AAn opinion piece that asks: Have you really thought about what you are doing as a tourist?

We fly in, and we fly out with our cameras and our brand new trekking boots and cultural prejudices. Even if we come for a while - even if we eat in traditional restaurants and mingle with the locals and try to integrate - we are still creating an impact.

We don't have any idea of how every single comment or action that we make is analysed, interpreted, and taken to represent "gringos" as a whole. As an Australian, for my first months in Peru I took great umbridge at the title "gringa" - and yet now I realise that it is as much as a term of affection as it is an insult. And it is, afterall, what I am - I might not be American (which to me is the ultimate gringo, and source of the title) but I am white and western. They call each other "cholo" or "Moreno" or "chino" and its not seen as a insult as it would in our politically correct countries - and as such, gringo is another description.

Well intentioned people bring gifts to give to the poor people and this is not bad per se, but they generally give things to people that have asked. They reward bad (or begging) behaviour! Even if you give a gift to a child, and it is unsolicited, it will then teach the child that they can receive things from foreigners and that this may be the start of this kind of behaviour.

I remember a particular hike in the jungle where we encountered an old lady complaining of back ache and asking for paracetemol. Then several hundred metres further someone appeared out of the bush and said that their child was very sick and they needed paracetemol. Further along the path a young man approached and said that he had a terrible toothache - and asked for paracetemol. In years of hiking in the Andes, I have never before or after been asked for paracetomol but obviously what had occurred here was that a kindly group of tourists had doled out this wonder drug making all tourists seem to be the source of this cure. They can't have all been sick!!!

If you are wanting to help by giving - look for a reputable organisation that can give your gifts in the most appropriate way - without encouraging behaviour that demeans the people and that is also irritating to the next tourist that comes along.

by Ariana Svenson

APUS PERU Adventure Travel Specialists - Email: apusperu@westnet.com.au

© A.Svenson 2005. The design, content and photographs (except where noted) are 100% original. The majority of our treks were designed by Apus Peru.