TAKE A HAITIAN VACATION ON ROYAL CARIBBEAN

By IVY BARKAKATI

We here at VBS are no strangers to the seedy kinds of tourism westerners engage in overseas. Whether it’s the economic rubber-necking of poverty-tourism or the pill popping pharma-tourism, we’d say covering the exploits of dark-tourists is well within our lil’ wheelhouse. That having been said, we’re not sure if there’s a tidy expression for the pitch-black voyeurism Royal Caribbean is currently offering its patrons.

Last Friday, a mere three days post-earthquake, Royal Caribbean resumed docking ships at a Haitian resort, mere miles from people/bodies still trapped beneath rubble. The company claims its ships are functioning as “transport vessels for relief supplies,” but really, they’re still gluttonous pleasure vessels, obscene symbols of triumph over death and decay. Maximizing profits by any means necessary. And in this anemic economy, who can blame them? Amiright? What’s a few raised eyebrows when white people still require souvenir cougars and cornrows?

By IVY BARKAKATI 2 years ago Like · Comment · Share