten voted travel blog will be reviewed by an expert panel and 3 of them will be chosen for the grand prizes. The 3 winners will be able to pick out of 6 amazing ecotourism holidays for 2 people, courtesy of WHL.Travel. The winner will be able to choose first and so on till the 3rd.

The only foot print you leave is your story! Ecotourism Travel Blog Contest will run through October, 2011. Online registration is already open. Travel blog uploads will be open from September 19 thru October 23. The voting period will be from October 24 till November 7. The winner will be announced on Friday, November 11 during the World Travel Market in London.