This section of Exploring
Ecotourism examines connections among crafts, tourism and
shopping ... online and on the ground.
BACKGROUND
Travelers often spend months if not years researching a trip
ahead of time. Is it any surprise they usually want to buy some
local crafts while on vacation and that they actually seek out
craftmakers whose work they enjoy?
BUYING IN PERSON
Craft sales provides income for talented artisans who sell
their products to tourists. The educated traveler spends a longer
time visiting the artisan than someone who purchases a package
trip and has little idea of what to expect.
According to Professor Robert
Healy, shopping at artisan's home workshop can eliminate
more than 40 steps in the shipping chain. Buying direct provides
a higher profit for the artisan and a more memorable experience
for the buyer.
Purchasing from an artisan provides a more interesting tale
to share with friends than 'I bought that at Pier One.' Toward
that end, Planeta.com features
articles that promote self-guided tours that promote the purchase
of locally-produced crafts.
ENGAGING THE BUYER
One missing step is developing engaging brochures and business
cards that show a traveler how to reach the town or market where
the artisans make their sales.
The artisans say that to succeed, patience is required. "You
won't make sales everyday and some artisans get discouraged,
saying that the time spent in a market is time lost from producing
something," said weaver Juan Bautista.
CHANGING TIMES
Those who buy the artisania commercially complain that the
artisans do not produce the products of a standard quality or
on time. Says one: "If an artisan finishes an order ahead
of time and a tourist asks if they can piece a piece, the artisan
often says 'yes' and then tells me that the order is incomplete
and that I need to wait."
Another complaint of the buyers is that artisans may not produce
materials of a sufficient quality. When problems are pointed
out, they respond that it's inevitable in the production of
handcrafts.
MEXICO
The southern state of Oaxaca
is world famous for its crafts that range from colorful wooden
figures to black pottery. Markets
have been popular for centuries.
OAXACA OPTIONS
After the 9/11 crisis in 2001, tourism in the villages near
Oaxaca City plummeted and emmigration from these towns rose
as unemployement increased. To highlight the opportunities for
travelers already in Oaxaca, Planeta
co-hosted a seminar on artesania, tourism and the Web in the
Oaxaca Options round table. This was followed by an annual rural
tourism fair.
WALK WITH THE WEAVERS
On November 1st Associated Press syndicated a story
about the impact of the summer's political unrest on the
craftspeople. "We haven't sold a single thing in about
five months," weaver Luis Lazo Mendoza told the Associated
Press reporter. "We don't have a Web page to sell over
the Internet. Besides, people like to feel the texture and quality
of the carpet."
The article states that Lazo Mendoza normally sells three or
four of his families' hand-woven, originally designed carpets
a week, for about US$75 (euro60) apiece. But since the political
problems started in late May, 45 unsold carpets have piled up
in their home. Weavers who normally use the proceeds of their
sales to buy more wool for yarn have plenty of wool, but money
for food and daily expenses is running out.
Planeta.com collaborates with the artisans and the Community
Museum in Teotitlán del Valle promoting weaver-guided
tours.
E-COMMERCE, E-TOURISM
While websites documenting craft production is on the rise,
few of the artisans sell their work via e-commerce.
Primo Aquino works in the town of Santa
Ana de Valle had his own website
operated by Catgen.
That site has disappeared.
Individual efforts are succeeding. Scottish-born David
Sutherland, develops websites for the artisans in Oaxaca.
While there have been efforts to train artisans in developing
economies how to make effective use of the Web, most artisans
do not use computers and rarely use phones. For example, in
2005 many families in Teotitlán
del Valle and Santa
Ana del Valle were just getting phones installed.
Likewise U.S.-born Eric Mindling purchases crafts and organizes
tours via Manos
de Oaxaca, which educates readers and travelers about local
crafts. |
