Travelling to exotic places is great, yes? Well, it is and it isn't. In fact, it's a bit of a double-edged sword - a mixture of good and not-so-good.
A few years ago I was invited on a press trip to Kenya. We stayed in a magnificent country hotel surrounded by lush tropical blooms and within sight of Mount Kenya. One day I took a walk in the grounds and came across a guard at the gate. He was a tall, handsome black man aged about 40. He seemed interested in my camera and I handed it over to him. His eyes lit up and he held it so reverently. I showed him how to use the zoom lens and he cried out in surprise. It was then I realised that he had never in his life held a camera, let alone use one.
I was reminded of this incident when I read the newspaper headline today: “The looting of Kenya” - an article about the extent of corruption perpetrated by the family of the former Kenyan leader Daniel Arap Moi. The allegations were that Mr. Moi siphoned off more than £1bn (yes, billion) during his 24 year rule. Some of this must have been revenue from tourism.
What can be done? And whatever might be done, how would it help my man at the gate? I shall continue to hope that my articles will persuade people to visit such countries and that some of their money will trickle down to those who need it most. But there’s an uncomfortable little niggle at the back of my mind that won’t go away. I worry that the wrong people may be still getting most of the money and there won’t be much of a ‘trickle down”effect.
As I say... what to do? I don’t know. Do you?
