The influence of contemporary ethnic tourism on identity construction and cultural expressions of Afro-Brazilians in Salvador

Abstract

Ethnic tourism is a way for an ethnic group to be able to express its culture and thereby resisting dominance from the government or other ethnic groups. In a society where 80% is black, blacks in Salvador are not a minority but they are discriminated within the ‘racial democracy’. Because of poverty and bad organization in the city and tourism, ethnic tourism in Salvador is not creating the ultimate space for cultural and ethnic recognition. Locals still feel discriminated, tourism is a means of survival rather then cultural expression and tourists are still too often involved in sexual tourism and drugs then enjoying cultural performances.