Topic 12

IMPACTS OF TOURISM:

Sociocultural and Environmental

Introduction
The lecture will look at a different and, in
many ways, darker side of the tourism
business
Its impact( other than in purely economic
terms ) on those who participate in tourism
and the residents of countries subject to
tourist flows
This will mean looking at both sociocultural
issues affecting hosts and tourists and the
impact of tourism on the individual tourists
health

Legislation and Guidance

Protecting the Tourist Destination
Awareness of the need for PLANNING
Authorities failed to distinguish
between cultural and environmental
impacts.
Origins of sustainable tourism
legislation cover both

Legislation (contd.)
Sustainable tourism
Eco-tourism
Green tourism
Soft tourism
Responsible tourism

Responsible tourism
underpinning a properly thought out
a management strategy
collaboration between private and
public sectors
to prevent irreparable damage to the
environment

Balancing sociocultural and

environmental elements
1. Using resources sustainably
2. Reducing over consumption and waste
3. Maintaining diversity
4. Integrating tourism in to planning
5. Supporting local economics
6. Involving local economies
7. Consulting stakeholders and public
8. Training staff
9. Marketing tourism responsibly
10.Undertaking research

AITO Guidelines for Embracing

Responsible Tourism
Protection of the environment flora,
fauna, landscapes
Respect for local cultures traditions,
religions and the built heritage
Economic and social benefits for local
communities
Conservation of natural resources, from
the office to the destination
Minimum pollution caused by noise,
waste disposal and congestion.

The Sociocultural Effects

Of Tourism
The Sociocultural impact of mass
tourism is most noticeable in less
developed countries
The impact is dependent on not just
numbers but also the kinds of tourist
the region attracts

Levels of Adaptation of
Tourists to Local Norms
(Smith,
1992)
Number of
Adaptations to

Type of tourists

tourists

local norms

Explorer

Very limited

Adapts fully

Elite

Rarely seen

Adapts fully

Off-beat

Uncommon, but
seen

Adapts well

Unusual

Occasional

Adapts
somewhat

Incipient mass

Steady flow

Seeks western
amenities

Mass

Continuous influx

Expects western
amenities

Massive arrivals

Demands
western
amenities

charter

Levels of Adaptation of Tourists

to Local Norms (Smith, 1992)
Explorers travel independently and
fully accept and acclimatize to the
foreign culture.
But, larger numbers of tourists travel to
find relaxation or adventure
Comparatively wealthy tourists to a
region may attract petty criminals. As a
result, it increases thefts or muggings

Some Ways In Which

Tourists Are Exploited
Drivers overcharge tourists by
manipulating their meters
Street vendors overcharge tourists
for items such as ice-cream
Different prices:
cheapest is available to locals,
a slightly higher price is demanded
from visitors with sound knowledge
of the local language,
the higher price is applied to visitors
with little or no knowledge of the
local language

Sociocultural Effects
Gambling, prostitution, and
organized crimes are now increasing
concerns in tourism
Some countries like Germany and
Japan, tour operators specialize in
organizing sex package tours to
destinations such as the Philippines
and Thailand
There are number of less direct and
less visible effects on tourist

Sociocultural Effects
In some African countries locals are
dissatisfied with their own standard
of living, when they see wealthy
tourists
Job opportunities and the higher
levels of pay attracts people from
rural communities.
These people may abandon their
traditional values. This can result in
an increase in promiscuity and

Characteristics of Host-Guest relationship

(UNESCO, 1976)
Relationships are transitory
and superficial
They are undertaken under
constraints of time and space
There is a lack of spontaneity
in relationship
Relationships are unequal
and unbalanced

The Hosts Impact of Tourism

Stage 1: tourists are excited by the
environment and the novelty of the
situation
Stage 2: tourist becomes disillusioned with
and more critical of the environmental as
they become accustomed as to the
situation
Stage 3: they learn to adapt to the new
setting and it becomes difficult to adapt
back again to their home environment
Gullahom, 1963

Staged Authenticity
Demand instant culture
Staged authenticity

The exploitation of
indigenous populations
Child labour
Sexual exploitation
Wholesale removal of
locals from their tribal
lands

Managing the Social

Impacts of Tourism
Good relations between locals and
guests
Keep visitors in some distance away
from residential neighbourhoods

The environmental effects

of tourism
Transport pollution
Noise pollution by transport
Pollution at tourism
destinations
Problems of congestion and
erosion

The environmental effects

of tourism
Erosion of constructed sites by
tourists on foot
The danger of tourism to flora and
fauna
Other environmental consequences of
mass tourism

Public sector planning for

control and conservation
Environmental protection
The public/private sector interface in
the development of sustainable
tourism