There are many reasons to distrust the 'we will replace it with tourism' paradigm for reforming the economy of the uplands. But this is a personal story about mine.

People who are in favour of banning things - generally shooting, sheep or non-native trees tell us that the 1/9

jobs lost can be replaced with 'wildlife tourism' 'eco tourism' or similar. Dr Avery's book Inglorious includes a lengthy passage in which a 'reformed' gamekeeper becomes a wildlife tourism guide.

I think there are many economic and environmental reasons to doubt this idea 2/9

But this isn't to do with them.

About 10 years ago I was in the Philippines with my wife. We went to the Island of Bohol. There is a sort of standard tour for Bohol which someone had kindly arranged for us.

Included is a river cruise, with food and 'entertainment' 3/9

Part of the entertainment is a visit to a 'tribal village' You sit on the boat with loads of bored tourists and the 'tribal people' do 'culture' on the river bank in the form of singing and dancing.

It was one of the most depressing and degrading things I have ever seen 4/9

Miserable looking people in gaudy nylon 'traditional dress' singing and dancing.

There had once clearly been a culture there. Now there was show and people who once had autonomy and self respect were now reduced to the subjects of the whims of tourists and tour operators. 5/9

No doubt some clever person had told them that their was no need to give up anything they had. That they could keep their material goods, their land and their culture and grow rich as long as they were willing to act as entertainment for tourists.

6/9

Looking at the faces it was clear that along the way they had lost their autonomy and self respect. They were no longer people who lived life on their own terms and instead were entirely at the whim of outsiders.

And I see the same being offered to upland communities here . 7/9

"Abandon the ways of life you have chosen for yourselves and harvest the rich fruits of tourism. Of course you can keep you charming country clothes and tourists will love those clever dogs and make sure you do the accent they will enjoy not quite understanding you" 8/9

It's a 'no thanks' from me. I I don't want to live under the gaze and at the whim of outsiders. I value autonomy as a part of my mental well being and of that of my community.

I'm not going to be dancing on the river bank. 9/9