Following the success of the Oscar winning film, ‘Slumdog Millionaire’, interest in the world’s poor urban districts appears to be on the rise. These curiosities have transformed into a popular tourism industry; an industry that cuts to the heart of the business of philanthropic travel — also known by the derogatory label of ‘slum tourism’. This type of travel, also sometimes referred to as ‘poorism’, guides tourists through the slums of cities in India, Indonesia, Africa, and Mexico, among other destinations and are often run by those hailing from the West
In Jakarta, Indonesia, as in cities all over the developing world, urban poverty is a growing problem. The World Bank says nearly 25 million people live in the Jakarta area, and every year a staggering 250,000 more come. This urban poverty is often hidden, relegated to neighborhoods tourists rarely visit. But in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta, a Jakartan resident of 40 years, Ronny Poluan gives guided tours of city slums to tourists. His tours, ‘Jakarta Hidden Tours’, have been operating regularly since 2008, taking groups of paying foreigners to the city's warrens, riverbanks and rail lines to meet those whom he calls ‘the real people’.
But is this type of tourism a worthy initiative or just an example of voyeuristic 'poorism'. By most accounts, slum tourism began in Brazil over 16 years ago, with similar initiatives gaining popularity throughout the world. The Hidden Jakarta tours introduce curious foreigners to the conditions and people of Galur, Ciliwung, Kota and Luar Batang in Jakarta. Proponents say it’s eye-opening, opponents say its pure voyeurism. While critics may still slay the concept of commodifying poverty for tourism, Poluan says he is trying to make a difference by raising awareness and money for development programs. Money is mostly spent on people empowerment. ‘It is used for business capitals, books and others, we cooperate with local community groups’, he said.
But this cash-in-hand approach has plenty of critics. One critic of this ‘poorism’, Wardah Hafidz, who heads Jakarta's Urban Poor Consortium advocacy group, says these ‘handouts’ are exactly the wrong approach. ‘It creates more problems for us than it helps’, Hafidz said. ‘If you come with money then it's a complete language of money. It doesn't develop the understanding (among the poor) that they are powerful, that they can help themselves’. Critics also say he exploits poor people for personal gain. Polaun has said he does not intend to commercialize poverty. Instead, he says he wants people to realize that there are many of people who are still living in poverty.
A contribution from each ‘Hidden Jakarta Tour’ (around 15%), provided from the money he charges participants, goes to the communities visited. A third of the earnings pay for the guides, and some 17 % goes to Ronny’s NGO Interkultur foundation. Interkultur’s aims are to support and promote Indonesian artists working in the areas of film, performance and the visual arts, also in a wider awareness and concern of social humanity, media and environmental, local and international issues.
The RI Ministry of Culture and Tourisms Public Relation Centre don’t believe the tours to have a positive impact on Indonesian tourism nor the residents of these areas. Cecep Ucu Rakhman from the Ministry’s Public Relation Centre said that if people want to assist those in need, that, ‘Instead of the tours they could help via a social welfare organization, of which there are many’. The ethical debate on this new tourism phase continues. Not just the one operating here in Jakarta but the many ‘slum tourism’ operations internationally. The phenomenon shows no sign of waning as more travelers rethink indulgent vacations in favor of more meaningful travel experiences. It’s partially a byproduct of the global economic crisis. Another, sadly, is that the ranks of the poor are growing.
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