India
Slumdog tours: A new travel destination in India?
Anything come to mind when you think of traveling to India? The Taj Mahal, perhaps? Wildlife sanctuaries, yoga retreats, samosa stands, beach filled coastline? How about a tour of an authentic Indian slum? That’s right, a slum. This seems to be a viable tourist option now, and gaining speed due to Oscar winning Slumdog Millionaire. You can sign up for a merry jaunt through the poorest sections of Mumbai. To take in the poverty and sorrow?
A few weeks ago, while speaking to a student from India about Slumdog Millionaire, I was told this is a new tour for travelers to put on their To-do list. And indeed it is. I was nonplussed to say the least. Times Online does its best to paint a foul picture of these areas. Travelers can pay a fee to tour through.
“But Mumbai’s controversial “slum tourism” industry, which promises fee-paying outsiders a glimpse of life inside the city’s shantytowns, is flourishing. Numbers are up, agents say, as Westerners shun the beaches of Goa and palaces of Rajasthan to experience the reality behind British film Slumdog Millionaire."
I cannot help but picture well-off tourists exclaiming to their traveling companions behind wide eyes and camera flashes how bad that section is, and oooh, look at that over there.
Part of my confliction over these tours is the goal of the tour itself. Just what is it? Is it our human tendency to slow down when passing an accident, to not want to look, but not want to look away? Does someone want to capitalize on the plight of others? Or the equally cynical view that people want to know how good they have it back home?
But perhaps, just perhaps, it’s a desire to really see the world. To feel. International travel can most definitely offer the crème de la crème of the world. It can also offer reality.
Comments
Hopefully, some percentage of the revenue generated from the so called "Slumdog Tours" will be contributed to this poverty stricken community.
India has many world heritage tourist destination for which attract travellers towards visit. But now Slumdog Millionaire brings twice more travellers towards india visit. Government should take a step on slum area's people and care them.
Slumdog Millionaire film brings a great change in indian cultural tour. It is now popular for many travelers and they wanted to know- What is slumdog? Where they live?
So therefore mumbai is now known as slumdog city in india.
I have received calls from travelers that after seeing "Slumdog Millionaire" - India will certainly be the last place they want to visit.
The names of those people that live in the Slum give me the impression that its more of a Religious persecution rather than poverty. So far those names review their religious identity - they are Muslims ! Being Muslims in a country that is 90% Hindu is certainly not a good way to go.
Its time that the government of India does something about their SLUM ! For
tourists that will fly all the way to India and see SLUM certainly need a consultation with a Psycho Therapist - they need it !
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