What Does “Authentic” Tourism Really Mean?

Travelers LOVE to go off the beaten path and experience something “authentic,” which often means visiting ethnic minorities or Indigenous groups. But what do locals think about being tourist traps? Dena Takruri goes on two very different “hill tribe” experiences in Thailand – a village set up just for tourists and a homestay run by a young Karen woman in the mountains – to find out.

#Thailand #AuthenticTravel #WithMe

[ajplus]

Check out 13:00 where we follow up on how COVID-19 has impacted these hill tribe communities.

Do you think experiencing another culture when traveling can ever be truly “authentic”?

[eomguel]

This video leaves you with a bittersweet aftertaste. With the tourist industry booming in previous years, it seemed like it would be the best opportunity for many poor ethnic minorities in many countries to make a decent living. The question of how ethical it is to "exploit their cultures" has always been lingering there, but one must not forget that they are human beings as well who can adapt and are willing to change certain aspects of their culture to pursue their dreams and expectations. But with the current crisis, one can only speculate as to what the world will look like afterwards.

[FieryJuniper]

It seem most hill tribes are turning to tourism to make a living.

[raybuggy]

I think as long as you treat them like you are entering their home then you are okay. Be grateful, have manners, and be nice to them because they are human beings

[HaoQuachy]

You are so respectful. I wish more people were like you.

[helloemvee]

It sounds like tourists who seek the "authentic" experience do not want these hill tribes to "industrialize" and have a more advance life through better "homestay" huts for guests, toilets, trashcans, booths to sell souvenirs, etc. Even if these people arent cooking on a fire anymore, the culture is within the people, food, clothes, etc., not how they choose to cook, poop, and throw out trash.

[politesociety]

I feel like it's important that the shops here are locally owned. Last time I went to Bali almost all of the shops were owned by foreigners. Tourism feels less awful when the money coming in is improving people's quality of life.

[TheQueenDaddy]

Appropriating is when you take something and try to reclaim/rename something, Furthermore when you take something without permission. So when taking that picture and saying is this appropriating is the wrong word. Either way Very well shot and good host.

[stepahead]

Thank you for putting words to this. I've learned alot.

Reminds me of, "History is HIS-story" when people are presumptuous enough to decide for others what is and isn't authentic. If anything what tourist experience is the 'new authentic'. The irony is when tourists would rather the people they travel to see perform their version of "authentic" more than what may be real now. These sort of issues are also raised within the tourism efforts of certain villages and ethnic minority groups in China. It's relatable.

[ChefL]

"Authentic" is a truly loaded word. Every traveler has a different level of tolerance for straying outside one's own cultural comfort zone. The woman weaving made such an important point when she said "We're just normal human beings." Normal human beings work and make a living in those places, and to call them "human zoos" only reflects on the point of view of the observer. Traveling with the mindset that you're going to meet other human beings who have figured out how to survive in a different place, being respectful, being curious, and not judging that which is different as being bad or lesser maintains authenticity for the traveler as well as the host.

[ashleyyukikoleon]

Does your home stay host have a Patreon? I appreciate her work ethic. She’s her own boss and helps support her community. I would hate for her business to permanently shut down.

[ricebear]

Maybe there is some staging, but the staging helps them to maintain their lifestyle. And money helps them to invest in their village.

[macroxela]

I always found it strange and somewhat insulting when others worried about 'appropriating' my culture. Many affluent Westerners might find it offensive to wear neck rings or put on a sombrero and shake some maracas or wear a kimono but for those of us who belong in minorities, we are actually happy (or neutral at worst) others are accepting and taking our culture. If tourists/foreigners didn't appropriate our customs & traditions they would die out in the modern world. But with foreigners they get a second life. And whenever they criticize us for this or tell us it is oppressive we tell them, 'Who are you to oppress our right to keep our customs & traditions from dying out? Who are you to tell us what to do with our culture and who we should give permission to use our culture?' If you don't want to appropriate our culture that's fine but you shouldn't shame others to do the same.

[mmps]

This gave me so much to think about regarding travel. Compelling and nuanced. Keep telling stories like this Dena, you're amazing!

[danielvasquez]

Great content!! Hopefully there’s more to come!

[atticusrumi]

I get that tourism is their livelihood but it still feels very weird. Like this is some wealth imbalance shit. It feels very imperialistic but maybe that's just my guilt, living on the "other" side? Anyway, thanks for this series. Being stuck at home this really lessens my wanderlust.

[darianat]

I've always been conflicted about this. I'm a foreigner living here. They seem to be happy it provides a source of income that the local wouldn't otherwise have. For example, 400 baht for that scarf is just 12 dollars, but 12 dollars goes far here! However, I wish those who didn't want to partake had better alternatives to make a stable living.

[ronkirk]

Any foreign travel broadens your worldview and boosts your empathy toward other peoples.

[gia]

Kinda similar to my family’s area in south Italy. That’s often some of the only business to at you can open is tourism and souvenir shops, but then it lets the younger people learn the traditions like hand making pasta and textiles etc and then also staying at or shopping in the huts we have called trulli

[toulonmiah]

She is the only reason I watch aj+ because of dena and real stories and real issue.