“Umqashi Ophuma Phambili Emhlabeni”

Unyaka ngamunye abantu abangaphezu kwezigidi ezingu-600 bavakashela kwamanye amazwe. Amanye amakhulu ezigidi avakashela kwezinye izindawo ezisemazweni akubo, ehamba ngomsebenzi noma ngenjongo yokuzijabulisa. Ngenxa yalokho, umkhakha wezokuvakasha—kuhlanganise namahhotela, izindawo zoku-ngcebeleka, izinkampani zezindiza, abaxhumanisi bezohambo namanye amabhizinisi anakekela izivakashi—ubizwa ngokuthi “umqashi ophuma phambili emhlabeni.”

EMHLABENI wonke, ezokuvakasha zingenisa imali elinganiselwa emaRandini ayizigidi eziyizigidi ezingu-24 ngonyaka. Isivakashi ngasinye singase singazibheki njengengxenye yabagqugquzeli bokuthula bomhlaba wonke, kodwa yileyo ndlela i-UN World Tourism Organization ewuchaza ngayo lo mkhakha. Ngo-2004, uFrancesco Frangialli, unobhala-jikelele wale nhlangano, watshela ababeze engqungqutheleni yomongameli eMpumalanga Ephakathi: “Ezokuvakasha nokuthula kuyizinto ezimbili ezingahlukani. Ezokuvakasha zinethonya elinamandla kangangokuthi zingashintsha izimo ebezibonakala zingenakulungiseka zenze kube nokubuyisana lapho bekungabonakali ukuthi kungaba khona.”

Waqala kanjani lo mkhakha onamandla kangaka? Ingabe ezokuvakasha zinethonya elihle ngempela? Futhi ingabe ‘ithonya elinamandla lezokuvakasha’ lingakuletha ngempela ukuthula?

Inkathi Yokuchuma Kwezokuvakasha

Imbewu yomkhakha wanamuhla wezokuvakasha eNtshonalanga yatshalwa ikakhulu ngekhulu le-19. Njengoba izinguquko kwezezimboni zandisa inani labantu abasesigabeni esiphakathi eYurophu nase-United States, ngakho abaningi ngokwandayo bazithola benakho kokubili imali kanye nesikhathi sokuhamba.

Ngaphezu kwalokho, kwenziwa enkulu intuthuko ezindleleni zokuthutha abantu abaningi. Izitimela ezinamandla zazithutha abantu besuka kwelinye idolobha elikhulu beya kwelinye, kanti imikhumbi yayibathutha besuka kwelinye izwekazi beya kwelinye. Ukuze kunakekelwe lolu quqaba lwezivakashi, amahhotela aqhibukisa okwamakhowe eduze neziteshi zesitimela nezikhumulo zemikhumbi.

Ngo-1841, usomabhizinisi oyiNgisi uThomas Cook wabona amathuba okuzibopha ngabhande linye lezi zinto. Waba ngowokuqala ukuba ahlelele abantu uhambo, into yokuhamba, indawo yokulala nezinto zokuzilibazisa ezindaweni ababefuna ukuvakashela kuzo. “Ngenxa yalesi simiso esasungulwa uMnu. Cook,” kuphawula isikhulu sikahulumeni waseBrithani uWilliam Gladstone ngeminyaka yawo-1860, “ngokokuqala ngqa, zonke izigaba zabantu zakuthola kulula ukuya kwamanye amazwe futhi zaqala ukwazi okuthile ngalawo mazwe okuye kwakhuthaza umusa kunenzondo.”

Ukuchuma Ekhulwini Lama-20

Okudabukisayo ukuthi ukwanda kokwazana nabantu bakwamanye amazwe ngenxa yezokuvakasha akuzange kukuvimbele ukugqashuka kwezimpi ezimbili zezwe phakathi nengxenye yokuqala yekhulu lama-20. Nokho, ukushintsha kwesimo sezenhlalo kanye nentuthuko kwezobuchwepheshe okwalethwa yilezi zimpi empeleni kwabangela ukuba lo mkhakha uchume nakakhulu kunokuba kuwubulale.

Ukuhamba ngendiza kwashesha futhi kwabiza imali ephansi, kwaqala ukuba khona imigwaqo emikhulu ehlanganisa amazwekazi kanti nezimoto zanda kakhulu. Maphakathi nekhulu lama-20, ukuya eholidini nokuvakashela kwamanye amazwe kwase kuyingxenye yokuphila kwabantu baseNtshonalanga futhi kwakujatshulelwa iningi lezigaba zabantu. Ngaphezu kwalokho, izinkulungwane zemikhaya zase zinayo ithelevishini ngakho zaqala ukukhangwa imifanekiso yezindawo ezingavamile, okwabasela isifiso sokuvakasha.

Ekuqaleni kwawo-1960, isibalo sabantu abavakashela kwamanye amazwe sasifinyelela ezigidini ezingu-70 unyaka ngamunye. Maphakathi nawo-1990, sase siphindaphindeke safinyelela ngaphezu kwezigidi ezingu-500! Embulungeni yonke, izindawo zokungcebeleka zaqhibukisa okwamakhowe ukuze kunakekelwe izivakashi ezivela kwamanye amazwe nakwezinye izindawo ezingaphakathi emazweni akubo. Izimboni ezingahlangene ngokuqondile nezokuvakasha ziye zazuza, ngenxa yokuthi izivakashi zidinga ukudla okuningi neziphuzo futhi zichitha imali eningi zithenga zikhokhela nezinye izinkonzo ezenzelwa zona.

Namuhla ezokuvakasha zinengxenye ebaluleke kakhulu emnothweni wamazwe angaphezu kuka-125. Uqokomisa izinzuzo ezingalethwa ezokuvakasha, umbiko wezindaba ka-2004 we-UN World Tourism Organization wachaza ukuthi umkhakha wezokuvakasha unganciphisa indlala ngokuvulwa kwamabhizinisi ezokuvakasha, amancane nangemakhulu kakhulu. Njengoba uvula amathuba amasha emisebenzi, ungenza abantu ‘bayiqonde kakhudlwana indawo ezungezile, amasiko nesimo sezenhlalo.’

Kodwa ungase ubuze: ‘Umkhakha wezokuvakasha ungazenza kanjani lezi zinto? Futhi ungayizuzisa kanjani indawo ezungezile?’

Ukukhangisa Ngemvelo Ukuze Ilondolozwe

Ekuqaleni kwawo-1980, ososayensi abathile nabenzi bamabhayisikobho baqala ukuba nesithakazelo esikhulu sokulondoloza amahlathi emvula nezixhobo zamakhorali kanye nezidalwa ezixhomeke kuzo. Lokhu kwaphumela ekwenziweni kwemibiko kanye namafilimu alandisa ngemvelo, aye enza nomphakathi wakufuna ngamandla ukuyovakashela lezi zindawo zemvelo ezikhexisayo. Amabhizinisi amancane ayeqalwe ngenjongo yokunakekela ososayensi nabenzi bamabhayisikobho andiswa ukuze kubhekanwe nokutheleka kwezivakashi ezithanda imvelo nendawo ezungezile.

Isasasa lokuthatha uhambo lokufunda ngemvelo selikhule ngokwedlulele, okuye kwenza ukuvakashela izindawo zemvelo kwaba ingxenye ekhula ngokushesha yalo mkhakha wezokuvakasha. Ngempela, ukugqugquzela abantu ukuba bathande imvelo emangalisayo kuye kwaba nenzuzo enkulu. Intatheli uMartha S. Honey yachaza: “Emazweni amaningana, ukuthatha uhambo oluphathelene nokufunda ngemvelo kwakhula ngokushesha kwaba ibhizinisi elikhulu elingenisa imali eningi yakwamanye amazwe, kwayidlula kude lé imali engeniswa ubhanana eCosta Rica, engeniswa ikhofi eTanzania naseKenya kanye nengeniswa izinto ezilukiwe nemigexo eNdiya.”

Ngakho ezokuvakasha ziye zaba indlela ebalulekile yokungenisa imali ukuze kulondolozwe izitshalo nezilwane. “EKenya,” kuphawula uHoney, “kusikiselwa ukuthi kuyo yonke inzuzo etholakala ngezokuvakasha ngonyaka, ibhubesi elilodwa lingenisa ama-dollar angu-7 000 [amaRandi angu-42 000], kanti engeniswa umhlambi wezindlovu ilinganiselwa kuma-dollar angu-610 000 [amaRandi ayizigidi ezingu-3,7] ngonyaka.” Futhi kusikiselwa ukuthi ukubuka izixhobo zamakhorali eHawaii kungenisa ama-dollar ayizigidi ezingu-360 (amaRandi ayizigidi eziyizinkulungwane ezingu-2,2) unyaka ngamunye!

Ukubona Uhambo Oluphathelene Nokufunda Ngemvelo

Umbiko we-United Nations Environment Programme obizwa ngokuthi i-Ecotourism: Principles, Practices and Policies for Sustainability uthi: “Abaxhumanisi abaningi bezohambo baye bakuthola kuzuzisa ukusebenzisa inkulumo ethi ‘uhambo oluphathelene nokufunda ngemvelo’ ezincwadini zabo, kanti nabameleli bohulumeni baye bayisebenzisa kakhulu le nkulumo ukuze bagqugquzele abantu ukuba bavakashele amazwe abo, kodwa kube kungekho noyedwa kubo ozama ngisho nokusebenzisa isimiso esisodwa kulezo eziyisisekelo eziphathelene [nohambo lokufunda ngemvelo].” Pho, ungazi kanjani ukuthi uhambo oluthathayo luphathelene nokufunda ngemvelo ngempela?

UMegan Epler Wood, umlobi wombiko ongenhla, uthi uhambo oluphathelene nokufunda ngemvelo ngempela lubonakala ngalezi zici ezilandelayo: Ngaphambi kohambo, amakhasimende anikwa ukwaziswa ngamasiko nendawo ezungezile okuzovakashelwa kuyo kanye neziqondiso ngendlela efanele yokugqoka nokuziphatha; abazothatha lolu hambo banikwa ukwaziswa okusemqoka okunemininingwane ngokuma kwendawo, isimo sezenhlalo nesezombangazwe samazwe azovakashelwa baziswe nangamathuba okuxhumana nabantu bendawo hhayi ezindaweni zezentengiselwano nje kuphela; kuyaqikelelwa ukuba kukhokhwe yonke imali yokungena emapaki; futhi kuqashwa izindawo zokulala ezifanelekile ezingasonakalisi isimiso sendawo ezungezile.

Lokho Okuye Kwafezwa Uhambo Oluphathelene Nokufunda Ngemvelo

Ngokuvamile uhambo oluphathelene nokufunda ngemvelo akulona nje uhambo lokubona indawo. Luye lwachazwa ngokuthi “uhambo oluthathwa ngenjongo yokuvakashela izindawo zemvelo ukuze umuntu aqonde amasiko nomlando ongokwemvelo wendawo ezungezile, futhi okuqikelelwayo ukuba lungaphazamisani nakancane nesimiso sendawo ezungezile, kuyilapho lulethela abantu bendawo inzuzo yezomnotho ngokuvula amathuba emisebenzi yokulondoloza ingcebo engokwemvelo.”

Ingabe uhambo oluphathelene nokufunda ngemvelo luye lwazifinyelela lezi zinhloso ezinhle? UMartin Wikelski, wasePrinceton University, uthi: “Umkhakha wezohambo oluphathelene nokufunda ngemvelo ungesinye sezici eziyinhloko ezigcina [iziQhingi] zaseGalapagos zilondekile.” Ezweni lase-Afrika eRwanda, ukugqugquzelwa ngempumelelo kohambo oluphathelene nokufunda ngemvelo kuthiwa yikona okusindisa ama-gorilla asezintabeni, njengoba kunikeza abantu bendawo enye indlela yokuthola imali kunokuzingela ngokungemthetho. Kwamanye amazwe ase-Afrika, iziqiwu zisekelwa ngemali echithwa izivakashi.

Emhlabeni jikelele, uhambo oluphathelene nokufunda ngemvelo luye lwaba nengxenye ekuthuthukiseni indawo ezungezile nesimo sezenhlalo, kanti alinakuphikwa nelokuthi ezokuvakasha ziye zaletha izinzuzo eziningi ngokwezimali. Kodwa ingabe lo mkhakha unethonya elihle ngaso sonke isikhathi? Ayoba khona yini amathuba okuvakashela wonke amazwe omhlaba esikhathini esizayo?

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 22]

Amacebiso Kulabo Abavakashela Kwamanye Amazwea

Ngaphambi kokuba uhambe

1. Bhala uhlu lwemininingwane ebalulekile—ukwaziswa okuphathelene nencwadi yokungena kwamanye amazwe, izinombolo zamakhadi okuthenga ngesikweleti nezethikithi lebhanoyi kanye nemininingwane ethile mayelana namasheke (traveler’s cheques). Shiya ikhophi eyodwa ekhaya, enye uhambe nayo.

2. Qiniseka ukuthi incwadi yakho yokungena kwamanye amazwe ivuselelwe uthole ne-visa esemthethweni; hlela ukuba uyogonywa uma kudingekile.

3. Qiniseka ukuthi unomshuwalense wezokwelapha ofanele, njengoba ukwelashwa ezimweni eziphuthumayo noma ukuthutha isiguli sisuka kwelinye izwe kungase kubize izinkulungwane zamaRandi. Uma unenkinga yokugula, hamba nencwadi kadokotela echaza isimo sakho nemithi oyiphuzayo. (Phawula: Ungase ungavunyelwa ukuba ungene neminye imithi kwamanye amazwe. Ukuze uthole imininingwane, thintana nehhovisi eliseduze lenxusa lezwe lakini noma lezwe ohlela ukuvakashela kulo.)

Lapho ususohambweni

1. Ungahambi nezinto eziyigugu kakhulu ongafuni zikulahlekele.

2. Zigcine kuwe emzimbeni izinto ezinjengencwadi yokungena kwamanye amazwe nezinye ezibalulekile, ungazifaki esikhwameni esiphathwayo noma emaphaketheni abonakalayo. Makungabi ilungu elilodwa lomkhaya eliphethe izincwadi zenu nonke.

3. Uma isikhwama sakho semali usifaka ephaketheni, kungakuhle usithandele ngamabhande enjoloba ukuze kungabi lula ngesigebengu ukuba sikukhuthuze.

4. Qaphela indlela osebenzisa ngayo ikhadi lokuthenga ngesikweleti, futhi ungalokothi weqele ngale kwesilinganiso semali oyinqumile. Uma weqa isilinganiso semali oyinqunyelwe, ungase uboshwe kwamanye amazwe.

5. Qaphela ukuba ungathwebuli amasosha noma izikhungo zempi noma zezimboni, njengetheku, ujantshi, noma izikhumulo zezindiza. Kwamanye amazwe lokhu kungabhekwa njengosongo kwezokuphepha.

6. Ungavumi ukuhambisa amaphasela owaphathiswe abantu ongabazi kahle.

Lapho uthenga izinto eziyisikhumbuzo

1. Khumbula, emazweni amaningi akuvunyelwe ukungena namazinyo endlovu, amagobolondo ezimfudu zasolwandle, izitshalo, uboya kanye nezinye izinto, ngisho noma kuyizinto ezincane ofuna ukuzithenga ukuze zibe yisikhumbuzo.

2. Qaphela lapho uthenga izinto zobumba ezicwebezelayo, njengoba ezinye zalezi zinto zingase zibe noshevu womthofu uma zingenziwanga kahle.

[Umbhalo waphansi]

[Isithombe ekhasini 21]

Isasasa lokuthatha uhambo lokufunda ngemvelo liye lakhula ngokwedlulele