Not quite sustainable tourism

As I delve into researching my travel plans for next year, I’ve taken a look at few organised tours. (hey, I don’t really fancy sub-Saharan Africa on my own).

For some reason, the tours have the worst names. It’s normally some sort of banal pun and/or mildly patronising reference to the country, like Turkish Delights, Jewels of South East Asia or Colours of Morocco.

However, I came across one title that was a little more, er, colourful, which is a tour of South America called ‘the Conquistador’.

Excuse me? The Conquistadors were a bunch or imperialist religious zealots, who mercilessly colonised South America in the 16th century, wiping out up to 95% of native populations through a combination of guns, germs and steel. They systematically attempted to wipe out civilisations like the Aztecs, trying to remove all traces of the indigenous religion and language. The Aztecs weren’t exactly loveable good guys either, but I would have though that calling a tour ‘the Conqueror’ might send the wrong message.

What’s next? A 2 week fast paced ‘Blitzkrieg’ tour of central Europe?

A ‘Spanish Inquisition’ exploring Spain and Portugal?

How about a lovely sailing tour of coastal Africa, on board the Amistad?