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2.8.07

In Brazil, Favela Tourism Rising

For every cruise ship full of pleasure-seekers tempted to travel by spa treatments, gourmet cuisine, and the occasional shore excursion, there is a tougher sort of tourist in search of a little hardship. Some people go for the controlled experience, forking over $18 for a simulated illegal border-crossing at Parque EcoAlberto in Mexico. Others, as the Christian Science Monitor reported earlier this week, prefer a more authentic kind of cultural exposure. Describing a small but growing trend among Americans and Europeans visiting Rio de Janeiro, Andrew Downie writes: “To many Brazilians, favelas are dirty, violent, frightening places. But to many foreigners, they are exciting, interesting, and romantic. More and more outsiders are coming from overseas to live, work, and just visit favelas, observers say. In doing so they are highlighting the difference between Brazilians who regard favelas with fear, rejection, and even disgust, and foreigners who embrace them as vibrant crucibles of modern Brazilian culture.”

Downie interviews several individuals who have relocated to favelas as well as the owner of a company that runs tours to two sprawling shanty towns. And he cites rising prices as well as an increased interest in Brazilian culture as explanations for this phenomenon.

Photo by beija, via flickr. (License: Creative Commons.)

Posted by Ben Keene • 2.8.07
Categories: Weblog • Brazil

Permalink • Comments (3)

COMMENTS

I just wrote a blog about the favela’s in Brazil. I just took a tour. I didn’t expect them to be like they were. I have video on this particular blog too! It is safe depending on the favela!

By Tom M. on 3.11.08 at 11:31 AM

Simulated illegal border passing? The tourism industry is really trying anything that can bring money.

By Grand Canyon Tours on 6.18.08 at 12:03 PM

I was raised on the favelas and I believe that people should know what is going on in Brazil. We are very marginalised and that is not fair at all must of the people that live on the favelas are very hard working people with no education nor opportunity. I’m not sure if anything will change but at list they will have the opportunity to see for themselves.

By on 8.11.08 at 05:53 PM