Don't worry- this is not a blog about what I have been up to!!!!!! :)
This title has been buzzing around in my brain for a few weeks now, mostly as a result of the 'over-touristation' that is so obvious around much of Bali, but now also because of my new volunteer role looking at child protection here.
Ubud, featured in the book "Eat, Pray, Love" is now a mecca for 'spiritual tourists', with organic cafes and yoga studios on every corner. The Balinese seem fairly laid back about this invasion of their ceremonies and temples, but I have heard that some are disgruntled at not being able to afford to live in their own town any more!
It is such an interesting dilemma, as perhaps the only way to contain tourism, to ensure that Bali is not destroyed from over-love, is to increase the prices of flights and services, thus further disadvantaging the locals! Of course also, most locals now rely on tourism for their livelihood, so any actual decrease in tourism is detrimental. How Bali manages issues of infrastructure and resources remains to be seen...
On a different scale of 'too much love' is the problem of sex tourism, and especially child sex tourism that pervades the developing world. I won't say too much more, but of course it is happening here as it is in most developing tourist countries. :(
www.sacredchildhoods.org
What is the future for destinations that are getting too much love??
This title has been buzzing around in my brain for a few weeks now, mostly as a result of the 'over-touristation' that is so obvious around much of Bali, but now also because of my new volunteer role looking at child protection here.
Ubud, featured in the book "Eat, Pray, Love" is now a mecca for 'spiritual tourists', with organic cafes and yoga studios on every corner. The Balinese seem fairly laid back about this invasion of their ceremonies and temples, but I have heard that some are disgruntled at not being able to afford to live in their own town any more!
It is such an interesting dilemma, as perhaps the only way to contain tourism, to ensure that Bali is not destroyed from over-love, is to increase the prices of flights and services, thus further disadvantaging the locals! Of course also, most locals now rely on tourism for their livelihood, so any actual decrease in tourism is detrimental. How Bali manages issues of infrastructure and resources remains to be seen...
On a different scale of 'too much love' is the problem of sex tourism, and especially child sex tourism that pervades the developing world. I won't say too much more, but of course it is happening here as it is in most developing tourist countries. :(
www.sacredchildhoods.org
What is the future for destinations that are getting too much love??
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