Mumbaikars love Mumbai from the bottom of their hearts! Hence, when a US travel vlogger, Tara Katims, called her Mumbai bit a 'slum tour’ she left her the city netizens upset. She was criticised by people of Mumbai on social media after her video of the India tour went viral.
Apart from Mumbai, she visited many tourist locations across India. Her travel vlog sparked a debate on social media after she portrayed a contrasting perspective of India during her visits to monuments, local markets, hotels, and slums across various cities.
The full-time solo roamer shared videos of her adventures on her TikTok account, @tarkatims, including a "tour of the Dharavi slums," going out clubbing, and taking a Pilates class.
Despite being "so nervous," Tara said she was "so glad" she took the tour. However, she has come under fire on social media for exploiting other people's "poverty" for her own "tourism."
Watch The Video Here:
im sorry did this woman just say that she went on a "slums tour" ????? pic.twitter.com/aYyFwUOluI
— kp (@earthlykisssed) March 16, 2024
In the now-viral video or vlog, Katims, along with another woman, is travelling to Kerala, Mumbai, Agra, Delhi, and other places. The woman starts by alerting viewers to Delhi's extreme danger and high air pollution levels. She continues by talking about her visit to the Taj Mahal. She also suggests wearing any thick shoes to her audience, warning them that they might be "run over" by tuk-tuks (electric rickshaws) at any time.
After Agra, she comes to Mumbai. In the video, she is heard saying that visiting slums in Mumbai and taking a cooking class was her favourite part of the trip. She said that during her slum tour and cooking class, the hosts were very respectful.
She visits Kerala at the culmination of the video, declaring that the southern region of India is "truly magical."
Soon after posting on the internet, her video went viral, and many users slammed her for calling Mumbai a 'slum tour.’ Numerous people expressed their disgust and criticised her concept of slum tours altogether on the internet. They said it was like encouraging poverty and that it was callous.
Why are you so poor that you could only afford to visit such parts of Mumbai.
— Se7en (@Se7en008) March 21, 2024
What’s wrong with her.
— Salvia Kasana|Z&H (@SalviaKasana3) March 16, 2024
Shame on you. Why don't you mention how British and other colonial people looted country so badly and responsible for such situation. Why you want a fame for filming or watching poorness of people. They are happy with their life they don't want attention from heartless people
— Sujit (@sujitsgawand) March 21, 2024
This is what happens when you incentivize building slums.
— Sushant Vichare (@sushantvichare7) March 22, 2024
Politicians bring them from small towns as their vote banks promising them free real estate under the name of redevelopment.
There is a saying that goes: If you point one finger, there are three more pointing back at you.
Similarly, here, a few users posted a video of America. In that video, people are seen living on the streets.
This is #America pic.twitter.com/l3TV4i0sxc
— Osum Bharat ( मोदी का परिवार ) (@Osumarts) March 22, 2024
This is all because of British rule, shame on you, ok , lets watch something similar in most developed country in the world https://t.co/sEAy4XL6QV
— srikanth chincholi (@srikanthchincho) March 22, 2024
The uproar over Katims' film highlights the larger problem of slum tourism and how it affects nearby communities. Some people contend that these tours can raise awareness of and support for impoverished places, others feel they perpetuate unfavourable preconceptions and don't really help the locals.
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