Things I’ve Learned: I Have Travel Morals
I suppose Jamaica was the first truly poor country I’d ever visited. And while I wasn’t disgusted by the poverty, I was disgusted. I was disgusted by myself and I was disgusted by those traveling with me. I was disgusted by everyone I’ve ever know that’s ever visited a Caribbean country either via cruise ship or while visiting an all-inclusive resort.
The best thing I got out of my very first cruise ship excursion was the eye-opening experience of driving (well, being driven on) the road from Falmouth to Runaway Bay, where upon turning a corner the view changes from metal and plywood shacks to a view of a giant red-roofed, white-walled palace of a resort. You know, the kind of resort that everyone tells you to visit in Jamaica while also warning you to never leave the property. Because gods forbid resort-goers experience any part of actual Jamaica.
And as I observed, these red-roofed, white-walled palaces are surrounded by the homes of the people who likely work in said resorts, but live in cement block structures with hand pump wells. I will never understand how this sort of disparity is ok with the world as a whole. I’m not ok with it—and I’m part of it. I can’t be the first or only person to have had this thought while being cozily shuttled from port to ship-sponsored-excursion. Can I?
Oh and speaking of the cruise port–the entire thing was a completely fake structure. The ‘Port of Falmouth’ looks absolutely nothing like the actual island. And many, many people on that ship simply got off, walked around the port area, and got back on the ship. That is not how I ever intend to travel. It makes me crazy. Clearly.
I love Disney World. And I’m ok with things being Disney-like when I’m in actual Disney World. But when Disney leaks out into the rest of the world, it’s a scary thing. And that’s how so many people see the world—fake Jamaica. Resort Jamaica. Built-by-Royal-Caribbean Jamaica. The entire port area in ‘historic’ Falmouth is less than six months old—in fact, it’s not even entirely finished yet, but there are Bulova outlet stores and fifteen different gemstone shops and red green and gold painted shacks so new that if you stand too closely, you too might end up freshly painted in red, green, and gold.
And worse, these same people complain about how pushy the locals are. How they are so desperately trying to sell them beads, braid their hair, get them high. Have you seen where they live? You’d try to make a living for your family, too. I promise.
I don’t know what the answer to this is, and I’m positive I’m not the first person to come to this realization. I’m also positive that I’m not the only person to be torn about what to do. On the one hand, visiting countries like this brings in much-needed money–in theory. However, I did not see local people living any better as a result of the money I paid to Royal Caribbean. So where’s the money going? And where should my money go? And how can I get it there in a socially responsible manner?
What are your thoughts on cruise–or any sort of ‘luxury’–travel to less-than-developed countries. How can one be a responsible traveler? Or is that an impossible task? I’m open to any and all suggestions!
I don’t know how this makes me look, but I have very little interest in less then developed countries, pretty much for this reason. Definitely the Caribbean and Mexico in general hold no interest to me.
But I had to comment, because this post reminded me of an episode of THE OFFICE from a while back where Michael goes on vacation to an all-inclusive resort in Jamaica and comes back to the US and wants everyone to live like they do on the island (or so he thinks they do) and the rest of the office tries to tell him that like the rest of the country is really poor but he has no idea because he never left the resort.
I think it makes you look like a person that knows what she wants when she travels. Nothing wrong with that.
I didn’t know how I’d react–now I do. Though to be fair, I thought Mexico–or at least the part between Playa and Tulum–looked pretty darn civilized. Things were being built, sidewalks were being installed. I’d DEFINITELY go back to Mexico.
And that story about the office is SO FUNNY! I read this comment on a crowded bus (in actual Disney World, ironically) and laughed out loud! Thanks for sharing!!!
I’m very torn about this as well. I booked my first cruise and it stops in Ocho Rios. At first glance I wanted to explore the island, eat authentic jerky cooked on the side of a road by a “real” Jamaican woman, take photos of the local children, shop in an open-air market and support the locals- until I read the reviews about the reality of the situation.
The reality is: I’ll probably feel unsafe. I’m a blonde, blue-eyed American, how will I defend myself if in a bad situation? Will giving a dollar or two to someone help them, will that cause mass hysteria? Will I really enjoy shopping/eating while knowing most people likely have nothing?
I probably look to them like I have alot of money ( I don’t). I probably look as if my life is so care-free ( It’s not). And I will probably look like I don’t care that they live in such poverty ( I do). So I’ll probably live on the safe side, and swim with the dolphins and drink at Margaritaville before I head back to the ship: and it will always bother me that I never saw true Jamaica…..
See–you just accurately described kind of how I feel. I don’t WANT to feel uncomfortable (or unsafe) but I also don’t want to travel around in a bubble of Americanized, sanitized safety either. I think it makes it worse that I’m a woman traveling alone. If I was with even one other person, I think I’d feel more comfortable going just about anywhere. But then there are solo female travelers that DO go wherever they please. And are fine with it. But am I that kind of person? I don’t know. Somehow I doubt it. Sadly.