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Tourism Chapter 2.3 - the Social Impacts of Tourism - Coggle Diagram
Tourism Chapter 2.3 - the Social Impacts of Tourism
Positive social impacts
Cultural preservation
Many tourists are keen to visit places that have rich cultural heritage and are keen to learn more or participate in activities and festivals
Tourism can lead to cultural preservation as:
Tourism revenue boosts the local economy which provides an incentive to protect traditional cultural practices and art forms
Planning authorities may also invest money to encourage such traditional practices such as giving grants
This enhances preservation efforts, which also builds locals' sense of belonging
By preserving culture, it ensures the passing down of knowledge and cultural practices from generation to generation
Example:
Shadow puppetry in China is an ancient form which is important to local communities as it passes down history and traditions. Since tourists had shown growing interest in this field, innovations were made; people can watch a shadow puppetry show in virtual reality, helping to preserve and revitalise the art form
Enhancing Ecosystem Services
Protecting the environment for tourist activities and experiences can enhance cultural ecosystem services offered by nature, one example is the Sangjiangyuan National Park in China
This provides tourists and locals with:
Aesthetic Benefits:
Locals and tourists get to appreciate the beauty and scenery of the protected national park
Educational benefits:
Tourists get to learn about the conservation of snow leopards and experience the traditional cultures of the villagers when the tourists stay with them
Recreational benefits:
Locals and tourists get to engage in recreational activities that may offer relaxation such as snow leopard viewing, as well as other activities like hiking or camping
Spiritual Benefits:
Buddhist locals get to connect spiritually as tourism provides an incentive to protect the mountains and snow leopards, which are sacred to them
Negative Social Impacts
Commodification of cultural rituals and artforms
Traditions may undergo commodification because of the increased tourist demand and may lose their authenticity
This weakens their cultural value for both the local community and tourists
Cultural rituals may be exaggerated, staged or condensed to suit the needs and requests of tourists
Art forms may be mass-produced for tourists
Conflict among locals may occur between those that depend on tourism to make a living and those that do not want it as they are fearful of cultural dilution taking place
Example:
In Vancouver, Canada, the totem poles have been commodified and are widely available for tourists to purchase as souvenirs. however, most of these souvenirs and inauthentic pieces created without any collaboration from the native tribes, leading to conflicts between locals who sell souvenirs for a living and those that are fearful of the culture undergoing dilution
Cultural Clashes
Tourists can be insensitive to local norms, including religious customs and traditions, resulting in negative sentiments between tourists and the locals
Tourism may also result in negative impacts to local communities and their environment such as congestion or pollution, leading to negative attitudes towards tourists
Locals may perceive tourism as a threat to their sense of identity and also increase their cost of living
Example:
In Hawaii, USA, it was found that most locals did not wish for Hawaii to be opened up to the public after months of lockdown from COVID-19. Many tourists did not follow guidelines such as wearing masks properly. In addition, many locals have also always felt that tourists have no respect for the customs of the indigenous tribes
Rise in crimes
Destination regions may experience an increase in pickpocketing cases, as tourists often carry large sums of money and valuables with them, making them lucrative targets
Tourists are more likely to be easier targets as they are more relaxed and do not have a high guard
Tourists may also find themselves being targeted, if negative sentients build up
The increased crime rate will also lead to the locals having a weaker sense of security
Example:
in 2017, a tourist bus in Barcelona, Spain, was attacked by an anti-tourist group. They had punctured the tires and spray painted anti-tourist signs all over the bus
How may the interaction of tourists and locals influence the impacts of tourism?
Tourists and local communities mutually affect each other. their encounters with each other will determine the impacts that tourism can bring
The relationships between tourists and locals are unequal; more favourable to tourists as they feel that they have the right to do whatever, since they paid a huge sum of money for this experience
Example:
In Thailand, tourists have to pay to enter the villages of the Kayan Lahwi women who wear golden rings around their necks. Some women are happy to showcase their religion while also generating revenue, while other women may feel exploited by the tourism industry, as they are used as props for photographs and sometimes they are even photographed without their permission. However, since they are heavily reliant on tourism revenue, the women have no choice
More often, the negative impacts that tourism can bring to locals are of a higher magnitude. However, local communities are heavily reliant on the industry, and will be seriously disadvantaged if tourists stopped visiting