A hurricane hit a place. Several people visit the place just to see what the place looks like. They want too witness the damage first-hand. This is disaster tourism. The question: should we encourage this kind of activity?
Disaster tourism is met with many criticisms. People who live in these areas see these tours as unethical; tour companies cash in on the sadness and hurt of the affected residents. Residents don't see the fun in observing them grieving over the loss of loved ones and struggling over the lack of basic necessities. Some of the emotional residents would be hostile towards the visitors.
Aides complain about how the tour buses delay movement of aide vehicles and other volunteer cars. Add to that, when the tour crowd visits a disaster area, they are subjecting themselves to the danger of an aftermath.
Such is the case in Greater New Orleans affected by Hurricane Katrina. Majority of the communities were not welcoming to the tour crowd.
Residents in Gentilly and Lakeview received the tour crowd with positivity though. They believed that the tours heighten the publicity of the disaster's effects.
Another example of residents that welcome disaster tourists is Indonesians in East Java. Tourist guide Harwati tries hard to entertain visitors while they snap selfies on a disaster-stricken area. This is where the 2006 mud volcano disaster happened.
For Harwati, guiding these tourists along the area is the only job that is available. Harwati says, "This is the only way to earn a living and afford school for my kids."
Busloads of tourists are visiting the area. While these contribute to the local economy, critiques ask if this is the only solution that is available for the community. It has been ten years since the disaster. The areas should have recovered by now.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
