Unesco listing both a boon and bane for George Town
Click HERE
"There's going to be a big change. You won't be able to recognise George Town later."
Excellent read on the impact of tourism on a country via the example of Geroge Town in Penang, Malaysia.
Note the term 'gentrification' -- affluent middle to upper class moving into a poor district, in the process displacing the poor (and often older ones), i.e. causing the poor to move out....
As the poor move out, along with them go the lifetyle and traditional cultures that lend the place its unqiue, characteristic colour that is what lure the tourists there in the first place. In their place are the richer owners who wish to make profits by catering to the tastes of the tourists. The old shops thus end up becoming run of the mill cafes, esp those with international brands like Starbucks....As the article pointed out, some that sell traditional food unique to the area began to sell Singapore chicken rice too as it is popular with tourists. But what is Singapore food doing in a uniquely Malaysian town? The result is that tourism has led to the commercialization, and consequent dilution, of the original culture in the country. Given this, it can be said that gentrification is guilty of killing the goose that lays the golden eggs when it comes to tourism. In the rush to attract more tourists and earn more revenue from them, one should not forget what draws the tourists to the spot in the first place....
Note though that had it not been for tourism, the old buildings may have been left to rot. It is the tourist interest that has sparked off a rejuvenation of the old district and given it a new lease of life. Money from investors starts to pour in as there is profits to be made.....unfortunately, the argument now is that while the facade of the old buildings has been preserved, the same cannot be said of what's happening INSIDE these buildings, i.e. the people and the traditions they practise....(see previous para)
The arrival of the hordes of tourists also interfere with the lives of the remaining locals....the prying eyes of the tourists taking selfies which intrudes into the privacy of the locals....recall also recent reports of how hordes of big-spending Chinese tourists emptied the shops of goods in Hokkaido, leaving the locals with little to buy.....
Relate to qns on tourism and the 2016 'A' level AQ.
Qn: Should poorer countries develop their tourist industry when the basic needs of their own people are not being met? (Cam. 2007)
"There's going to be a big change. You won't be able to recognise George Town later."
Excellent read on the impact of tourism on a country via the example of Geroge Town in Penang, Malaysia.
Note the term 'gentrification' -- affluent middle to upper class moving into a poor district, in the process displacing the poor (and often older ones), i.e. causing the poor to move out....
As the poor move out, along with them go the lifetyle and traditional cultures that lend the place its unqiue, characteristic colour that is what lure the tourists there in the first place. In their place are the richer owners who wish to make profits by catering to the tastes of the tourists. The old shops thus end up becoming run of the mill cafes, esp those with international brands like Starbucks....As the article pointed out, some that sell traditional food unique to the area began to sell Singapore chicken rice too as it is popular with tourists. But what is Singapore food doing in a uniquely Malaysian town? The result is that tourism has led to the commercialization, and consequent dilution, of the original culture in the country. Given this, it can be said that gentrification is guilty of killing the goose that lays the golden eggs when it comes to tourism. In the rush to attract more tourists and earn more revenue from them, one should not forget what draws the tourists to the spot in the first place....
Note though that had it not been for tourism, the old buildings may have been left to rot. It is the tourist interest that has sparked off a rejuvenation of the old district and given it a new lease of life. Money from investors starts to pour in as there is profits to be made.....unfortunately, the argument now is that while the facade of the old buildings has been preserved, the same cannot be said of what's happening INSIDE these buildings, i.e. the people and the traditions they practise....(see previous para)
The arrival of the hordes of tourists also interfere with the lives of the remaining locals....the prying eyes of the tourists taking selfies which intrudes into the privacy of the locals....recall also recent reports of how hordes of big-spending Chinese tourists emptied the shops of goods in Hokkaido, leaving the locals with little to buy.....
Relate to qns on tourism and the 2016 'A' level AQ.
Qn: Should poorer countries develop their tourist industry when the basic needs of their own people are not being met? (Cam. 2007)
posted by Dark Shadow | 12:47 PM
<< Home