Why Tourism Matters

This article was very interesting to read because I love traveling and exploring new cultures. One cool statistic that stood out to me was that one in every twelve workers are employed by tourism in some way. It is sad to see how some tourists treat the locals in the country they are visiting. In this particular reading Gmelch addresses Barbados as the country affected. Local students would be mistaken for tourists and treated differently. Tourists give off an heir sometimes when on vacation. It is if they are the prima donnas of the place and everyone owes them something. Don't get me wrong, if I was to pay $3,000 for an island vacation, I would expect great service, but I would not make the local employees feel as if they are less than me. Each person shares the common attribute of being a human and we all deserve the same respect. Life is very precious and we should respect each person for who they are, even if you are different than someone else, that doesn't give you the right to judge, especially when you have your own flaws. Tourism is a very important aspect to have for a country, especially island countries. Tourists though should respect the culture they are becoming a part of on their vacation and engage with local people they meet. People can learn a lot by just carrying on a simple conversation.