2007年VOA标准英语-Momentum Growing for Responsible Tourism

By Mil Arcega
Washington, D.C.
10 July 2007
 

A worldwide poll of more than 100 million people has selected what it calls the new seven wonders of the world. The on-line poll picked:
- the Roman Coliseum
- the Taj Mahal
- the Great Wall of China
- Machu Picchu in Peru
- the Petra archaeological site in Jordan
- the massive Christ the Redeemer sculpture in Brazil
- the Great Pyramids of Egypt.
The new wonders are expected to boost tourism to some popular destinations, but it is also prompting some serious rethinking on the responsibility of tourists.  VOA's Mil Arcega reports.

The Pyramids of Giza

Of the original seven wonders of the world, only the Pyramids of Giza are still standing¹. But the organizers of the New Seven Wonders say there is no shortage of wonders in the world.

Tia Viering is communications chief for the Zurich-based committee.  "A wonder, we have been known to say in the past, is what makes you wonder,” says Viering. “It makes you stop and it takes your breath away for a second and you think 'Oh wow! Why? How? Who? When?' And it's not just a building that you think, 'Oh, that's sort of a nice building' -- it takes your breath away and it emotionally touches you."

The ancient temples of Angkor Wat

Viering says the difficulty was choosing only seven from a list of 21 of the world's most awe-inspiring sites. Among them, the ancient temples of Angkor Wat. Some fear rampant² tourism is destroying one of Cambodia's most popular destinations.

Historical preservationist John Stubbs is with the World Monument Fund.  "There's not a minute to waste in looking after this precious place because, without a doubt, it could be ruined by some wrong decisions," says Stubbs.

Inaccessible⁴ for many years, these monuments built for a 12th century king attract more than two million visitors every year. From just two hotels 10 years ago, today there are more than 100. In what was once jungle, new shopping malls, pizza restaurants and massage⁵ parlors⁶ dot the landscape.
Even tourists have mixed feelings about the commerce surrounding what were once places of worship.

People had various reactions.  "I think it takes away from it, I do," says one.

"I don't,” says another. “I feel that the importance of this place deserves people to watch it, see it, witness it."

Although the influx⁷ of tourists has brought jobs and millions of dollars to the local Cambodian economy, Stubbs fears greed will ultimately win out over preservation³.  It is a threat some communities are taking seriously.

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A villiager is employed at the luxury lodge

In Northern Kenya, where tourism and wildlife must strike a balance, a 12-bed luxury lodge situated⁹ on 7,000 hectares of prime conservation land is owned and managed by local villagers.

"Here 100 percent of everything is managed, right from the board, everything and all the management decisions that are made here are made by the community themselves,” says Lodge general manager Njalis Shuel. “And all the mistakes that we make, we make it and we learn from those mistakes."

Before the Masai community took ownership of the land, it was overgrazed, cattle rustling¹⁰ and poaching were prevalent and Shuel says poverty was very high.  But today the lodge generates income for 6,000 villagers and helps pay for the education of 500 students.

Margaret Bailey is visiting from Great Britain.  "My hope is that here, first of all, it will be the local people who are benefiting from the tourism and that their way of life is being supported by my coming here as far as possible, rather than being in some way gradually destroyed by an influx of tourists,” says Bailey.

Village elders say all decisions on community development are determined¹¹ by its impact on local culture, the environment and on Africa's best-loved animals.

Although small in comparison to popular destinations, the lodge is seen as an example of how responsible tourism can help generate income in poor communities while preserving the world's wonders for generations to come.

1 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

2 rampant   

adj.(植物)蔓生的；狂暴的，无约束的

参考例句：

• Sickness was rampant in the area.该地区疾病蔓延。
• You cannot allow children to rampant through the museum.你不能任由小孩子在博物馆里乱跑。

3 preservation   

n.保护，维护，保存，保留，保持

参考例句：

• The police are responsible for the preservation of law and order.警察负责维持法律与秩序。
• The picture is in an excellent state of preservation.这幅画保存得极为完好。

4 inaccessible   

adj.达不到的，难接近的

参考例句：

• This novel seems to me among the most inaccessible.这本书对我来说是最难懂的小说之一。
• The top of Mount Everest is the most inaccessible place in the world.珠穆朗玛峰是世界上最难到达的地方。

5 massage   

n.按摩，揉；vt.按摩，揉，美化，奉承，篡改数据

参考例句：

• He is really quite skilled in doing massage.他的按摩技术确实不错。
• Massage helps relieve the tension in one's muscles.按摩可使僵硬的肌肉松弛。

6 parlors   

客厅( parlor的名词复数 )； 起居室； （旅馆中的）休息室； （通常用来构成合成词）店

参考例句：

• It had been a firm specializing in funeral parlors and parking lots. 它曾经是一个专门经营殡仪馆和停车场的公司。
• I walked, my eyes focused into the endless succession of barbershops, beauty parlors, confectioneries. 我走着，眼睛注视着那看不到头的、鳞次栉比的理发店、美容院、糖果店。

7 influx   

n.流入，注入

参考例句：

• The country simply cannot absorb this influx of refugees.这个国家实在不能接纳这么多涌入的难民。
• Textile workers favoured protection because they feared an influx of cheap cloth.纺织工人拥护贸易保护措施，因为他们担心涌入廉价纺织品。

8 lodge   

v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆

参考例句：

• Is there anywhere that I can lodge in the village tonight?村里有我今晚过夜的地方吗？
• I shall lodge at the inn for two nights.我要在这家小店住两个晚上。

9 situated   

adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的

参考例句：

• The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。
• She is awkwardly situated.她的处境困难。

10 rustling   

n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的

参考例句：

• the sound of the trees rustling in the breeze 树木在微风中发出的沙沙声
• the soft rustling of leaves 树叶柔和的沙沙声

11 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。