Favela Slum Tours

Up until now the image of the favelas has lacked balance. It's good to see the artists selling their art to tourists.

Yeah I can see the economic benefit to some locals but having lived in a poor country, poverty/misery tourists make me cringe. They are so embarrassing to locals, most other poor people who don't directly benefit and other foreigners with their cameras and inappropriate clothing.
A lot of the arguments here pro- this form of tourism could also be used for supporting prostitution.

Check out this pod on a similar theme.

http://current.com/items/88970720/slum_safari.htm

This is putting some money directly into the favelas and helping to employ people there in legitimate work. That is a very good thing.

This seems very dangerous to me. Not in a physical sense, but in a moral and economic way. People are going to start depending on the tourists. What will happen when they stop coming?

hello there i have been to brazil many times and it is gret to see that the favellas are safe for tourist to see.In the past it was not. I t hope things get better there and god bless this amazing country. I love brazil regardless of all the good or bad. I will return soon. many huggs for brazi what a country. travelindave

It is interesting that in the video that one white male said he thought visiting the favela slums would be like going to a zoo.

It is good to see those in the favela's i.e. projects getting something out of the poverty that Brazil allows to exist among its people. But the telling part is to see how the white man running the tours charge the people a commission to have them visit and buy from those who live in the favela. It is still a situation where those who have benefit more than those who have not. The guy organizing the tour is clearly taking advantage of them. Just because the people in the favela are making more than they may have ever done, it does not make it right.

I hope that the artists and others business people will get together and organize their own tours to the favelas so that will get the most benefit.

I am born and raise in Rocinha and I am a tour guide here but my expereinces are much diferent then what is shown here in these films.

If you want to know more about me and my social experiences here. I do not like the word tour. I prefer visit or social expereince.

Zezinho
rocinhajj@yahoo.com.br

impressed!

Seems a good way to help boost the economy of the Favelas.

I would like to see more on this subject.

yes this does help keep money in the favela but I am agains the tour guide taking comission from the artists.

This guy charge $70 reais per person to make a tour so if he have 4 people x 70 = $280reais for 1 tour and this guy make 2 tours a day.

I know becase I live in Rocinha, the average person here is lucky if they earn $20 reais a day..