A. One passage that I found extremely interesting was the stoning of tourists clueless to the religious modesty of the Turkish Muslims. This is a perfect example of why it is important to understand the culture of your travel destinations before you embark on your journey so you can have some grasp on what is acceptable and what is not. By researching Turkey and finding out that the majority of the population is Muslim, tourists should already have some grasp on the values of that religion to conclude that dressing modestly when walking though town is probably a given. With that said, however, the lack of cultural adaption does not permit stoning. The stoning of the tourists is a completely radical and unjust action that I can not imagine went over very well with the home governments of the tourists. The act of stoning by the Turks showcases the type of radical behavior that can occur when traditional customs and values are suddenly threatened by the flux of new coming tourist invaders.
It’s also very interesting that the Turks attempted to post warning signs but the language barrier prohibited both sides from being able to effectively communicate. If the Turks had a better fluency on the language of the tourists and the tourists better understood the culture of Turkish residents, the whole issue of the stoning would most likely not have been an issue as tourists would have simply thrown on some clothes over their bathings suits when walking through town on the way home from the beach.
It’s further fascinating that Turkey evolved from a place that stones bikini clad tourist to a vacation destination where breasts, bikinis and scantily clothed bodies became “no problem.” This suggests just how desperate the governments of developing countries are: governments and those in the business sector are willing to sacrifice on cultural values to boost their nation’s economy through tourism and all that accompanies it. I think that this article showcases the kinds of sacrifices countries have to make to be able to compete in the global economy.
B. The interaction of culture and economics can not only be seen in the example of Turkey adapting its customs in exchange for tourism revenues, but it is also showcased in that fact that tourists were drawn the ruins and shrines in Turkey that residents did not consider significant. The text states: “. . . the ruins had been there as long as anyone could remember and hardly merited exploring in the baking heat of high summer.” However, to the tourists that flocked to Turkey, it is clear that they have significant cultural and historical appeal. This example is at the heart of why it is that people travel (or at least one of many reasons): to see/experience a culture or event/location that one could not do in one’s place of residence. For instance, many tourists flocked to Turkey for the beaches and for the physical landmarks. However, many tourists also flock to MI and places like Maine in the fall to experience the changing colors of the leaves, a seasonal occurrence that we may not appreciate because (for those of us who have lived in MI our entire lives) it a natural and expected occurrence.
Another example of culture interacting with economics is how the Pomegranate families adapted to take advantage of the tourism flux. The text states: “So some Pomegranate families were prompted to clear spare rooms and offer them to the latest arrivals as pansiyon accommodation. The more enterprising among them even dared, having heard the practice was acceptable, to charge a few lira at the end of the visitors’ stay.” It’s interesting that initially, those in Pomegranate did not even consider charging the visitors for the board. It just showcases how differently hospitality endues throughout varying cultures. It is further significant that the residents adopted new cultural practices to find economic gain in tourism.
C. In Scotland, Edinburgh is the leading city for tourism. It features Edinburgh Castle, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Linlithgow Palace, Rossyln Chapel as well as a number of other surrounding castles. In addition, the towns of the city are a beautiful mix of both modern and traditional appeal. The Highlands and the Isle of Skye also attract many travelers to Scotland as it is picturesque scenery that separates the Western Highlands from the Eastern Highlands. Further west is the popular Eilean Donan Castle and the Isle of Skye. Furthermore, one can travel to Mallaig from Fort William on the train and experience the same scenery that was featured in the Harry Potter movies during the Hogwarts Express scenes of the characters journey to Hogwarts by rail. Tourists are drawn to these locations because of the natural beauty of the landscape and the historical significance and utter beauty of the castles. I know I for one am incredibly excited to visit Linlithgow Palace because Mary Queen of Scots was born there; I am fascinated by her life as well as her connection to Tudor England. Harry Potter has also become a marked staple of our generation interestingly enough, and thus it makes sense that avid Harry Potter fans would want to “ride on the same tracks as the Hogwarts Express” and experience the same beauty that they witnessed in the movies.
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