The Rise of eTourism for Development

Slumming on Social Media? E-Mediated Tourist Gaze and Social Representations of Indian, South African, and Brazilian Slum Tourism Destinations

“…Socially relevant activities, such as a local nursery or day-care centre, can also be part of the visits. Besides this classic structure, the touristic experience can also include a culinary dimension with local restaurants and bars offering typical dishes or drinks, as well as the possibility of finding accommodation and sleeping in the slum [5]. Despite the potential number of new activities and jobs, socio-economic regeneration and pro-poor development promoted by slum tourism are a matter of debate.…”

“…However, as already noticed, the role of slum-tourism is also controversial in this regard. On the one hand, slum tours may promote positive experiences of contact with locals, which can modify tourists' attitudes, promote intercultural understanding, break the isolation of slum dwellers and challenge the stereotypes that threaten their identity [5]. On the other hand, stereotypes can be reinforced, sometimes even by locals, in the attempt to meet the quest for "authenticity" expressed by tourists, which is their intention to experience the local culture and the actual way of living in the slum [12,13,20].…”

“…Social media have a significant role to play in this scenario, not only because local tourism operators in slums mainly use online channels for marketing their businesses [5], but also because they are a privileged space for intergroup contact [6]. Indeed, the low barriers to entry, the pervasiveness, and the reduction of physical and affective barriers allow individuals to anticipate, express, and co-construct their representation of the others in a potentially supportive context.…”