Assignment #6 was based in the French-speaking region of Geneva, where our class focused on Counter tourism. This entailed looking at a map of the city, identifying the “tourist” zone and then traveling to an area outside of that zone. We were to take a bus with no particular destination in mind, traveling 15-20 minutes in any given direction. This assignment required for us to create a “travel guide,” identifying the area’s history, notable restaurants, and landmarks worth visiting (parks, churches, etc.). Our class of sixteen was divided into groups of four, and below are some interesting ethnographic observations from the class.
• Each group noted that they encountered confused locals wondering why tourists would be outside of Geneva and in more remote areas outside of the city. A couple groups were informed by these locals “This is not Geneva, you know?” or that there was no reason for them to be in the “non-touristy” areas.
o There is a general belief that tourists should stay where they “belong,” as it was a rather foreign concept for tourists to be in cities that were not especially catered for us. This does not simply apply to the Swiss, but for tourism in general; even if we were to discover tourists in Aurora, Washington, we would most likely have a similar reaction.
o Although our class felt generally out of place experiencing Counter tourism, the locals were very friendly and tried helping the best they could. Often times, these areas had less English-speakers, however, several of our classmates spoke French and managed to ask basic navigational questions.
• Each location that the four groups visited were a little different from each other, but there was much to discover nonetheless about the people and lifestyles of these Swiss locals. Some areas were more for the middle class, whereas other areas observed were lower income families filled with apartment complexes.
o In Lancy, it is a predominantly a residential area of middle class apartments. It was difficult to communicate with the locals, as English was not spoken commonly in the city. However, there were several parks, although most of the citizens present were in a popular outdoor pool. Nearby, there were cafes and small restaurants under an apartment area, yet shopping centers were absent within this community. The key features were a beautiful Notre Dame church, the pool/community center, and the family-friendly parks. The ease of navigating through this city was quickly noticed as well, as it was in close proximity to the bus stop where the students arrived.
o In Viernier-Village there were stone streets lined with English-style homes. The use of English was virtually nonexistent, but nonetheless, it was described as a very pleasant and beautiful city. The ambience of this area was described to be the most valuable tourist “attraction,” and there were several water fountains, churches, and parks in the area. It was quiet within the city, but was swarming with people inside of restaurants and cafes. Lastly, there was a welcoming peacock to greet locals from Geneva into the high-class area of this village.
o In Fluorine, there was a large hospital in the center of the city. There were nicer apartments throughout the city, and highly populated parks for families and workers. In addition, there was an impressive flea market in the main community area. The most interesting field notes from Fluorine, however, was the frustration the students encountered in simply trying to escape from the tourist area of Geneva. It was said that it was equally stressful to get out of the tourist area as it was navigating within it, and it was mentioned that there seemed to be a “centrifugal force” as the same bus would keep going all around Geneva.
o In Meyrin, the area was about ten minutes from the French border, and the French culture was very much embedded in the lifestyle of these people. Almost every other vehicle at the main community/shopping center had a French license plate, and there were a number of French restaurants and creperies. This area was of a lower class, as there were a number of apartment complexes. In addition, there was very few people within this city, as most locals commute to Geneva for work each day. The shopping center we discovered had a CoOp, Migros, as well as other restaurants and clothing stores, although there were virtually no shoppers inside. There was a theater as well in this area, however, it was closed off by bars and closed to the public. Even though there were a couple parks in this area, it is not meant for tourists by any means as there was limited things to do.
Overall, this assignment demonstrated what could be discovered (or not discovered) when stepping out of the normal boundaries suggested for tourism. In addition, there are ideological ways that the world and spaces are represented and normalized, and social politics definitely play a role in this. Whether on tourist maps, world maps, and the like, historical narratives are written for the locals and tourists of Geneva that allow boundaries and spaces to be perpetuated.