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1 ATH-315 Final Project: Tourism in Colombia Arianna Reiley
2 I. Approach: Country Overview and Rationale: Select a Country: Begin by choosing a country in South America. Consider its cultural richness, historical significance, and tourism potential. Rationale: Explain why this particular country was chosen. Factors may include cultural diversity, historical narratives, or untapped tourism potential. Addressing Historical Issues: Anthropological Theory: Utilize anthropological theories to address past historical issues or negative press. This might involve employing cultural relativism or historical particularism to present a nuanced view of the country's history. Ethical Highlighting: Discuss strategies to ethically highlight histories of resistance and domination. This involves sensitivity, accuracy, and a balanced narrative that respects diverse cultural perspectives. Research Methodology: Research Track: Choose a specific research method tailored to the country's context. Justify its suitability based on the nature of the project and cultural nuances. Logistics and Planning: Explain how this research method will inform logistical planning, such as infrastructure development, cultural preservation, and community involvement. Theoretical Perspectives:
3 Anthropological Theories: Select Western or non-Western anthropological perspectives to shape the proposal. Consider how these perspectives illuminate or obscure the diverse cultural identities within the country. Logistics and Planning: Using environmental sustainability as our guiding principle will change the way we approach infrastructure needs for tourism in Colombia. There are various theoretical outlooks within anthropology that can aid in creating a positive relationship between the environment, culture, and tourism, one such theory being ecological anthropology, or the study of the relationship between humans and their environment. Ecological anthropology affirms the idea that the ongoing contact humans have with their environment significantly impacts their social, economic, cultural, and political ways of life (“Ecological Anthropology,” 2017). By combining ecological anthropology theories with environmental sustainability strategies, we can prioritize environmentally friendly infrastructure, which will in turn have effects on the relationship between Colombia's population and their environment. Environmental anthropology provides us with a holistic understanding of how the environment and culture interact and influence each other. It also combines multiple disciplines like cultural studies, environmental science, and socioeconomics, making it an effective tool when it comes to collaborating with multiple parties that may have varied interests. Anthropology has also been a helpful tool when addressing the 'disruptive connotations of infrastructure' by focusing on management, maintenance, and positive human intervention with the environment (Rippa, 2023). By applying the principles of environmental sustainability and ecological anthropology to our tourism proposal, we can provide a framework that is sensitive to the environment while also being culturally sensitive.
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4 It’s also important to consider potential social, cultural, and environmental impacts that tourism will have on Colombia, Cultural Identity Impact: There are various global, historical, and social factors that influence the diverse cultural identities within Colombia. Two external factors that have largely shaped the culture of Colombia are Spanish colonization and globalization. Aggressive implementation of language, traditions, and social structures of Spanish culture have led to an established split between indigenous culture and Colombian national identity (“Colombia: A Case Study of Archaeology and Nationalism,” 2014), which reshapes the cultural identities of its people. Contemporary globalization, or the connectedness of different parts of the world due to economic, environmental, cultural, and political change, has also created new cultural dynamics through things like art, music, and social norms. Technological advancements and modernization have allowed for the introduction of new cultural influences. Internal factors that influence cultural identities within Colombia are things like pre-colonial legacies, traditional indigenous knowledge and belief systems, and the ongoing socio-political transformations taking place. Social justice movements and cultural revival efforts play important roles when it comes to communities expressing their heritage and cultural beliefs. All of these factors combined lead to resilience and adaptation within a culture, contributing to its diversity. As anthropologists, it's our duty to recognize any potential impacts, both negative and positive, that infrastructural development might have on any cultural group. Increased tourism and investment in infrastructure can have multiple aspects beyond just the tourism industry, all of which can drastically shape and influence the dynamics of communities.
5 While the increase in tourism in Colombia can introduce economic opportunities, it can also disrupt and alter previously established socio-economic dynamics within a community. The development of tourist sites and accommodations can create jobs but can also lead to the displacement of individuals that rely on agricultural or local trades. Any such development might call for the repurposing of land that is integral to cultural practices, which can disrupt traditional practices and destroy culturally significant areas. Increased tourism in Colombia can also lead to cultural adaptation and change within communities: interactions with tourists can lead to individuals and groups altering their practices in order to meet tourist expectations or to preserve their traditions. It can also potentially lead to the growth and sharing of culture, leading to positive exposure and the enforcement of cultural relativism. All of this being said, strategic infrastructure development can also lead to communities being empowered. New economic and cultural opportunities and investments that include locals in decision making can both preserve cultural integrity as well as welcome tourism. There are many strategies that can be used to foster an inclusive and welcoming environment for diverse cultures while promoting tourism. In order to foster community engagement and participation, local communities should be involved in cultural presentations and heritage preservation initiatives. This allows for communities to showcase their culture while ensuring representation is authentic and ethical. Locals and visitors should also interact in spaces that allow for cultural exchanges and understanding. Programs that highlight Colombia's diverse history, practices, and beliefs as well as traditional storytelling, performances, and artistic demonstrations can all be ways of promoting mutual respect, awareness, and sensitivity. The preservation of cultural heritage sites and landmarks is equally important: awareness of historical and cultural significance is crucial to ethical
6 development. The diversity and beauty of Colombia's cultural groups should be represented in things like cultural centers, museums, and promotional materials. This encourages tourists to be both interested and respectful when they interact with the nation and its environment. Potential Ethical Repercussions: The surge in tourism following our proposed plan has potential ethical repercussions that need to be considered. Tourists that engage with Colombia's heritage sites and diverse culture can potentially transform their perceptions and identities. Tourism allows for authentic cultural experiences; visitors may find they have a deeper understanding and appreciation of these cultures. An integral part of an evolving worldview is valuing diversity, as well as having a sense of cross-cultural empathy. Exposure and education through tourism can lead to more of this. On the other hand, tourism has the potential to negatively impact the native people and residents in many ways. Development, while creating opportunities and facilitating tourism, has the potential to disrupt ecosystems and ways of life. Increased tourism can lead to harm of the environment as well as exploitation of cultural practices and knowledge. Additionally, socio-economic shifts caused by increased tourism can alter traditional ways of living and displace individuals, which threatens cultural continuity. All of these things need to be considered in order to create a balance between cultural preservation, the well-being of a community, and tourist experiences. There are multiple strategies that we can implement to address these ethical repercussions. First and foremost, once again, engagement with indigenous communities in any development decision-making is not only crucial but necessary. Local communities should be able to actively participate in and benefit from tourism initiatives. The environment also needs to be prioritized, and this can be done through sustainable infrastructure initiatives. Environmental assessments and eco-friendly regulations should guide
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7 development in order to preserve and protect cultural heritage sites and the environment as a whole. All of this should be done while recognizing and emphasizing cultural sensitivity; programs should highlight the significance and history of local traditions, customs, and beliefs in order to facilitate respectful engagement. Paired with the preservation of cultural heritage, we can create an environment of community pride and safeguard important cultural practices. We can foster relationships with various environmental and governmental organizations, NGOs, and community leaders in order to implement these programs. It's with these strategies and relationships that we can mitigate potential repercussions on tourists and natives alike.
8 Works Cited Ecological Anthropology. (2017, April 24). Retrieved November 27, 2023, from Anthropology website: https://anthropology.ua.edu/theory/ecological-anthropology/ Rippa, A. (2023). Infrastructure and the environment in anthropology - Alessandro Rippa, 2023. Retrieved November 27, 2023, from Social Science Information website: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/05390184231189126#:~:text=To%20understand %20the%20environment%20as,understanding%20of%20the%20natural%20world . Colombia: A Case Study of Archaeology and Nationalism. (2014). Retrieved November 27, 2023, from Harvard.edu website: https://projects.iq.harvard.edu/expose/book/colombia- case-study-archaeology-and-nationalism