Fotografia turystyczna – między wrażliwością a jej brakiem. Szkic na temat współczesnego turyzmu

Contemporary tourism is one of the most dynamically developing branches of the global economy. Together with travelling masses there come reflections on the cultural and social determinants of travelling itself and tourism, as well as meetings with the other, i.e. the cornerstone of anthropological research. Tourist sensitivity may now be observed from the interesting perspective of a photograph which reveals not so much the intentions of the author as the whole baggage of his or her cultural experience and related contexts. This tourist viewpoint, while often stereotypical, does not necessarily have to be a mere reproduction of certain representations. An example from an online forum about travelling in Morocco shows that some travellers are becoming increasingly aware of the complexity of contacts with foreign culture. Most of them understand that sensitivity and respect are usually the key to mutual understanding and turning tourism into an ethical tool for exploring the world.