Linking Culture and the Environment

R.E. Mitchell 173
Impacts
The survey and interview results indicate that tourism has brought many
changes to their way of life and their environs for both Taquile and Chiquian
residents. For this chapter, primarily sociocultural impacts will be considered
in the next section since the economic and environmental aspects are
described in other publications (see Mitchell, 1998; Mitchell and Eagles, 2001;
Mitchell and Reid, 2001).
Taquile Island
Consumerism: according to one interviewee, money was a relatively new
commodity for most islanders when tourism began. Since the local economy
was based on subsistence agriculture and fishing and the people were so isolated
from mainland Peru, hard currency was only needed to purchase sugar
or coca leaves (which are chewed) or to make house improvements. To obtain
cash, Taquile men travelled to nearby towns to work as farm labourers, or
sold their cattle and colle (local shrub used for firewood). Tourism made it
possible to stay on the island and earn sufficient income for the family. In
addition to handicraft sales, most respondents acknowledge that revenues
collected from transport, entrance fees, stayovers and the community restaurant
contribute to both individual and community wealth. Money is now
readily available to import televisions, radios, dry foods, fertilizers, pesticides,
building materials and other ‘luxury’ items previously unknown to
most islanders.
Individualism: traditionally, duty to one’s family and to the community is
considered of equal importance on Taquile Island. However, the general perception
is that a growing number of residents now pursue individual material
wealth with the spread of free enterprise and consumerism. Diminishing
unity is seen by some as linked to economic interests, such as increasing individualism,
external leakages to Puno agencies and businesses, and other
socio-economic factors. Some feel that this trend of individualism causes
negative impacts on community cohesiveness:
It’s probably true that [unity] has diminished. . . .With more solidarity,
spirituality and sense of community [in the past], there used to be more
concern for each other.
Many interviewees feel that individual ownership is adversely affecting the
work-sharing ethic common to Taquilean society. The majority of residents
still practice reciprocal work-sharing systems such as the ayni and minka, but
demand payment for work on government-sponsored community projects.
One key-informant deplores the growing number of children begging for
money or candy from unsuspecting tourists. Another feels that individualism
is directly due to tourism, e.g. opportunity for personal financial benefits,
and the national economic situation, e.g. recession and inflation.
Modernization: most respondents mention several lifestyle changes since
tourism began. The introduction of boat motors at the end of the 1970s significantly
reduced travel time for tourists. Still, it was not until the early 1990s