May 28, 2014:  Travel and Tourism Part 1
June 4, 2014:    Travel and Tourism Part 2

Part 1: 

Last time Beneath the Waves addressed, Manifest Destiny & Colonialism, a reminder of the basis for American exceptionalism beliefs stemming from our Pilgrim and European heritage and the reasons why the aftermath of colonialism has unleashed ethnic, racial and nationalistic upheavals.  Throughout the programs the re-occurring themes of social Darwinism, individualism and collective community, and capitalism loom above.

Today we look at the 20^th century history of “Travel and Tourism”.

From a typical and empowering early 21^st century techno perspective here is what MindBodyGreen, a travel site, says:

Travel is important because it fundamentally transforms us. This experience of waking up to the power of your own transformation fires you up to “be the change you want to see in the world,” as Gandhi puts it. “By taking a break from your daily life, unplugging from the pulls and pushes of technology and engaging in new activities in new places, you have an easier opportunity to release unwanted habits. Also, it is empowering to surround yourself with people who don't know the encyclopedia of your past. It reinforces your willingness to broaden your horizons, to get unstuck and to move in new directions. 

Part 2:

Last time Beneath the Waves addressed,

20^th century history of “Travel and Tourism” we established how modes of transportation and affordable accessibility impacted both business travel and leisure travel.  To repeat some of the reasons why, from a Western, developing country’s perspective, travel is important:

1. Provides learning and education about places and history

2. Connects us to other cultures and people

3. Expands our awareness and introduces us to greater diversity

4. Promotes patience by releasing heavy expectations of the “one right way” mentality thereby allowing life to flow more organically

5. Invites the opportunity to get lost and face one’s fears of the unknown

6. Helps you get to know yourself better: the true you is rediscovered

The threads continue – These are what we, as individuals, demand and expect from travel as a positive experience (the individual and the opposite pole of the collective community).  But as Western society capitalizes on the utilitarian interests and the new leisure class’s  self-awareness and individual gain, travel and tourism translates to big business and profits on a grand corporate level.

There are two major groups of players – those who desire the travel experience (tourists) and those who host the visitor both in developed and developing countries and communities.  Today the focus is on tourism at the international level of post-colonial places – in Australia, Bali, Vietnam and Cuba.  We’ll save a discussion on Guerneville, Hawaii and other locations for later programs.