'(Viet)namtank' : Ron Gluckman
The End wrote about war porn here. There has been enough growth in demand for war related merchandise that hawkers are selling VCDs of war footage on buses. Complete with background music and i'm guessing, a strong 'patriotic' flavor.And now the war 'is almost over', hell its been 'almost over' for several months now but in the classic Sri Lankan way the war also is dilly dallying away and taking its own cool time to end.
If people are eager enough to gobble up war merchandise or war porn, i think a decent case can be made for the emergence of a new niche in the tourism industry. Why not war tourism?
The idea first came to me after reading one of Cerno's many google earth posts depicting sunken warships off the coast of Jaffna, and i thought hey, someone could really make a buck organizing diving trips down there when the war ends..
But It's not exactly an original concept. War tourism has also got a Wiki entry. The definition seems to vary from referring to tourists stuck in warzones to the more commonly accepted one of actual touring to conflict zones. Whereas there has been no proof that the practice is officially happening in live conflict zones and no tourists have been interviewed who have visited a conflict zone for the purpose of tourism, we are not talking about a conflict zone here, we are talking about a conflict free zone, a-post conflict zone if you will.
I don't think there is a location like Sri Lanka so well placed to take advantage of this in the whole world. Not at least since Vietnam, although admittedly theirs was a high profile war with plenty of eager Americans willing to pay good money to come see how their tax money was spent, and World War 2, which continues to be the number one attraction for war tourists worldwide.
Assuming the war finishes, we'll be fresh out of conflict. If somewhat of a whitewash victory is attained, the security up there will be a bit more conducive to tourist presence. This will give us an opportunity to target a whole new demographic, the young adventure seeking high spender, instead of the usual retirees that we see coming over.
Jungle treks to LTTE bunkers, tours through battlefields, LTTE occupied villages, sea tiger bases, airstrips, off roading and crash courses in guerilla warfare are only some of the things we could offer. But it has to materialize through concerted efforts through both the private sector and government. Economic support must be given to the niche if it is to prosper. You or me can't just take off to Jaffna on a bike and expect to have the experience of a war tourist, the whole thing will need to be designed and offered as packaged holidays with substantial investment by the players in the local market.
And they must act. The government must be looking at avenues of economic exploitation of the North Eastern provinces if it is seriously expecting to win the war soon, and in a Ballardian world, why not try and be a little innovative and dynamic for a change? adopt a slightly more edgy image; that of the paradise with a touch of the dangerous? Adopt a stance of mercantilism in our business strategies, make the end of the war become a launching pad for an industrial revolution so to speak.
I know it may seem rather morbid to talk about this when there are so many people dying. But most of this war was about profits anyway, and the same people who filled their pockets are sitting around in powerful places harping about patriotism. why not let the people who truly suffered benefit from the war now? And give a boost to the freshly liberated North-Eastern economy?
12 Comments:
It is an interesting idea, and from what I've heard of my father's visit to Vietnam, it's a huge crowd-puller. His tour guide was a former Viet Cong fighter...so presumably there is also an element of employment opportunities for those who will be virtually redundant and otherwise unemployable in a post-conflict zone.
I think most people would be OK with it...I don't know if pro-Eelam voices would be too happy about the SL Govt earning money from the LTTE's achievements, but I think it is an avenue worth exploring. How high on the priority list it is/should be, I don't know.
Psycho :) Listen buddy, a war is never a pleasant thing including my online wars with some people. Its just blood and stink. I don't think any sensible human would want to see such unplesant war sites in their lives. Well, my friend had a hotel downsouth that was completely washed off by Tsunami. I never went to see that place after that. I had fond memories of the place and wanted to remember it that way. Never could find the courage to see it though I saw a video of it. I guess people do feel this way. Atleast I do. I wouldn't be a war tourist no matter how interesting it may seem.
Pseudo - LTTE 'achievements' won't matter when they are in government territory. And sensitivities of people will have to be manouvered thru carefully. And yeah vietnam is a huge crowd puller isn't it? and the employment aspect is a great point. a great way to offer jobs to out of work soldiers
NB - Well, not everyone is lacking in 'courage', although i doubt courage has much to do with it. It's more to do with the thrill of the experience. and there is a significant segment that could be potentially targeted in the world. Of course, the whole thing would need to be positioned in a way that doesnt tick people off, and mixed in and marketed with other platforms of recreational and adventure based tourism. i seriously think we need to innovate, and no chance like the present.
Sounds to me like a slap in the face of Tamils and the concept of Eelam. Turning their homeland into a tourist attraction? Wtf? That's sick, man. But it would be popular, sure. We're all sick fucking voyuers. Personally I'm not much of a war fan, war movies bore me. That's another good market though... Imagine Sri Lankan was movies, that would be some crazy shit. BUT, you're adding insult to injury. We've defeated them, freed the people, but we should be developing their area. Not making money out of it to develop the rest of the country. But this is only my opinion, I might be wrong. I think we need to deal with things more carefully from now on, forgive, forget, and work together in the best interest of the whole, not just the majority, but the whole nation.
that WOULD be the case if you're associating all tamils with the LTTE, who are terrorists. Tourism's first affect is to develop the immediate local economy. Thats why you see more prosperity in HIkkaduwa rathar than in some other backward location. so you're not really stealing from them. But true, we are all voyeurs, and it takes many forms.
I'm not associating any of the Tamils with the LTTE. I'm talking about the people of Jaffna, from Jaffna, not the LTTE sympathizers. We need to rehabilitate the displaced, we need to develop the area, we need to win back the trust of the Tamils. Even if the LTTE is defeated, peace is still not within our grasp. Lasting peace i.e. We will have a momentary glimpse of it though, hopefully we'll make the best of it, before the next wave comes crashing down. This issue doesn't end here.
creating tourism opportunities can definitely rehabilitate the east and north. but how will the people look at 'war tourism' though?
Fallen - true. but 'rehabilitating' the area needs to come wit economic stimulous right? so whats preventing us from developing tourism there? matter of fact, most leisue companies are already placing their stakes.
Icarus - well development is a plus point there to balance any counteractive sentiments. But it needs to be done in a way in which it doesnt offend people, and using the right tools, that shouldn't be too hard. wouldn't u agree?
interesting. controversial yet inevitable. even if we dont slap the label'war tourism' on it, there will be hoardes of people - from colombo and other countries - travelling up there to catch a glimpse of the battleground it used to be. And the govt.will probably mark a few victory sites that will go down in history. So the war tourism that you write of shouldnt shock us all that much - as tasteless as it may sound. it all depends on how tactfully and humanely it is done. if nothing else, it could be a strategic way of raising funds for the rehabilitation of the said areas.
Yes true, the affected areas will attract a lot of ineterest anyways. and tourism will happen for that specific purpose like it or not. But if high foreign spenders can be brought down here with some good campaigns, and we market and carry out out 'war tourism' in a way it's never been done before, that will far outstrip any revenue we would gain through 'inadvertent' tourists. it would also be sustainable in the long term..
Hmm... But until all this takes off(was tourism) what is going to be done about the...refugees?(is that the appropriate term?) are we going to get them to help build up the tourist site? Put them to 'work'? Maybe recreate the battle environment with them dressed up as caders and the out of work soldiers as... well, they're formerly employed selves? Yeah, why not? Surely that would bring in the masses... Who wouldn't want to witness it live, broadcast online, streaming war porn straight from the battlefront.
Strange as it may be in the modern world, we at last have success story in the war against terror.
The sovereignty of Sri Lanka is complete and rebuilding can begin.
Sri Lanka are you ready?
Go to Sri Lanka, every one!
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