A collapse of the tourism ecosystem and what happens now

• bey0ndM@gz!ne
• February 1, 2021
• Default, Travel
• 0 Comments

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As the world faces its largest humanitarian crisis and each country battles with the pandemic, a certain sect of people, among many, have been badly affected …
Countries all over the world have sealed their borders to tourism, one of the biggest industries that is now but a faint memory…
As a travel photographer for the past eight years, I have snapshots of individuals across the globe, who depended on tourism to earn their living. Mulling over these image, I have often thought to myself, what happens to them now?

THE CAMEL FAIR IN INDIA

recall the camel fair in India, a large festival where thousands of tourists come to indulge in the rich Indian culture, dancers, musicians entertainment, for a nominal amount.

As a result of the pandemic, this annual trade fair was cancelled and little tribal girls who act as models for photographers and as dancers in five star resorts to entertain guests have been left to fend for themselves, with no help. Moreover, camel herders who depend on the event were left with nothing to look forward to.

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THE SPIRITUAL HOSPITALITY OF VARANASI

Varanasi is not only the spiritual capital of India, but one of the top tourist destinations. The thousands of small, cosy guest and boarding houses were used by tourists who spent months in this city, unveiling its mystery. Tour guides and boat men who ferried these curious tourists from one end of the River Ganga to the other, now left jobless.

Little children selling diyas and candles to devotees, women selling bindis and bangles to passing tourists relied on this income to bring the bread home.

On one of my trips, I came across a lady named Sunita on the banks of River Ganga, selling her wares. She was a victim of an acid attack, abused and abandoned by her husband and a single mother to her nine-year-old daughter. Tourists were her only source of income.

THE RICKSHAW PULLERS OF AMRITSAR

The blessed city of Amritsar, home to the iconic golden temple, used to have hundreds of thousands of devotees visit from all over the world. As the country faced a lockdown, temples were forced to shut their doors to devotees and the daily income. Of the many affected, the gleeful old men and rickshaw pullers who ferried these tourists everyday vanished in a matter of minutes.

As I look back, I cannot help but wonder…
what happens to them now?

Through my travels, I have experienced so much beauty but have come to the realisation that struggle exists in every corner. What happens to these individuals? What happens to their story?
As we enter 2021, I hope there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and the new year is kinder to them.

By Sonali Devnani

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