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Moralsk dilemma:

Marketing tourism with a social conscience
By Jon Fernquest

Who are the Padaung?

Today's article is about one trend that more and more people are opposing: the exploitation of Padaung hilltribe people, informally known to many as the the "long neck" or "ring neck" tribe, as well as other tribes, for a quick profit.

Their strange appearance has led to them being rounded up and kept in what amounts to "human zoos" for people to come and look at.

They come from the Thai-Burma border area so they usually don't have Thai ID cards, so local governments can easily assert control over their lives.

They are usually poor. The rings on their necks and the desire of some tourists to look at them close-up are often the most valuable thing they possess.

The casino in Tachileik, across the border from Maesai in Chiang Rai, once relocated a whole village next to the casino to entertain gamblers. Atleast they bought the Padaung shiny new rings.

In one word, the Padaung are vulnerable because they are poor.

Increasingly, tourists are disgusted at the exploitation of these people as tourist attractions and, more importantly, these "human zoos" detract from the overall dignity and image of tourism in a country where dignity and image are very important indeed.