The Boxing Day tsunami had a greater impact on UK public consciousness than any other modern natural disaster. Thousands of Europeans were among those who died on 26 December 2004. A record amount of promised donations and aid was raised to help the victims: £400 million in the UK alone. Yet ten months after the disaster, thousands of survivors are still trying to survive in temporary camps. Many of them are being refused permission to return home. Governments and big businesses have plans for the beaches — and the plans don’t include the people who used to live and work there. Tourism is the new occupying force.
This report looks at the countries where the post-tsunami reconstruction plans involve
the tourism industry. (Even though Indonesians suffered terribly, Bali and other Indonesian
tourist areas were not directly affected by the tsunami.)