Page 63 - Encyclopedia Of World History Vol V

1840 berkshire encyclopedia of world history

Climbing Mount Everest

Tourists and the local people who serve them often multiple ascents of Everest), nor challenge, nor adven-
have very different conceptions of tourist activities.The ture. Climbing is simply a high-paying job. None of
follow text indicates that for Sherpa guides in Nepal, the eight sardars expressed much enthusiasm for a
guiding tourists up and down Mount Everest is just a hypothetical all-Sherpa expedition because they could
job and the mountain itself a source of income. not imagine any earnings accruing from it. Even
though they enjoy the camaraderie and the scenic
Eight of Khumbu’s most experienced and illustrious
views and take pride in a job well done, these reasons
sardars unanimously agreed that virtually the only
alone would never motivate them to move up a
reason they climb is that they need the high income
mountain. Plans for a ‘First Sherpa Youth Mt. Everest
they cannot earn any other way. As one put it, if he
Expedition 91’ indicate contrary sentiments, but if
had the education to qualify for a good office job, he
skilled Sherpa climbers are paid on such an expedi-
would unhesitatingly choose that line of work. Sher-
tion, the view of the eight sardars will stand
pas see no intrinsic point in climbing; neither fame
unchallenged.
(though that is welcome since it helps them get their
Source: Fisher, J. F. (1990). Sherpas: Reflections on Change on Himalayan Nepal (p. 129).
next climbing job more easily; it also accounts for the Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press.

transitions in cultural expressions associated with displays of tourism behaviors invented in the West. How-
tourism, such as the evolution of “sightseeing” and ever, we now have sufficient research, particularly devoted
changes in recreational practices.Although sharing many to the evolution of Japanese pilgrimage traditions, on
of these interests, most recent studies in the history of which to base our understanding of contemporary Japan-
tourism that are focused on the North American experi- ese tourism behaviors on practices established in Japan
ence tend to pay more attention to the historical conse- well before the advent of modern tourism in Europe.
quences of particular tourism destinations, such as the A growing but still scant literature related to the his-
eighteenth- and nineteenth-century establishment of U.S. tories of tourism in Asia and the Middle East, as well as
spas and resorts, and the designation of natural and in indigenous America, can be gleaned from studies of
wilderness environments as tourist sites. Much of this leisure practices and travel traditions associated with pil-
research has been devoted to the conceptualization of grimage and trade in those parts of the world. Studies of
place in relation to patterns of tourism consumption and travel history related to such places as China and India
marketing, as well as to features associated with the have, for example, provided insight into the relationships
movement from home and work places to leisure places between tourism and leisure practices that appear to pre-
through travel innovations, particularly the expansion of cede the development of similar practices in Europe. Sim-
railroads and later the advent of automobile touring. ilar research has also offered insight into historical
The relative lack of literature devoted to the histories relationships between tourism cycles and periods of
of tourism in other parts of the world poses an obstacle regional security and prosperity—suggesting that various
to our ability to appreciate the significance of contem- “golden ages” of tourism expansion might be found in the
porary touristic patterns from varied cultural and national histories of ancient China, India, the Middle East, and
perspectives. People have had a tendency to interpret Greece and Rome.
other tourism traditions as attempts to emulate or mimic This discussion brings us to caution against the almost
presumably earlier-occurring Western patterns.Thus, for exclusive association of tourism with leisured activity. It
example, some scholars have explained contemporary seems increasingly clear that, around the world, tourism
Japanese tourism behaviors, such as a penchant for sou- finds its roots in other locally positioned and culturally
venir collecting, photographing, and staying close conditioned occasions for travel, such as pilgrimages, fes-
together in a fairly regimented manner, as exaggerated tivals, seasonal hunting and resource extraction, trade