These Pictures Highlight The Disadvantages Of Slum Tourism

Bored of museums, beaches, mass activities, and all-inclusive resorts? Then dive into the murky waters of slum and dark tourism.

While many tourists today long for "off-the-beaten-track" and bucket list destinations, paranormal and UFO encounters, culinary and thrilling adventures, as well as ethical animal experiences, the truth is that some alternative forms of tourism make us question humanity.

Slum tourism, for instance, is one of the most controversial forms of travel. While rich travelers try to experience the "real life" - the daily reality that many people endure in the dirty mazes of shanty places, plastic bags with waste, and train tracks - many argue that slum tourism exploits poor communities. Interestingly, slum tourism dates back to 19th-century London when rich families traveled to East London to see how the poor lived.

And if a glimpse of inequality is not enough, many travelers today enjoy dark tours associated with places of death, natural disasters, and active wars. Is this ethical?

Well, here are 10 pictures that highlight the disadvantages of slum tourism and dark travel.

10 The Poorest Of The Poor In South Africa Are Often Seen As An Attraction

Slum tourism is gaining popularity in many parts of the world. In South Africa, for example, slum tourism started in the 1990s where the poor of the poorest are often seen as wildlife. Organized groups do not hesitate to visit poor areas and take pictures of kids salvaging rubbish, which makes us question the exploitative nature of slum tourism.

9 Slum Tourism Is One Of The Most Popular Tourist Experiences In India (Where Two-Thirds Of People Survive On Less Than $2 A Day)

India - where many people survive on less than $2 a day - is also a popular destination for slum travel. Dharavi, one of the biggest slums in India and the whole of Asia, offers rich tourists some "authentic" time. While some argue that slum tourism brings extra cash to communities, we can’t ignore the fact that tourists find their experience simply entertaining.

8 Slum Dwellers Find Exploring Rio's Favelas Amusing, But Is It Ethical?

The favelas in Rio de Janeiro are one of the most popular destinations for poverty tourism. Visitors are promised a glimpse into people’s lives. While slum tours and visits are encouraged by the Brazilian government, many people argue that tour agencies just prey on poor communities and social workers.

7 Urban Safari Tours: A Window Into The Ghetto

If you think that slum tourism is a phenomenon limited to the developing world, think twice. In many places in the West, tour agencies offer thrilling tours: a window into the ghetto. Take the Bronx, New York for example! No wonder locals complain about such tours, tours that take advantage of poverty, crime, and substance use.

6 Slum Tourism In Manila Can Be Eye-Opening, But Locals Get No Benefit

With millions of tourists interested in alternative forms of travel, slum tourism is on the rise in Manila, the Philippines. Though some tour companies do work to improve the living conditions of thousands of squatters, many agencies simply benefit from slum travel. The lack of regulations also adds fuel to the fire.

5 Visiting Burial Sites Can Steal Your Soul

While slum tourism makes us question our world, there’s another form of alternative travel that can make us cringe: dark tourism. Dark tourism is often associated with travel destinations where genocide, war, disaster, and other horrors have taken place. Smile! The skulls behind you also look like they are smiling!

4 Do Not Use Katrina's Wrath To Get More Likes

Disaster tourism is another questionable form of travel. As some tourists visit places subjected to natural disasters just for the Gram, many locals insist that disaster tourism is unethical. Victims of Katrina’s wrath, for instance, still can’t forget the horror that struck New Orleans. Do tourists care about people’s pain?

3 Influencers At Chernobyl Have Crossed The Line

Visiting places associated with death can be educational and eye-opening. Yet, some dark tourism fans take it too far. To provide an example, many social media influencers flooded Chernobyl just to take provocative selfies and pictures. Is a nuclear death area the right place to pose in underwear?

2 Can Oil Spills Benefit Tourism?

Believe it or not, environmental disasters also attract tourists. Even though oil spills are detrimental to locals, ecosystems, and economies, some tourists enjoy visiting damaged coastlines. For instance, many interested in the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill - the biggest oil spill in the US - do not hesitate to dip their shoes in the water that killed wildlife and polluted fisheries.

1 War Travel Is Also Disturbing

War or danger tourism is another alternative form of travel. Surprisingly, many people find visiting active and former war areas recreational. However, the increase in dark tourism in war-torn Syria, Afghanistan, Yemen, and the Crimean Peninsula makes us question our world... Is it okay to take pictures while people are dying?

NEXT: These Photos Show What Life Is Like in Afghanistan, The Most Dangerous Country In The World