Answer to Question #138749 in English for Londiwe

Question

What are the advantages and disadvantages of slam tourism

Answer 1

Advantages of slum tourism

The poorest areas and regions are also exposed to development and innovation. Slum tours can showcase the cultural and economic energies of a neighbourhood. They improve our ways of understanding poverty amongst ourselves and the world at large. Nonetheless, slum tourism plays a vital role in improving the lives of residents. A spotlight also on the poorly developed regions might push the government to initiate some developments quickly to improve the conditions of that region.

Another benefit of slum tourism is that the income generated through meals, purchase of art or souvenirs from this sector is recycled to the hands of the local people. This money is later used to initiate the local charities that play a vital role in improving the living standards.

Disadvantages of slum tourism

           Most slum tours mistreat people; they treat them like animals in a zoo. You stare at them from a distance, but you cannot get that closer to them. Visitors are not interested in any form of meaningful interaction; they are only interested in a photo op, hence making contact with the locals to be minimum.

Another challenge facing slum tourism is that people feel degraded by being stared at doing mundane things such as washing, cleaning up, preparing food. They like their privacy rights have been violated. Nonetheless, slum tourism may also tarnish the image of a country.