Traveling the world to see what it has to offer might be the greatest privilege someone can have. Many times the lucky travelers get to visit sacred places and might not know how to take full advantage of their experience. Although the tourist is in charge of making the best of their time, I believe their experience can also rely on how well a place is being managed. The management at places, especially ones popular with tourists, have the responsibility to make the place as attractive and amusing as possible. However, it is also complicated for management to control their cultural importance of places and try to make it appealing for the tourists.
These are tourists taking in the scenery and photographing what they see.
Managing sites to maintain their beauty and managing the touristic side of the business is challenging when the site is of a higher importance to the people of the city than for those visiting. For example, the beautiful city of Rio de Janeiro- the city is full of attractions and without a doubt one of their most popular tourist attractions is the statue of Christ the Redeemer. This is a particularly difficult for the people of Rio de Janeiro to refer to as a tourist “hot spot” because for them it represents their catholic beliefs. Whereas many of the people who had the joy to visit the statue appreciated the stature from an architectural point; its height and physical beauty.
The statue of Christ the Redeemer.
Another effect of tourism in Rio de Janeiro is the perspective men have of the women of the city. Although the tourists mean no harm to the women, many time men and women go to Brazil with the expectation of seeing sexy women walking around half naked. These expectations can be humiliating and dehumanizing to the women of Rio de Janeiro because although that isn’t what they look like they’re forced to put up a show for the pleasure of the tourists. This parading of women is most common in Carnival, an extravagant parade through the streets of Rio. Tourists travel to countries with expectations of what the people and city will be like and because the city can really use the money, they have no choice but to make those expectations a reality.
This is one of the hundreds of floats roaming the streets of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
A “typical” Brazilian women in costume for the Carnival.
Unfortunately for many people visiting Rio de Janeiro, they miss out on some of the most authentic things Brazil has to offer because they’re too caught up on having an experience that many others come to have- the party, the site seeing, etc. Brazil’s culture is more than just the Carnival and the naked women, they also have a lot of artistic aspects to them, such as the famous Samba and Choro music. This music is played in the streets of Rio and in the popular Carnival but isn’t able to capture as many people because there is too many other elements- women, nudity, glitter, dancing, excitement!
Samba dancer.
Tourism can be beneficial to many cities and countries around the world and there is nothing wrong with that. The only thing is that the management of tourism in certain places needs to draw a line to the exploitation of the city and its people. Instead of making money and making the tourists happy, many places need to turn their focus on staying true to their culture and not allow the tourist define what their city should be like.
A typical Brazilian women in traditional clothing.
Heritage Watch F13 
I’ve seen the statue of Christ the Redeemer in pictures and videos many time but I never knew that it was in Rio de Janiero
Rio de Janeiro is always been one of the places i wish to visit, specially because the statue of the Christ is always present in movies
I like your argument but it seems as though Rio De Janeiro advertises their city as a place of fascination and festivities. If the people feel like they are being dehumanized isn’t more of the advertisements fault rather than the tourists? Since the tourists are solely going there for what they were promised.
The traditional Brazilian women clothing is very similar almost identical to the traditional Nigerian clothing. In some parts of Brazil they even speak the same language as Nigeria (Yoruba language) . Nice post.
I definitely want to visit Brazil.
The exploitation of indigenous women in many countries is shocking.
I think that’s its cool that you expressed that because of tourism we forget or are shadowed away from the actual authentic culture. This is actually very true as you explained with Rio and the partying.
I think you made a vital point when you mentioned how often times tourists miss the authenticity of such a place. They get too caught up in over-glamorized “fascination” of the place.
Brazil is such a beautiful country and it also treasures the sport football. Since your blog discussed its tourist attraction, do you think that the upcoming World Cup will have a large impact on certain tourist sites in Rio de Janeiro?
I agree that with tourism it is difficult to see things that are truly authentic because of how easy it is to be distracted by something that may not actually be part of the areas culture or heritage, but just done to attract tourists and money.
Are the women doing it because they feel forced to put on a show or to make money because them putting on a show is expected? Even if the tourists expect it, doesn’t mean they are forced unless the tourists take it into their own hands. Then again, I don’t know what is going through the minds of the Brazilian women.
My Friend went to Rio for World Youth Day but he didn’t tell us this.
I do agree that tourism can lead to exploitation of a culture and its heritage, but sometimes the only source of income is through tourists and many might feel the need to give the tourists what they expect in order to make their living, great post!