2.3 Social impacts of tourism

Question 1

Types of social impacts

Answer 1

Positive impacts:
1. enhancing cultural ecosystems services
2. cultural preservation
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Negative impacts:
1. commodification of cultural practices and art forms
2. cultural clashes
3. rise in crimes

Question 2

Cultural preservation

Answer 2

• Many tourists are interested to visit places with rich cultural heritage and are keen to learn more or participate in activities and festivals.
• Tourism can lead to cultural preservation because:
  1. Tourism revenues boost the local economy which provides an incentive to protect traditional cultural practices and art forms.
  2. Planning authorities may also invest money to encourage such traditional practices
  3. This enhances preservation efforts, which also builds locals’ sense of belonging to their community.
• 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 art form which is culturally important to local communities as it passes on history and traditions.
• With tourists showing greater interest, innovations were made to attract viewers.
• For instance, people can watch a shadow puppetry show using Virtual Reality (VR).
• This helps to preserve and revitalise the art form.

Question 3

Enhancing cultural ecosystems

Answer 3

• by protecting the environment for tourist activities and experiences
• provides tourists and locals with aesthetic, educational, recreational and spiritual benefits.
  ———
  Example:
• In Sanjiangyuan National Park in China, sightings of rare snow leopards have drawn tourists.
• The villagers in Angsai village run a community-based tourism programme which allows tourists to stay with local families and have a chance to view these snow leopards in the wild.
• Sanjiangyuan National Park provides cultural ecosystem services such as:
  1. Aesthetic benefits: Locals and tourists get to appreciate the beauty and scenery of the protected National Park.
  2. Educational benefits: Tourists get to learn about the conservation of snow leopards and experience the traditional culture of the villagers.
  3. 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 such as hiking or camping.
  4. Spiritual benefits: Buddhist locals get to connect spiritually as tourism provides an incentive to continue protecting the mountains and snow leopards which are sacred to them.

Question 4

Commodification of cultural rituals and artforms

Answer 4

• As the demand for heritage tourism increases, traditions may undergo commodification and lose authenticity.
• 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 who support using their culture for tourism and those who fear losing the authenticity of their cultures.
  ———
  Example:
• In Kenya, many national parks are the traditional homes of African tribes, such as the Maasai, who have a rich cultural heritage.
• Tour companies often organise interactive experiences, such as entertainment events in hotels, enabling tourists to meet the local Maasai people.
• These events are often highly exaggerated, and tourists rarely have a chance to interact with locals in a meaningful way.
• Tourists may not be satisfied with the experiences as they might be different from what they expected.

Question 5

Cultural clashes

Answer 5

• Tourists can be insensitive to local norms, including religious customs and traditions, resulting in negative sentiment against tourists, including cultural clashes.
• Tourism may also result in negative impacts to local communities and their environments such as congestion and pollution, leading to negative attitudes towards tourists.
  ———
  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 COVID-19 lockdown.
• Many tourists did not follow public safety guidelines such as wearing masks properly.
• In addition, many locals have also always felt that tourists do not respect the indigenous Hawaiian culture.
• Some locals may perceive tourism to threaten their sense of identity, and increase their cost of living.

Question 6

Rise in crimes

Answer 6

• cause tourists often carry large sums of money and other valuables, making them lucrative targets.
• Tourists are more likely to be relaxed and off guard, making them easier targets.
• Tourists may also find themselves being targeted, if negative sentiments from some locals towards them continue to build up.
• The increased crime rates may make locals feel less safe.
  ———
  Example:
• In 2017, a tourist bus in Barcelona, Spain was attacked by anti-tourist protestors who punctured the tyres and sprayed anti-tourism graffiti on the bus.

Question 7

How nature of interactions between local communities and tourists influence impacts

Answer 7

• Tourists and local communities at tourist destination regions mutually affect each other.
• Their encounters determine the nature of the social impacts of tourism.
• The relationships between tourists and local communities are often unequal because the tourism industry tends to focus more on the needs and wants of the tourists over the locals.
• Often, tourists are in a position of power and privilege.
• Local communities have to accommodate and meet the needs of the tourists at their own expense.
• The greater the difference in power between the tourists and the local community, the more likely that negative social impacts would occur.
  ————
  Example:
• In Thailand, tourists have to pay to enter the villages of the Kayan Lahwi women who traditionally wear gold coils around their necks.
• Some women are happy to wear the gold coils because they can showcase their culture as well as earn tourism revenue.
• However, many women also feel exploited by the tourism industry.
• Some tourists view these women as exhibits that they have paid to view and pose with, and sometimes take photographs of them without their permission.
• Since they are reliant on tourism revenue, the women may have no choice but to let themselves be photographed.
  ————
  Negative social impacts are therefore usually more significantly felt by local communities at tourist destinations. At the same time, local communities may also depend on tourism and they would be seriously disadvantaged if tourists stopped visiting.