Linking Culture and the Environment

174 Community Perspectives in Sustainable Tourism
when modern technology began to significantly affect islander lifestyles.
Major improvements in keeping with modern trends include a community
telephone, solar lighting, television sets and the increased use of pesticides.
The Taquileans built a tour agency office in Puno with their own funds and
initiative in the late 1990s, and now use the Internet on a regular basis,
although its use is often interrupted by the island’s lack of electricity (Zorn
and Farthing, 2007, p. 682). Perhaps the greatest visual change is the replacement
of traditional straw thatching with corrugated tin roofs on many houses.
Tin is quickly installed and low maintenance. In addition, synthetic ‘wool’
(machine-spun, commercially dyed yarn purchased from Puno venders) is
gradually replacing the traditional use of natural sheep and alpaca wool in
islander handicrafts. Simpler patterns and techniques may earn greater revenues
but many feel that the quality of workmanship has deteriorated compared
to the 1970s. Still, one key-informant suggests that it is up to the
Taquileans to decide for themselves what degree of change is acceptable:
There was a period when the influence of tourism was so strong that everybody
was weaving and nobody farmed. But they still had to eat. The good thing is
that they maintain their cultural identity and their principles. We (I feel) should
not impede what they want. It would be a crime if we prevented contact from
the rest of the world and turned Taquile into a living museum.
Globalization: non-local interviewees note that globalization negatively
affected Taquile and its traditions. Extensive media coverage of Taquile since
the mid-1970s opened its unique culture ‘hidden’ from the world, causing an
annual influx of thousands of foreign tourists. A few Taquileans now travel
frequently to Europe and North America on promotional tours to dance at
folklore festivals and sell weavings. This fast pace of change is worrisome to
those who believe the island has become more cosmopolitan, but risks losing
its traditional sense of identity.
Chiquian
Disharmony: Chiquian appears divided about its own sense of unity. There is
a sense of trying to self-organize for tourism but without achieving broadbased
support within the community. Some believe that jealousy or laziness
hinders the improvement of services, or that the mining issue causes division
among neighbouring communities. Whatever the case, community unity in
Chiquian appears to be lacking.
Emigration: some interviewees feel that a cultural factor influencing residential
attitudes towards tourism was the high emigration from neighbouring
towns and regions to Chiquian (only 54% of Chiquian respondents were
native born compared to 99% of Taquile respondents). Lack of homogeneity
among residents in terms of birthplace may be partly responsible for the general
lack of overall support. Significant differences in class, education, culture
and other factors may make it difficult to achieve consensus on tourismrelated
issues. In addition, residents may spend only part of their time in
Chiquian, or just long enough to provide an education for their children. Such
factors may contribute to feelings of indifference about the community.