Tribal Tour Experiences offered to Tourists

Travel is often a quest for the new. A new city to explore, a new taste to discover, a new panorama to gaze at. Sometimes, however, it is the old, even the ancient, not the new, that lures us. Not so long ago, that usually meant visiting stone monuments left behind by a long-vanished civilization.

An Experience Extraordinaire

Increasingly, however, we are seeking something much more exciting – encounters with ancient cultures that have somehow managed to survive in the modern world.

“Tribal tourism”, as it has been dubbed, is on the rise. From Papua New Guinea to Morocco, Kenya to Indonesia, tourists are increasingly drawn to the idea of visiting First Nations peoples, cultures whose way of life is entirely different from our own.

Done ethically, tribal tourism can be a huge boost to First Nations, helping them to maintain their culture while bringing important economic benefits. Done badly, it can be a disaster.

Take the Jarawa people of the Andaman Islands off India, who had little contact with the outside world until the late 1990s. In the decades since, outsiders have introduced alcohol and marijuana, stolen the animals on which the Jarawa rely for survival, and inadvertently caused two outbreaks of measles, a disease which can be fatal among First Nations.

Since 2011, following reports of “human safaris” in Jarawa territory, with locals being forced to dance in exchange for food, Survival International has been leading a tourist boycott of the Andaman Islands.

“A way of life isn’t a commodity,” says Sophie Grigi, a senior co-ordinator at Survival International, cautioning that tribal tourism should be undertaken with “caution and respect”.

“The nomads agree to come with us, never for any more than two weeks in any given year, and continue to exist in their ordinary lifestyle. We do not create any dependency,” Badyari says.

Intrepid Travel takes a similar approach. For its newly launched Siberian itinerary, which includes a visit with the nomadic Yamal people, Intrepid worked closely with the Yamal.

“Where we are visiting ethnic minorities, we look to work with indigenous-owned businesses,” says Tara Kennaway, Intrepid’s regional product manager. “If these are not yet in existence, we will try to work with individuals who are keen to learn more about working in tourism. This could be drivers, interpreters, locals who might cook for us, or guide us on walks.”

Kennaway says that responsible travel is about respecting an authentic lifestyle, rather than putting on performances.

“We show an interest in the simple things: daily routine, everyday foods, where people shop, how families and friends spend their time, rather than elements of culture that might be “put on” for tourists like performances or costumes. We want locals to know that their everyday life and culture is important and has value.”

Tribes constitute an important cultural component of Indian Civilization. They are known for their unique style of living and cultural logistics. They are famously known as proud beholders of expressive cultures and identities. India as a nation has shown resilience towards their ecological niche and mannerism, yet over the time, with the advent of processes like globalization and industrialization, they have been exposed to the forces of socio-cultural changes of political economy. The association of expressive culture with tribal communities has been a persistent feature. Since always, these expressive means through their art forms, music, folklore, handicrafts has been their tool of communication as well as identity while interacting within themselves or with the non-tribal world outside. Tribes are now in greater cognition of their culture and their aesthetic products. They are better exposed to emerging market places and are looking forward to their acknowledgement, rights and remuneration of their products. It is in the best interests of the tribal groups that they are given absolute rights and control of the entire marketing process. Appropriation of indigenous rights over their cultural expression is the current need of the hour being called by activists, researchers and state agencies. The acknowledgement of their expressive art and other mediums implicate them with distinct identity and has the potential of providing them supportive income.

DOS AND DON'TS WHEN INTERACTING

 

DO your research. There is a lot of information available about First Nations that are being exploited, such as the Jarawa of the Andaman islands or the people of the Omo Valley. Do a quick internet search to check that your dream destination isn’t part of the problem.

  • DO choose the right operator. Companies with a commitment to responsible tourism will include this information prominently on their websites.
  • DON’T be afraid to ask questions. Ask your tour company how they arrange their tours, and what’s in it for the locals.
  • DO learn a few words of the local language. It’s a demonstration of respect, if nothing else.
  • DO have the right attitude. Look on it as a cultural encounter, rather than just another photo opportunity.

Tribal tourism is visiting a place in order to see or meet the indigenous people who live there. “Ethno-tourism” and “ethnic tourism” are sometimes used to describe the same thing. As the name implies, this does not refer to an expedition for research, but a trip for recreational and learning purposes.

Tribal tourism is a showcase of tribal life, art, culture and heritage. This is an endeavor to enable interaction between the tourists and the local residents for an enriching experience. Indigenous tourist attractions include visiting tribal villages, nature-based tours, fairs and festivals or events.

The tribal habitats always evince great interest to explore the roots of a multicultural and multilingual India, where unity in diversity is the essence of national spirit. The tribes in India are the pro-environmental communities who strive to protect rivers, lands and forests that are the sources of their livelihood. The congruity that exists between tribal and nature helps making tribal habitats full of exotic bio-diversities.

The Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats of peninsular India are home to several tribes, Rajasthan and Gujarat present a way of life that is colourful in the arid environs, while in South India, the skilful craftsmanship of Todas of Nilgiri Hills fascinates many. Their pastoral way of life clearly brings out the beauty in simplicity. In Central India, in the picturesque Jharkhand, the Santhals, Mundas, Oraons and the tribals of Bastar- Gonds, Kolams along with many present a glorious lore.

The Bondos of Orissa and the cohabitation of Kondh, Bagatha, Kotia, Poroja, Gadaba, Savara, Konda Dora and others characterize the unique life in the Andhra-Orissa region. Again, the tribes of Himalayan and North-Eastern states of India are known for their traditional songs and dances, their colourful handmade clothing and intricately woven bamboo handicrafts. Tourism in these areas has been a flourishing enterprise for many years.

FAQ

Some Common Questions before proceeding for a Tribal Tour

This is a dangerous idea. It can be extremely patronizing to assume anyone needs your help. But if tribal peoples do need supplies, you’re probably better off working with or donating to an aid organization – getting an irregular supply of randomly chosen items does no long-term good to these communities.

You need to ask yourself if you actually want to be as effective as possible, or if this is an exercise in making yourself feel magnanimous.

There are ways to have a memorable, enriching interaction with indigenous groups, but you can’t expect to just show up, shove a camera in their faces and drive away again.

Instead, look for depth in your travels, try to stay a little longer and actually meet people. If you take a more holistic approach, meeting indigenous people as part of a broader trip, you’re also likely to have a much better time. This would probably be called community-based tourism rather than tribal tourism, and is growing in popularity.

If you’re not sure about including a visit to meet tribal people to your trip, you can start by asking yourself a few questions:

What do I want to get out of this – to just see people, or to meet them? To take something from them, or to share something with them?

What kind of  language is the tour operator using? Look out for words like “stone age” or “primitive” and steer clear of those using such terms.

Who has the power in this exchange? And how do I know that? Who will my money go to?

Have I done my research about these particular people in this particular area, and do I know this visit is safe and enjoyable for both them and me?

Do be careful not to conflate different issues, too. For instance, just because somewhere sells itself as an ecolodge or green destination, doesn’t mean they’ve taken indigenous land rights and welfare into account. The Rainforest Alliance explains the difference between green tourism, eco-tourism and sustainable tourism, and many of the same concerns apply when considering the tribal or community tourism.

More and more places are starting to cater to ethical tourists, which is great – but you do need to make sure they practice what they preach.

As people seek out new travel experiences, it seems likely that this kind of tourism will continue to grow in popularity. Thankfully, there are several groups campaigning with and on behalf of indigenous peoples, helping them amplify their voices in a crowded tourism market and protect their rights and dignity. At the forefront are Survival International, who spearhead campaigns such as the Andaman Trunk boycott, and Tourism Concern, who work to encourage responsible tourism in all areas.