| Have you ever wondered if mass tourism actually | | | | rationing measures.The city cuts off the water |
| spoils the very thing it comes to observe in a | | | | supply to certain residential areas throughout the |
| foreign country? I've been wondering this a lot | | | | city in hopes of conserving water. Rationing in the |
| lately. Does the onslaught of tourists flooding into | | | | neighborhoods is even more severe when the |
| a particular place to enjoy what that place has to | | | | tourists come in hordes, straining the system in |
| offer end up becoming the source of that place's | | | | the hotels and hostels. The city officials cut water |
| ruination?This is both confusing and, of course, a | | | | off from the residents so the tourists can bathe |
| bit hypocritical of me, a travel writer, to even | | | | and flush the toilets.The priority here seems a bit |
| suggest. It has, however, been on my mind.More | | | | a skewed. Are not the city services meant for |
| than once, I've met or corresponded with those | | | | those who support these services by paying their |
| who have visited my adopted home of | | | | taxes? I mean, who should come first, the |
| Guanajuato because of the articles my wife and I | | | | tourists or the citizens of Guanajuato?One of my |
| write. Based on our first two books, one couple | | | | wife's private ESL students told her a horrifying |
| attributes their moving to Guanajuato to us. So, in | | | | example of how this water shortage works:1. |
| a very real sense I am a source of this problem. I | | | | They have to take sponge baths with their |
| am drawing people here. Hypocrisy?Massive | | | | bottled drinking water that they heat on the |
| tourism can put a strain in the infrastructure of | | | | stove.2. They have to find a friend or family |
| any place. Basic services such as water gets | | | | member somewhere outside the neighborhood |
| stretched to the max. Water, something | | | | with running water to take a weekly shower.3. |
| Americans take for granted, is not as renewable | | | | Her husband and son have to walk to a public |
| a resource in Guanajuato as it is in most places in | | | | water source to fill buckets with water to flush |
| the States.Guanajuato is a mountain desert with a | | | | the toilet.This goes on while water for the tourists |
| Steppe Climate. It is dependent on the annual | | | | flows freely. I can guarantee you the tourists |
| rainfall (or lack thereof) to refresh and replenish | | | | don't have to go in search of water to go potty |
| its reservoirs. The current problem is the last two | | | | or to sponge out their pits.It would be lovely if |
| rainy seasons have not been "up to snuff." The | | | | there were a steady and renewable supply of |
| rains have been sadly lacking and now we're in | | | | water all the time for everyone. There isn't! |
| trouble.The influx of tourism this year is making it | | | | And it seems to me that those who live here, |
| worse. It seems the tourists just keep coming | | | | who raise their families here, should have |
| and coming. This is a good thing for the | | | | priority.The main problem is the tourism season |
| merchants but how will the city keep the water | | | | for most Americans and Canadians is June |
| flowing? Normally, the city implements water | | | | through August. |