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Tourism is considered as one of the most important sources of economic benefit
to a country.Although it is not evident, because in recent times large numbers of people have come to Guatemala to enjoy the beauty and the colors of the "Land of Eternal Spring"..Local people encounter this demand in the form of profit generation. People argue that tourism in Guatemala has brought wealth and well being for the majority of the local people, but some are starting to notice the negative sides. Tourism is also known for creating job opportunities and promoting social relations, and especially helps better understanding between nations. However, there is "a growing body of empirical evidence that the so called 'benefits' of tourism are often greatly outweighed by the substantial long term social and environmental costs incurred" (Mercer, 14). In the case of Guatemala, many of tourism's economic and social benefits that are thought to be helpful for the country, are actually unreal ideals, and that instead of helping Guatemala they are damaging both the economic well being and many of its social values.
Looking first to the supposed economic benefits of tourism in Guatemala, tourist
expenditures create a huge variety of sources of income. According to a 18 visitor
study (Tourism in Guatemala, 18), most of the people that visit Guatemala are
interested in seeing cultural and natural landscapes, such as ancient Mayan ruins. Even
though these are the most popular places to visit, some tourists are interested in
seeking new adventures and looking for some entertainment. Tourists contribute mostly to the local economy by spending money on transportation, accommodation, food, entertainment and souvenirs. Results from this same study show that in the period between December15 to February 000 more than 0% of tourists stayed in hotels or similar accommodations. This study also shows that almost 60% of tourists expenditure was on hotels, restaurants, and bars, and just 0% was on transport, tours and entertainment (Tourism in Guatemala, 18). This study suggests that tourists to Guatemala are helping to create jobs based on making them feel welcome while at the same time they are helping to put cash into the economy by paying directly for services.
On the other hand, there are many down sides to tourism. Guatemala does not have the money to own and maintain businesses such as large airline companies or tourist hotels. These businesses are owned by other countries such as the United States and Mexico or multinational corporations. As a result, most of the money from travel and accommodations, which constitute the biggest part of tourists expenses goes directly to companies from other countries. According to Gustavo Segura ("Turismo en Guatemala El reto de la Competitivadad", other countries receive slightly less than 50% of all tourist expenditures, which leaves Guatemala's companies with almost the same profit. It is likely that these disproportionate shares of control of the tourist dollar will have spin off effects on the social fabric. As Segura claims, the crucial factor in determining the level of negative social impacts is the degree to which local participation in the ownership and control of the industry is undermined (Segura 18). Tourism in Guatemala appears to have provided significant economic benefit to people from other countries rather than to the local people. This may well have a negative impact on the social fabric.
Another thing that is viewed as an economic benefit of tourism is the creation of jobs. However according Segura, many important jobs such as managerial or supervisory positions are filled with many people from other countries, leaving Guatemalans with only the lesser paying jobs.Again, there is a clear difference between local and non-local
participation in the economic benefits of tourism in terms of who does what
job. Another unintended negative effect in tourism is that tourism employment is seen as easy money compared to traditional Guatemalan's occupations such as agriculture, foresting, and fishing. These jobs are without a doubt an important to Guatemala's. Guatemalans appear mainly to receive money or economic benefits by working in under paid jobs while the country's labor force is taken away from other important areas of economic activity at the same time.
Turning to the supposed social benefits of tourism, there are also some problems
beneath the surface ideals. In order to take advantage of any money tourists are willing to spend, Guatemalans try to attract tourists with their own enterprises. But tourists have their own set of images about the culture before they even set foot in the country, and when they arrive they seek to affirm these images. Tourists usually only want to see what is pleasant and enjoyable, whether or not they are experiencing truly authentic
features of a society. This mindset explains the popularity of the traditional ancient Mayan ruins and the colonial places with special handicrafts. The cost in cultural terms is borne out further by another reality lying behind the ideal that tourism benefits society. Tourism is claimed to draw different cultures together. However, what often results from this mixing of different cultures of first and third world populations is cultural envy (Mrida,15).With increased exposure to the lifestyles of countries to the north and south of Guatemala, local people start to emulate aspects of other cultures such as the use of drugs and the consumption of alcohol, with the expected negative results. All of
these less than ideal realities beneath a positive surface indicate that as far as the Guatemalans are concerned the social costs of tourism are too high to justify the low financial return that tourism offers to the local people.
The problems caused by tourism do not have to continue, however. Lopez writes that tourism can provide economic benefits in less socially damaging and economically more effective forms.For example, "The Real Tourism" contains a detailed discussion of an appropriate model for tourism development based on the experience of the Caribbean Islands, and in a recent discussion of the role of ecotourism in other
countries of the Pacific, John Hall concludes to neglect the social dimension
of development and peoples relationship to their environment is in opposition to the principles of sustainable development. He cites a study of ecotourism in the Caribbean Islands where development proposals served only to reinforce the power and wealth of big men at the expense of the wider indigenous community. Guatemala can perhaps avoid the reinforcement of similar existing power relations if tourist planning could be more under the control of those affected by it.
Control of Guatemala tourism industry by local people, training of local
people and advice from those outsiders working alongside in a partnership mode could bring many more benefits and fewer costs.
Bibliography
Mercer, D. Native peoples and tourism Conflict and compromise.
Oxford Butterworth-Heinemann.14.
Merida, Rafael. The cost of Tourism in Guatemala. Guatemala 15
Segura, Gustavo. "Turismo en Guatemala El reto de la Competitivadad".
http//www.incae.ac.cr/ES/clacds/investigacion/pdf/cen610filcorr.pdf
Paredes, Diego. "Travel to Guatemala".Guatemala.
http//www.guatemala.travel.com.gt/ietemenu.htm
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