A lot of exotic destinations, including Rio de Janeiro, have two sides to them: the beautiful, touristy side shown in the media, and the "real," sketchier side.
Not everyone wants the postcard experience; in fact, some companies are actually paid to set up traffickers and tourists. Private Tours, a Rio tourism company decided to run specialized tours in the slums, or favelas for those looking for rougher parts of the city. They offered special excursions like photo ops with genuine gangs and drug dealers.
Sketchy Slum Tours
Rio Favela Trafficking Tours
Trend Themes
1. Dark Tourism - The trend of offering tours and experiences in unconventional and potentially risky locations, such as slums or crime-ridden areas, presents disruptive innovation opportunities for companies specializing in edgy travel experiences.
2. Authenticity Exploration - The trend of seeking authentic and immersive travel experiences that go beyond the traditional tourist attractions opens up opportunities for tour companies to create unique itineraries that showcase the lesser-known and grittier aspects of a destination.
3. Controversial Experiential Travel - The trend of catering to tourists' desire for controversial and unconventional experiences presents disruptive innovation opportunities for tour operators who can create safe and ethical ways to explore the 'real' and sketchier sides of popular destinations.
Industry Implications
1. Adventure Tourism - The adventure tourism industry can capitalize on the trend of offering tours in unconventional and potentially risky locations by creating unique and thrilling experiences that blend adventure with cultural immersion, catering to the demand for edgier travel experiences.
2. Travel Photography - The travel photography industry can seize the opportunity presented by the trend of offering tours in slums and crime-ridden areas by providing workshops and specialized tours that teach photographers how to capture the raw and authentic aspects of such locations while respecting the communities.
3. Ethical Tourism - The ethical tourism industry can address the trend of controversial experiential travel by creating responsible and sustainable tour packages that provide insights into the socio-economic realities of slums and marginalized communities while supporting local initiatives for positive change.