Photo Essay: The Pork Roast Tourism Study

Mass tourism. Package holidays. Charter flights. This is 'travelling' for millions.

Until late January 2008 I had never tried it, preferring to travel independently. But my family and I fancied a bit of sun in mid-winter and we went to Sharm el-Sheikh, on the Red Sea, for 14 days.

For some strange reason I couldn't help thinking about the novels of Michel Houellebecq. In particular Platform and Lanzarote, wherein he describes this form of tourism in no uncertain terms.

Charter tourism is a removal from reality. It isn't travelling per se, it is more escapism. Removing an individual from their everyday and plopping them somewhat rudely into a fantasy world of swimming pools, palm trees and foreign 'culture'. Creating the illusion of travelling without all the trials and tribulations.

Charter tourism removes the difficulty inherant in 'real' travelling. It cuts away the challenges and lets the charter tourist do important things. Drinking beer or cocktails at 10 in the morning. Leering at young, bikini-clad girls and well-formed men. Working hard on a suntan that will make the colleagues and family at home envious.

"See me. I am suntanned. I have travelled. I drank beer all day long while you were working. Envy me."

Pale, pasty white people roasting like pork roasts under a dangerous sun.

It is a simple pursuit. Chuck a few excursions into the deal to give the tourist the feeling that they have experienced 'culture' and you're all set.

While in Egypt I decided to record my impression of mass tourism through a similar eyeglass as Houllebecq. Not particularly flattering, not a little sharp and insensitive. But this is what I saw and how I saw it.

Pale Europeans and Russians wrapped in a self-created illusion that they're exotic and cultured and that they are 'travelling'.

Have your say! Write an article »