Have you ever travelled to a poor country?
By maximax8
@maximax8 (31046)
United Kingdom
April 21, 2007 8:21am CST
I am wondering about whether tourism helps poor countries. The Maldives are a group of islands that look like paradise. It costs more than $70 a night to stay on one of them. Many tourists spend between $100 and 200 a night. There are palm fringed beaches, a desert island sort of appeal and an underwater paradise of colourful fish and brightly coloured coral. After my holiday there I was shocked to read that nearly half the local people live on under $1 a day.
Have you ever travelled to a poor country? What did you think of it?
5 responses
@freak369 (5113)
• United States
22 Jun 07
When we would go to Mexico it was pretty depressing. There were so many kids running around begging for change that you hated to go off the main streets to do any shopping. After a couple months of going there to shop I found out that most of the kids weren't poor but they came from smaller towns south of Tijuana and were driven there every morning to panhandle. I used to give them change but that only made the situation worse. What they need is an education and skill, not people giving them money.
@cherry24 (29)
• Malaysia
21 Apr 07
I've travelled both to Cuba and the Maldives. It was quite a shock to realize underneath such beautiful and cultured countries are people so poor and needy. You would think that the number of tourists and the money they spend there would surely contribute to the people. But it seems like it doesn't make a difference to the average people there.
@ironstruck (2298)
• Canada
21 Apr 07
Yes, I have traveled to some poor countries.
Cuba for instance. There income is very low. There shelves in the stores are usually empty.
Yet tourists come there and spend thousands for vacations.
The locals who work in the resorts make very low salaries.
If you tip them $5, you are king for a week.
@cocobaby (300)
• United States
21 Apr 07
I've never been to a poor country. I've only travelled to Switzerland and Germany and I've always lived in the US.
The Maldives sound like a pretty place to visit.
