A/78/162 36. Indeed, tourist hunger for “authentic” experiences of traditional culture can imprison Indigenous societies in a stagnant state in which they fee l forced to reconstruct their ethnicity as photogenically as possible for their visitors. Indigenous cultural practices and festivals are embellished to attract and impress tourists without any consent or benefits for Indigenous Peoples. Such commodificati on can lead to a lack of respect for traditional symbols and practices and to the fragmentation of the community’s values. 61 37. Indigenous art and crafts are the result of a deep and significant elaboration process, full of symbolism, and ancestral techniques perfected through time with great dedication that now are reproduced for commercial purposes by transnational companies without Indigenous Peoples’ consent and without any recognition or fair and equitable participation in benefits. 62 Lack of State regulation on collective intellectual property rights furthers the misappropriation and misuse of Indigenous culture in the tourism sector. 38. In Finland, the tourism industry relies heavily on Saami culture to brand the country as a destination, For example, gift shops sell Saami-style handicrafts that are not produced by Indigenous crafters and imitations of Saami clothing are worn by tourism staff (see A/HRC/30/53, para. 61). The use of traditional Indigenous clothing by staff in the tourism sector, such as airline staff, without Indigenous Peoples ’ consent is a commonly raised issue in Asia as well. 63 39. In Guatemala, non-Indigenous people are appropriating Maya textiles and designs by commercializing and mass-producing traditional clothing, failing to respect women’s labour, technical knowledge and the sacred symbols and patterns found in textiles. The Indigenous women are undertaking efforts to protect their knowledge through patents (see A/HRC/51/28). The reproduction of Indigenous traditional textiles for commercialization for tourists is not an issue specific to Guatemala. 64 In Latin America,, tourism has, in some cases, led to a decrease in the demand for the community’’s traditional textile products, given that visitors prefer to buy industrially manufactured products rather than artisanal products handmade by local families. 65 40. Another issue was reported from Asia, where the traditional clothing worn by some Indigenous women provides little coverage and has been stigmatized by tourists from elsewhere in the country or has been perceived as an invitation to sexually assault the women. Indigenous women are consequently pressured to move away from their identity and conform to mainstream ways of dressing. 66 41. Indigenous Peoples’ cultures, traditions and arts are largely used as tourism attractions but are not effectively recognized or protected, and Indigenous Peoples do not receive proportionate benefits from tourism projects on their lands or for the use of their image or culture. 67 __________________ 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 12/25 Joint submission by International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs and A sia Indigenous Peoples Pact. Submission by Red de Mujeres Indígenas sobre Biodiversidad – América Latina y el Caribe. Joint submission by International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs and Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact. Joint submission by Indigenous Peoples Rights International and International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs. Submission by Community Empowerment and Social Justice Network, Nepal. Joint submission by Indigenous Peoples Rights International and International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs. Joint submission by International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs and Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact. Submission by Community Empowerment and Social Justice Network, Nepal. 23-13642