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Drug Tourism: General Overview, Case Studies and New Perspectives in the Contemporary World

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Drug Tourism: General Overview, Case Studies and New Perspectives in the Contemporary World EJTHR 2016; 7(3):188-202 Research Article Open Access Thiago Ferreira Pinheiro Dias Pereira, Leonardo Batista de Paula Drug Tourism: General Overview, Case Studies and New Perspectives in the Contemporary World DOI 10.1515/ejthr-2016-0021 Keywords: Drug Tourism; Drug Politics; Cannabis received 5 September, 2015; accepted 10 September, 2016 Tourism; Touristic Segments Abstract: Several are the motivations and natures of the activities undertaken by tourists, leading to the existence of different types of tourism, which, according to the World Tourism Organization, can be divided into major 1 Introduction segments (e.g. Sun & Beach Tourism, Ecotourism and etc.); each one with its own subcategories, as the religious The movements across the geographical space have tourism, experience tourism and so on. So, would it be always been a reality in human history. But in principle, possible to talk about drug tourism? Where, the drug itself it is only after the period associated with the “Industrial would present a significant role as a motivation for trav- Revolution”, with its significant changes in labor rela- elling. Drug tourism could be seen as the journeys under- tions, with intensive development in means of transport taken with the purpose of obtaining or using drugs, which and communication (the time category surpassing the are not available or are illegal in the tourist origin places. space category) and with its consequent changes in social The purpose of this article was to provide a general dis- behavior, that we can talk about “Tourism”, that might be cussion on the subject of drug tourism. In this task, some considered as one of the activities that most generates cur- important examples were cited and the positive and neg- rencies in the contemporary world. ative impacts on the country or region of destination, the Several are the motivations and natures of the activ- relationships between the different types of drug tourism ities undertaken by tourists, leading to the existence with the major segments defined by the UNWTO, as well of different types of tourism, which, according to the as new perspectives in this field were also discussed. As World Tourism Organization – UNWTO (2001), can be a case study, were presented information about cannabis divided into major segments (e.g. Sun & Beach Tourism, tourism in Amsterdam, Netherlands (derived from litera- Ecotourism and etc.); each one with its own subcatego- ture searches and questionnaires in field research). This ries, as the religious tourism, experience tourism and so is a topic discussed only superficially but which is an on. So, would it be possible to talk about drug tourism? obvious reality in various tourist destinations. Therefore, Where, the drug itself would present a significant role as it is essential the development of a deeper treatment a motivation for travelling. In this sense, drug tourism (or (deprived of prejudices) about the changes occurring in narco tourism) could be seen as the journeys undertaken the contemporary world (concerning the drug politics), with the purpose of obtaining or using drugs, which are which may open new frontiers for this type of tourism. not available or are illegal in the tourist origin places. Drug tourism can also be defined as the phenomenon by which one’s travel experience involves the consump- tion and use of drugs that are illegal or illegitimate both in visited destination, or in the country of origin of tour- ists. This would include cross a national border for obtain- *Corresponding author: Thiago Ferreira Pinheiro Dias Pereira, De- ing medications that are not sold on your own, or travel partment of Tourism of the State University of Rio de Janeiro (DTUR to another country in order to obtain or use drugs that - UERJ), Av. Lúcio Meira, 233. Várzea, Teresópolis (RJ) – Brasil, Tel: 55 are illegal in their own country, or even travel from one 21 36415381, E-mail: [email protected] province / municipality / state to another in order to buy Leonardo Batista de Paula, Department of Tourism of the State Uni- versity of Rio de Janeiro (DTUR - UERJ), Av. Lúcio Meira, 233. Várzea, alcohol or tobacco more easily (URIELY & BELHASSEN, Teresópolis (RJ) – Brasil 2005). © 2016 Thiago Ferreira Pinheiro Dias Pereira, Leonardo Batista de Paula published by De Gruyter Open This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 License. Drug Tourism: General Overview, Case Studies and New Perspectives in the Contemporary World 189 The purpose of this article was to provide a general dis- of the fact that over the time this term has been increas- cussion on the subject of drug tourism. In this task, some ingly associated only with illicit substances, usually, legal important examples were cited and the positive and neg- substances, such as alcohol and caffeine, are not seen ative impacts on the country or region of destination, the as drugs. This is a mistaken view, but it gained strength, relationships between the different types of drug tourism mainly from the UN treaties of 1961 and 1971 which aimed with the major segments defined by the UNWTO, as well to control and / or prohibit the production and distribu- as new perspectives in this field were also discussed. As tion of various substances. Even with the treaty of 1971 a case study, were presented information about cannabis being titled as “Convention on Psychotropic Substances”, tourism in Amsterdam, Netherlands (derived from litera- alcohol, tobacco and caffeine were not even mentioned. ture searches and questionnaires in field research). Thus, stigma and prejudice generated in relation to illegal This is a topic still discussed only superficially, but substances were also gradually being influenced by ques- which is an obvious reality in various tourist destinations. tions of cultural and moral values, and in some cases, the Therefore, it is essential to develop a deeper treatment term has come even to be considered as a synonym for (deprived of prejudices) about the changes (concerning “bad thing or without value “; of “something of little use, the drug politics) that are occurring in the contempo- or whose application is unknown”; of a “thing without rary world, which may open new frontiers for this type of quality”; of “having bad success” and even; of “prostitu- tourism. tion”, as it can be seen in the definition presented by an important dictionary of the Portuguese language (WWW. DICIONARIODOAURELIO.COM, 2015). Still based on the information provided by Araujo 2 General Overview on Drug (2014), the term “narcotic” (from the narkotikos in Greek - meaning “what falls asleep”), mainly from the 14th Tourism Century, was widely used by doctors to refer only the so-called “opioids”, substances known for their ability In addressing this topic, to avoid possible miscommuni- to anesthetize. At the beginning of the 20th Century, with cation, initially it might be necessary presenting some the emergence of the first national and international laws basic definitions as the concept of drugs itself, the most related to drug control, efforts were precisely directed to common drugs classifications, as well as the idea of restrain and regulate the use of these substances and, responsible drug use. therefore, the narcotic term (as well as its synonym To support these basic definitions presented here, “doping”) is now used to refer to any prohibited sub- it was used the book called “Almanaque das Drogas” stance; even the cocaine, a drug known for its stimulat- (Drug Almanac), written by Tarso Araujo (2014), which ing effects (which is not an opioid, therefore not having became an important reference in the context of the dis- the same effect on users), was classified by this term. cussion about drugs in the Brazilian scene. Thus, in This misconception occurs not only in the common sense general, broader definitions (provided by pharmacolo- and as an example we can quote the title of the first UN gists) would consider drug as any substance capable of treaty on psychotropic drugs (1961), referred to as “Single altering the normal functioning of an organism, a concept Convention on Narcotic Drugs.” very close to the one adopted in Ancient Greece, where Nowadays, especially in the Spanish language, the the word Pharmakon could be used both to medicines and term “narco” also came to be often used to refer to drug to poisons, meaning that no substance would be good or dealers. In this context, it is important to note that the bad in itself, the use made of them is what would deter- definition of drugs adopted in this work refers to psycho- mine its consequences. In this approach, cannabis and active drugs, that is, those who are able to change the cocaine would be classified as drugs, as well as aspirin behavior and / or the perception of users, regardless of the and caffeine. A more formal definition established by legal status of these substances (ARAUJO, 2014). the World Health Organization (WHO), in its Alcohol and The numerous terminologies developed for classify- Drug Glossary, interprets drugs as substances that affect ing drugs might vary according to different factors, and are the mind and mental processes. According to common often subjective. Regarding the origin of these substances, sense, in most of times, individuals would understand the most common ratings are: Natural, Synthetic and that drugs might be any substance that makes you “get Semi-synthetic. Regarding the effects generated in users, high”, and, in this case, they are usually referring to the drugs could be: Stimulants, Depressants and Disturbing. so called psychotropic or psychoactive drugs. Because As for the legal issues we have: Legal, Illicit and Controlled. 190 Thiago Ferreira Pinheiro Dias Pereira, Leonardo Batista de Paula Concerning the usage, the most common classifications highlight some relevant work already undertaken in this are: Medicinal Use, Recreational and Religious.
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