Review Of Jamaica Kincaid's Essay 'The Ugly Tourist'
“The Ugly Tourist” “The Ugly Tourist”, which originally appeared in Harper’s in 1988, became the opening chapter of “A Small Place”. The author is Jamaica Kincaid and she grew up in Antigua. Kincaid states in her essay “The Ugly Tourist” that “a tourist is an ugly human being”. These are strong words. You can sense the anger in her essay. She defines both what it is to be a tourist as well as to live in the gaze of tourists. The title introduces a key word used multiple times throughout her essay: ugly. The connotation of ugly speaks to ugliness of body, as well as spirit, and Kincaid intends both. “An ugly thing, that is what you are when you become a tourist, an ugly, empty thing, a stupid thing, a piece of rubbish pausing here
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and there to gaze at this and taste that, and it will never occur to your that the people who inhabit the place in which you have just passed cannot stand you…” All this ugliness that Kincaid states in her essay points out her central theme.
She also states that tourists may be nice day to day in their community with their families, but on unknown ground as a tourist they are ugly people inside. Kincaid is from Antigua a place that is frequented by tourists. I believe that is why she expressed her aggressive points of view on this matter. In her final paragraph Kincaid explains the cruelty of the tourist and the damage they cause. She also states how the “natives are too poor to go anywhere”. “They are too poor to escape the reality of their lives…” She explains that this causes the natives to envy their ability to leave their boredom. “They envy your ability to leave your own banality and boredom into a source of pleasure for yourself.” Tourists are indeed ugly people, who do not respect the natives, or appreciate their contribution to the country. Jamaica Kincaid has written several books focused on life in Antigua. “Though the books employ differing discourses – fiction and polemic – and focus on varying aspects of life there, they share an anger about that island that the author makes little effort to conceal” (Byerman 91). We can see this anger expressed in “The Ugly Tourist”. She states her hatred for tourists, and states several times that they are ugly.
Kincaid also expresses her anger about colonialism and its effects on Antigua. Colonialism is what happens when a country is dependent on another country and neocolonialism is when a country is colonized and forms a political independence. This happens to countries when they exploit their raw materials like minerals, crops and anything else that will benefit their colonized power. “The extended attack of colonialism, corruption, and tourism as a kind of neocolonialism is straightforward in its polemics” (Byerman 91). Kincaid talks about the effects of colonialism in her narrative “A Small Place.” She describes what she feels in four untitled sections. In the first section she concentrates on neocolonialism and the ugliness of tourism. She makes sure to convey how she feels about tourists.
Kincaid despises tourists.
Their behavior and their disregard for her country anger her. As a country, Antigua has wrestled to find its identity. Tourism and banking have become Antigua’s primary industries. Banham Richardson, a scholar of Caribbean geography, blames the Antiguan government, as other Caribbean governments for promoting tourism as national industries. Kincaid dislikes tourists because they use her country as a relief for their boredom. They do not contribute any benefits to the country. Kincaid condemns the manner in which Antigua is depicted to tourists. The natives do not exist in their promotion. The ‘Antigua’ that Kincaid knows and grew up in is not the one shown or described to tourists. In Antigua and Barbuda’s website it states “Welcome to Antigua and Barbuda”. It goes on to say “In 1784 the legendary Admiral Horatio Nelson sailed to Antigua and established Great Britain’s most important Caribbean base. Little did he know that over 200 years later, the same unique characteristics that attracted the Royal Navy would transform Antigua and Barbuda into one the Caribbean’s premier tourist destinations.” This is stated on the Antigua and Barbuda homepage. It is because of depictions like this, that Antigua is becoming a tourism capitol. Which is why Kincaid expresses her anger in “The Ugly
Tourist.”
Tourism can bring social and economic benefits to a country, but mass tourism is also associated with negative effects. Families across the world go to the Caribbean for a warm, fun vacation. Tourism to the Caribbean has increased over the past few decades. “In Antigua and Barbuda, tourism rose 52.2% from 1975-1990 and continues to climb today” (King 200). The increase in tourism has negative effects on Antigua.
One of these negative effects is damage to local ecosystems. “Tourists consume exorbitant amounts of water, electricity, and seafood, and these consumptions rates have caused shortages and price gauging in these resources” (King 2000). “Countries such as Antigua, Barbuda, Barbados and Saint Kitts and Nevis have been listed as Òwater scarceÓ due to this excessive water consumption. This is in large part due to tourist resorts, which use on average five to ten times more water than residential areas in the Caribbean” (Sea, Land Based PollutionÉ 2005). Tourist resorts and facilities also increase pollution levels through traffic emissions, littering, increased sewage production and noise. Another effect that tourism has is the impact on the economy. The positive side of tourism is that it creates jobs, both with direct employment with the tourism industry and indirectly in sectors such as transportation and retail. In addition tourism industry also provides opportunities for small businesses, which is especially important to rural communities. However, not always do small businesses benefit from tourism because of “all inclusive” packages. When tourists remain for their entire stay at the same resort, which provides everything they need, there is no reason to shop around and visit local businesses. Also the jobs that tourism create are often seasonal and under paid. In addition the money that tourism generates does not always benefit the community. Some of it may go to international companies, such as hotel chains. Also visitor’s behaviors can have a detrimental effect on the quality of life of the community. It also affects the island’s image. For example crowding and congesting limits the opportunity for locals to walk around their community. There is also an increase in drugs and alcohol, prostitution and crime level because of so many tourists visiting the island. This affects the natives, because now they can’t walk around without fearing for their safety. Some locals may even be displaced or banned from certain beaches or locations that tourists frequent. This happens when hotels and resorts want to keep a certain image by keeping the locals far away. Interaction with tourists can also lead to an erosion of traditional cultures and values. There is also the negative aspect of prices going up because of tourism. The demand from tourist for services and goods will causes a price hike that negatively affects local residents because they can no longer afford to shop or receive services. Another increase that affects local residents is the cost of properties and real estate. Areas that are desirable because there are close to tourist attractions always cost more. Sometimes making it unattainable for local residents. This causes a dominance by outsiders in land markets that erodes opportunities for the locals. Lastly another negative effect of tourism is the dependency that is developed. Antigua and Barbuda relies mainly on tourism to keep income flowing into the country. Tourism accounts for more than half the Gross Domestic Product. So if tourism suffers, the whole island suffers. According to the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, tourism contributes 74.2 per cent of Antigua and Barbuda’s Gross Domestic Product. If tourism wouldn’t have taken control of Antigua, the island would have been force to generate income with their own natural resources. However, with such dependency of tourism Antigua will never be what is was before. And that is what Kincaid talks about. She states that the Antigua that we all know is not the ‘Antigua’ that she grew up in. This is why she expresses her feelings of anger towards the tourist in “The Ugly Tourist” With all the negative effects that tourism has on an island, it’s easy to understand where Kincaid is coming from. She grew up in Antigua and the island is a part of her. It angers her to see it all change so drastic and to have people come in the island and strip its natural resources to develop resorts and hotels. She feels this resentment towards tourists because they come to her island and do as they please. This is why she refers to the tourist as an ugly person, because they have ruined the beauty of her island.
and there to gaze at this and taste that, and it will never occur to your that the people who inhabit the place in which you have just passed cannot stand you…” All this ugliness that Kincaid states in her essay points out her central theme.
She also states that tourists may be nice day to day in their community with their families, but on unknown ground as a tourist they are ugly people inside. Kincaid is from Antigua a place that is frequented by tourists. I believe that is why she expressed her aggressive points of view on this matter. In her final paragraph Kincaid explains the cruelty of the tourist and the damage they cause. She also states how the “natives are too poor to go anywhere”. “They are too poor to escape the reality of their lives…” She explains that this causes the natives to envy their ability to leave their boredom. “They envy your ability to leave your own banality and boredom into a source of pleasure for yourself.” Tourists are indeed ugly people, who do not respect the natives, or appreciate their contribution to the country. Jamaica Kincaid has written several books focused on life in Antigua. “Though the books employ differing discourses – fiction and polemic – and focus on varying aspects of life there, they share an anger about that island that the author makes little effort to conceal” (Byerman 91). We can see this anger expressed in “The Ugly Tourist”. She states her hatred for tourists, and states several times that they are ugly.
Kincaid also expresses her anger about colonialism and its effects on Antigua. Colonialism is what happens when a country is dependent on another country and neocolonialism is when a country is colonized and forms a political independence. This happens to countries when they exploit their raw materials like minerals, crops and anything else that will benefit their colonized power. “The extended attack of colonialism, corruption, and tourism as a kind of neocolonialism is straightforward in its polemics” (Byerman 91). Kincaid talks about the effects of colonialism in her narrative “A Small Place.” She describes what she feels in four untitled sections. In the first section she concentrates on neocolonialism and the ugliness of tourism. She makes sure to convey how she feels about tourists.
Kincaid despises tourists.
Their behavior and their disregard for her country anger her. As a country, Antigua has wrestled to find its identity. Tourism and banking have become Antigua’s primary industries. Banham Richardson, a scholar of Caribbean geography, blames the Antiguan government, as other Caribbean governments for promoting tourism as national industries. Kincaid dislikes tourists because they use her country as a relief for their boredom. They do not contribute any benefits to the country. Kincaid condemns the manner in which Antigua is depicted to tourists. The natives do not exist in their promotion. The ‘Antigua’ that Kincaid knows and grew up in is not the one shown or described to tourists. In Antigua and Barbuda’s website it states “Welcome to Antigua and Barbuda”. It goes on to say “In 1784 the legendary Admiral Horatio Nelson sailed to Antigua and established Great Britain’s most important Caribbean base. Little did he know that over 200 years later, the same unique characteristics that attracted the Royal Navy would transform Antigua and Barbuda into one the Caribbean’s premier tourist destinations.” This is stated on the Antigua and Barbuda homepage. It is because of depictions like this, that Antigua is becoming a tourism capitol. Which is why Kincaid expresses her anger in “The Ugly
Tourist.”
Tourism can bring social and economic benefits to a country, but mass tourism is also associated with negative effects. Families across the world go to the Caribbean for a warm, fun vacation. Tourism to the Caribbean has increased over the past few decades. “In Antigua and Barbuda, tourism rose 52.2% from 1975-1990 and continues to climb today” (King 200). The increase in tourism has negative effects on Antigua.
One of these negative effects is damage to local ecosystems. “Tourists consume exorbitant amounts of water, electricity, and seafood, and these consumptions rates have caused shortages and price gauging in these resources” (King 2000). “Countries such as Antigua, Barbuda, Barbados and Saint Kitts and Nevis have been listed as Òwater scarceÓ due to this excessive water consumption. This is in large part due to tourist resorts, which use on average five to ten times more water than residential areas in the Caribbean” (Sea, Land Based PollutionÉ 2005). Tourist resorts and facilities also increase pollution levels through traffic emissions, littering, increased sewage production and noise. Another effect that tourism has is the impact on the economy. The positive side of tourism is that it creates jobs, both with direct employment with the tourism industry and indirectly in sectors such as transportation and retail. In addition tourism industry also provides opportunities for small businesses, which is especially important to rural communities. However, not always do small businesses benefit from tourism because of “all inclusive” packages. When tourists remain for their entire stay at the same resort, which provides everything they need, there is no reason to shop around and visit local businesses. Also the jobs that tourism create are often seasonal and under paid. In addition the money that tourism generates does not always benefit the community. Some of it may go to international companies, such as hotel chains. Also visitor’s behaviors can have a detrimental effect on the quality of life of the community. It also affects the island’s image. For example crowding and congesting limits the opportunity for locals to walk around their community. There is also an increase in drugs and alcohol, prostitution and crime level because of so many tourists visiting the island. This affects the natives, because now they can’t walk around without fearing for their safety. Some locals may even be displaced or banned from certain beaches or locations that tourists frequent. This happens when hotels and resorts want to keep a certain image by keeping the locals far away. Interaction with tourists can also lead to an erosion of traditional cultures and values. There is also the negative aspect of prices going up because of tourism. The demand from tourist for services and goods will causes a price hike that negatively affects local residents because they can no longer afford to shop or receive services. Another increase that affects local residents is the cost of properties and real estate. Areas that are desirable because there are close to tourist attractions always cost more. Sometimes making it unattainable for local residents. This causes a dominance by outsiders in land markets that erodes opportunities for the locals. Lastly another negative effect of tourism is the dependency that is developed. Antigua and Barbuda relies mainly on tourism to keep income flowing into the country. Tourism accounts for more than half the Gross Domestic Product. So if tourism suffers, the whole island suffers. According to the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, tourism contributes 74.2 per cent of Antigua and Barbuda’s Gross Domestic Product. If tourism wouldn’t have taken control of Antigua, the island would have been force to generate income with their own natural resources. However, with such dependency of tourism Antigua will never be what is was before. And that is what Kincaid talks about. She states that the Antigua that we all know is not the ‘Antigua’ that she grew up in. This is why she expresses her feelings of anger towards the tourist in “The Ugly Tourist” With all the negative effects that tourism has on an island, it’s easy to understand where Kincaid is coming from. She grew up in Antigua and the island is a part of her. It angers her to see it all change so drastic and to have people come in the island and strip its natural resources to develop resorts and hotels. She feels this resentment towards tourists because they come to her island and do as they please. This is why she refers to the tourist as an ugly person, because they have ruined the beauty of her island.