Some people think that cultural traditions may be destroyed when they are used as money making attractions amid at tourist. Others believes that it is the only way to save these traditions. Discuss on both sides and give your opinion.
Why some people think commercializing culture and traditions for the sake of tourism, can dilute them
It is the view of purists
Exhibiting ways or life and customs to generate revenues from alien tourists can cause irreversible damage since
it is possible that many authentic customs may be compromised to make them more comprehensible for aliens - like abandoning traditional clothing, musical instruments and replacing them with modern ones
This could precipitate / result in the youth adopting those methods and tools
Everything becomes commercialized and those engaged in demonstrating cultural aspects may start working only for money and lose the passion to preserve the traditions
Why some people believe that this is the only way to prevent cultures from dying out
In the concurrent times, only something that is visible can be guaranteed perpetuation, especially when cultures of rich countries are overwhelming the whole world.
This will encourage youth to follow their native ways of life with more enthusiasm
This is a good way of keeping the indigenous art and culture alive as those engaged in these undertakings will be able to earn money.
The great public discourse of contemporary times is aligned with the topic of use of indigenous customs to earn revenues from alien tourists. While some feel that this could help preserve the local ways of life, others fear that this might cause irreversible damage.
The lobby of purists is up in arms against this arrangement as they resent the use of traditions as a part of tourist attraction. They profess that this might result in distortion of cultural practices by virtue of making them lose their originality since certain aspects of local beliefs make the things more attractive and comprehensible for the audience. To exemplify, it has been observed that quite often the musical instruments and the attire of folk singers are switched to western and modern alternatives, as has happened in the case of folk music of Punjab where the performers are seen playing guitars while wearing a tuxedo.
Nonetheless, the former view can be justifiably challenged by citing certain facts about the concurrent conditions of a highly globalized world that entails visibility, especially when dominant cultures are overwhelming the global community. Therefore, this method is the need of the hour: demonstrating traditional rituals and beliefs in lieu of revenues does not only help sustain the novelty value of such customs and encourage foreigners to know more about them but also allow the practitioners to earn a livelihood for their subsistence. Moreover, this is considered to be an effortless method of persuading the youth to return to their roots and perpetuate their cultural values.
In hindsight, the vexation of critics is unfounded and their fears lack substance since it is not possible to preserve and promote traditional values and lifestyles endemic to a society without making them conspicuous to the global community.
