Typical Jordan

Typical Jordan

maandag 31 augustus 2015

Is Jordan 'spoilt'?

Because flights have become cheaper over the years, tourism has become available for the majority of the working class. This led to an increase in tourism and eventually, mass tourism. The surge of mass tourism has led to a commercialisation of many tourist destinations that where undiscovered before (T. Edensor, 2009). For some tourists, these areas are now ‘spoilt’ and they have been searching for 'unspoilt areas', which can be named the quest for authenticity (Dean MacCannell). Does Jordan share some characteristics with the ‘spoilt’ areas?

Authenticity is defined as a real presentation of local culture which is not performed.
Staged authenticity, however, can be defined as engineered tourist experiences. Daniel Boorstin explains mass tourism as the experience of the ‘pseudoevent’, ‘an event that gives the illusion that it is ‘real’ but is actually a staged production put on for the benefit of tourists. When the good and services are turned into something purchasable, it can be defined as commodification. Mass tourism is also identified by the creation of cheaper facilities around the touristic sights. More specifically, this can be chains such as McDonalds (T. Edensor, 2009).

All of these characteristics of ‘spoilt’ areas are present in Jordan. Staged authenticity is mostly present in Petra. Many locals are walking around dressed as Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean (although they meant to look like locals from the first centuries BC and AD) selling camel rides, to give the tourists an authentic experience. However, the camel rides that are sold by the Jack Sparrow’s are examples of commodification. In addition, souvenir shops that act like the souvenirs are originally crafted, although they are made in facturies, are also commodified. The creation of cheaper facilities is little, fortunately.

Although staged authenticity is present in Jordan, I only experienced it in Petra, which is the most touristic sight. The rest of the country is, in my opinion, still authentic and not spoilt!

References:
Edensor, T. (2009) Tourism, Elsevier.
Williams, S. (1998). Tourism geography. Psychology Press.


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