Corrupt tour, another way to boost the tourism industry

Role of Corruption and Fraud in Boosting Tourism

Corruption and political fraud have become a way of life in our society. Most politicians around the world are using elections and their role as public representatives to get rich through bribery and corruption. They fail to understand that public trust is eroding and most people no longer look up to the government to do anything for them. This is the state of affairs worldwide, and sadly, it is the common public who get affected the most due to this callous and irresponsible attitude of elected representatives and public officers.

Probably the only bright spot in all this corruption and scandal is its impact on tourism. Many tourist companies have come up with innovative ways to market corruption within their country to tourists. These tour companies take tourists around massive villas that have been built by corrupt politicians with money swindled from public treasuries. Some of these villas are ostentatious that it gives tourists a unique opportunity to take pictures. These tour companies are more of whistle-blowers who take their tourists on hitherto unknown destinations that were carved out of corruption and frauds. Other than taking tourists to private villas of politicians, they are also taken around huge public projects where the politicians swindled millions of dollars.

Most of these tours are group tours where the group is accompanied by a tour guide. This guide is well-versed with the different scandals and frauds of the destinations. Hence, he or she takes the tourists around and tells them about a structure and the politician behind it. Sometimes, the guide even gives exact numbers including the amount of money swindled, the period in which such corruption took place and even the name of scandal.

An example of such a tour is the one that is offered by some companies in Prague, Czech Republic. In this corrupt tour, visitors are taken across different landmarks that have blighted Czech Republic as it made its transition from a socialist planned economy to a capitalist free market. This tour gives visitors a glimpse into where thousands of dollars of taxpayers money went over the years of transition. At the end of the tour, visitors are given a souvenir, a joke degree in corruption management.

The above tour is a classic example of how a tour company used the corruption scandals of Czech Republic to make money for itself. In this sense, the company has recycled corruption and has made it an attractive source of revenue for the country as a whole. From a tourists' perspective, such a tour is a unique experience as it gives him or her a glimpse into the politics and history of the country. Any tourist visiting a country would be attracted only to its beauty and positive aspects. They would go around popular buildings, beaches, mountains, natural beauty and even take part in adventure sports offered in these locations. Some may be willing to see the cultural aspects to get a feel of the country. The political side is something that most tourists never get to see. But, these tours have changed that as tourists can now get a glimpse of the political aspect of the country including its many corruption and fraud cases. In a way, these tours fill the political gap and make the travel experience more comprehensive for its visitors.

The above tours show the bright side of corruption and how it has been used a way for profiteering. Unfortunately, such corruption tours are few and far between. Though this side of corruption is providing a unique experience for visitors, it does not augur well for the future of any country, especially if corruption affects the very operations of the tourism industry. Visitors would not prefer to go to a country if they have to wait in long queues or bribe the local officials to enjoy a beautiful sight. In this sense, corruption will damage the tourism industry of the country and will affect the people who are dependent on it in a profound way. 

Going forward, it is hoped that politicians become more sensible to ensure that their actions do not impact the society in a negative way. It is time they learn the true role which is to serve people instead of using people as a means to get rich. Until then, corruption will continue and the nature of its impact will depend on how a country's tourism department handles it.

If you are interested check this site below.

http://www.corrupttour.com