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Jungle is a cutting-edge travel agency specializing in tourism to destinations devastated by disaster and climate change. And until she found herself at the mercy of a predatory colleague, Yona was one of their top representatives. Now on the verge of losing her job, she’s given a proposition: take a paid “vacation” to the desert island of Mui and pose as a tourist to assess the company’s least profitable holiday.
When she uncovers a plan to fabricate an extravagant catastrophe, she must choose: prioritize the callous company to whom she’s dedicated her life, or embrace a fresh start in a powerful new position? An eco-thriller with a fierce feminist sensibility, The Disaster Tourist introduces a fresh new voice to the United States that engages with the global dialogue around climate activism, dark tourism, and the #MeToo movement.
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Title : The Disaster Tourist
Author : Yun Ko-Eun
Published in English: 2020
Language : English
Pages : 200
Genre : Fiction
Age recommendation : 13+
Since my friend shipped several Korean books last month, so I started to read any Korean author's books in my collection. I was very afraid of running out the books in my collection so last time I decide to read any other than Korean books.
The Disaster Tourist is one of the books that I picked simply because I love the yellow cover the most. I haven't read the blurbs or reviews. Sometimes, in life, we need this kind of spontaneity when picking up a book on the shelf.
And, I am not disappointed. The Disaster Tourist brought a very unique theme and provoking point of view that I seldomly find in the books I ever read. This book is about Tourism, the greatness and the sorrow that is brought together and retold from a travel employee perspective.
The Jungle is a travel agency specializing in a disaster tourist attractions. The agency creates many programs to allow the traveler to visit a used-to-be disaster location and experience also gain sympathy from the locals.
Ko-Yona has been 10 years with the company. She is one of the key people to create new programs before it being sold to the market. Yona has been working intensely to create a travel experience in Jinhae- a shore city that was hit by a tsunami recently.
But something is not quite right. Her Team Leader, Mr. Kim gradually acts hostile toward her. Three times, Mr. Kim has been sexually harassed her. The news also spread quickly, some victims of Mr. Kim ask Yona to join strikes with them to start a protest so Mr. Kim can be processed by HR.
Yona, like any typical victim, denied that it is sexual assault. Mr. Kim only 'touch' her several times, not as much as other victims, and most of all, maybe, It was Yona's mistake. Mr. Kim is so powerful that any person who went to challenge him, ends up voluntarily resigning from his position.
Want to shake off the bad thing that happens in the office, Yona receive an offer from Mr. Kim to do a business trip to review one of the declining travel packages in Mui, Vietnam. Yona understood that an overseas business trip is usually given to an employee that wants to end his career with the company. But Yona thinks it will clear her mind.
Yona went to Mui, disguised herself as an ordinary traveler, and assessed the program. Mui is clearly on the edge of the tourist peak cycle. There are no volcanoes like advertised, the desert is so small that may be dune is the appropriate name, and the floating house is strange as well.
Six days after staying on the island, Yona is ready to come back to Korea. But, an accident happens, when she uses the lavatory at the other train's car, the train divides its route and the car goes in the other direction. Missing her baggage, passport, and purse, Yona finds herself lost in translation.
She decided to come back to Mui, maybe the resort can help her. But when she arrived, everything is so different from the first time she arrived. Like everything that happened is just a theatrical act. The resort, that initially full of employees, is now like a deserted place. Even the locals, didn't seem to accept Yona's presence.
After several attempts to request help from the Jungle, the resort manager learns that Yona is Jungle's employee most of all, the one who is responsible for the program assessment. He then offered a one-time opportunity to Yona. A chance that may make her successful so she can replace Mr. Kim, or just seeing her name printed again in the booklet of Jungle's travel program.
This book brings the issue of how tourism impacted the local region. Many people believe that when a resort is built, the economy of the island will be so developed and it trickles down to the local people. But most of all, people didn't realize how much it affect the local economy. In Mui's case, even the locals cannot enter the beautiful beaches again because it is limited to the resort guest only. Other than that, tourists may only buy souvenirs or food stalls from the locals, which didn't impact as much as the ecological damage.
See? The theme is as strong as the tsunami. Yet, the author only touches base on this issue. Also, the issue of sexual harassment may be only 5 pages long and even the author is not comfortable bringing up this issue. I don't think it is necessary and relevant to the story.
Yona's character is also not the type of smart, independent, and detailed type that can bring many great travel programs as described in the early books. She is timid and indecisive. Additionally, the author didn't show much of Yona's mind so we cannot have a special bond with her. And what disturbed me most, Yona frequently overheard locals said about this thing and that as if Yona understand the language already. It doesn't mention that Yona can understand the language after several weeks staying.
The author focused on the detail of the destruction of Tourism, and there are a few lines worth remembering. Other than that, we can close the book not to be urged to finish it. Lucky me, I have time to read so I can finish it before I change my mind later.
It is not a bad book or the great one. A good book!
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