Luxury and the Pantanal – Say What?

           In her presentation Christina taught us a lot about tourism in the Pantanal, and a lot of people have also brought up the topic of tourism in their blog posts. In this post I was reminded again of what tourism means to the Pantanal after reading an article on the site How to Spend It, owned by the popular British publication, The Financial Times.

            The article, “Flooded with Life”, is a typical essay discussing the author’s trip to the Pantanal, how it’s a wonderfully exotic place to visit full of creatures and plants and the like, how it is in essence, literally “flooded with life”. What struck me particularly about the article was the audience for which it was intended and the way the author, Lucia Van Der Post, paints the Pantanal. As a wilderness lover, she writes quite well, illustrating the beauty of the region. However she also describes how “your very own pilot and small plane will fly you into the fazenda of your choice” and how it’s a great deviation from the norm for the “African safari-goer”, those with enough money to make going to safari in Africa part of the routine. Furthermore, it’s important to note that How to Spend It appears to be catered to upper-class readers, suggesting those with money to spend how to spend it.

            All this struck me because until now I didn’t fully realize how trips to the Pantanal are something really only those with money and privilege are able to do. While travel is in general costly anywhere, travelling so far and to such an exotic place is especially taxing on the pocketbook. Additionally, I realized how much of an opportunity we’ve been graced with by participating in this seminar. Because of this class, regardless of our own socio-economic backgrounds, we have been given the opportunity to travel to a place that will only be seen by foreigners with money and means. It’s going to be a great trip, and as I learn more, I’m even more grateful for the opportunity to embark on this grand, ecological adventure!

           

http://howtospendit.ft.com/adventure/5352-flooded-with-life

-Sarah