Social impacts of tourism

Social-cultural impacts

„ Commercialization of
culture
„ + Profitable to preserve
local traditions & crafts
„ - Culture loses meaning
„ - Reproductions of
products become
common
Social-economic impacts
„ Individual economic independence
„ + Increased wages
„ - Less dependence on others (loss of
traditions)
Social-economic impacts
„ Improved standards of living
„ + Improved facilities & infrastructure
„ - Increased taxes
„ - Inflation
Social-economic impacts
„ Changes in land value
„ + Increased land value
„ - Higher land prices
„ - Conflict over land use
Social-economic impacts
„ Labor force displacement
„ +- Migration to tourism region for
employment
„ - Displacement of residents from region
Social-economic impacts
„ Changes in employment
„ + More employment opportunities available
„ - Seasonal & part time
„ - Shift away from traditional employment
Social-economic impacts
„ Changes in political & economic
system
„ + New community leaders & new ideas
„ - Splits in unity among existing and new
residents
Social-cultural impacts
„ Growth in undesirable activities
„ - Growth in crime, drugs, gambling, prostitution
Social-cultural impacts
„ Social dualism (cultural exchange)
„ + Exchange between cultures
„ - Conflicts between cultures
 Social-cultural impacts
„ Demonstration effect
„ + Can improve standards of living
„ - Growth of imports
„ - Loss of traditions
Social-cultural impacts
„ Growth of resentment by residents
„ + None
„ - Growth of servile attitude of tourists toward
residents
„ - Competition for use of facilities between
residents & visitors
„ - Hostility of residents towards visitors
Residents’ names for tourists
„ Gorbies (Banff, Canada): An awkward and gawking
bird.
„ Fudgies (Mackinac Island, MI): A tourist who arrives
by ferry, tours the island, buys a pound of fudge, and
then leaves.
„ Grockles (Southern England): A commercially
worthless shellfish that does nothing but lie on the
beach all day.
„ Tourons (Myrtle Beach, SC): A combination of tourist
and moron used to describe slow-driving visitors.
Exceeding social carrying
capacity
Tourists sense
unfriendliness

Local resentment
increases

Number Residents slightly irritated

of
visitors
Curiosity about visitors

Increasing Tourism Development

Heritage Tourism
Heritage Tourism
„ Tourism that promotes travel to and
experiences of “the places, artifacts, and
activities that authentically represent the
stories and people of the past and present. It
includes cultural, historic and natural
resources.”
--National Trust for Historic Preservation
Getting started in Heritage
Tourism
„ On the National Trust for Historic
Preservation web site, please read the
following link about getting started in
heritage tourism:
„ http://www.nationaltrust.org/heritage_touris
m/getting_started.html
Case studies in Heritage
Tourism
„ Go to the following website and read
through some of the Heritage Tourism
Case Studies listed by the National
Trust for Historic Preservation:

„ http://www.culturalheritagetourism.org/
stories.htm
The National Register of
Historic Places
„ Go to the following web site and read
about the National Register:
„ http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/about.htm
National Heritage Corridors &
Areas
„ Areas with nationally significant heritage-
related attractions and resources.
„ Managed by USDI National Park Service

„ Designated by Congress

„ 24 areas exist today

Blackstone River National
Heritage Corridor, MA & RI
Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor
 World Heritage Sites

„ Sites of unique international cultural & natural

interest

„ Designated by UNESCO (United Nations Educational,

Scientific, & Cultural Organization)

„ 812 sites worldwide

„ A listing of World Heritage Sites can be found at:

http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/
Skellig Michael, Ireland
Taj Mahal, India
Grand Canyon National Park
What are some cultural World
Heritage Sites in the US?
„ Independence Hall, PA
„ Mesa Verde NP, CO
„ Statue of Liberty, NY
„ Monticello, VA

8 sites total
 What are some natural World
Heritage Sites in the US?
„ Yellowstone NP
„ Grand Canyon NP
„ Everglades NP
„ Redwood NP
„ Yosemite NP
10 sites + 2 International Peace Parks
 History of World Heritage Sites

„ 1959 – Plans to
Build Aswan
High Dam in
Egypt

Abu Simbel Temple, Egypt

 Designation Process

„ Country submits application to UNESCO’s

World Heritage Committee (WHC)
„ Plan for managing & protecting the site

„ WHC meets once per year

 Designation Process
„ WHC receives input about applications
from two advisory organizations
„ International Council on Monuments & Sites
„ International Union for Conservation of Nature
(IUCN; also known as the World Conservation
Union)

„ Site must meet at least one of the

following criteria
 Criteria for Selection of
Cultural Sites

i. Masterpiece of human creative genius.

ii. Exhibits the expression of human
values over time through architecture,
technology, or landscape design.
iii. Exceptional testimony to a civilization.
 Criteria for Selection of
Cultural Sites
iv. Outstanding example of a type of
architecture or landscape.
v. Outstanding example of a traditional
human settlement representative of a
culture.
vi. Directly associated with events or
traditions.
 Criteria for Selection of
Natural Sites
i. Outstanding example of major stages in
earth’s history.
ii. Outstanding example of on-going ecological
and biological processes.
iii. Contain areas of exceptional natural beauty
or phenomena.
iv. Contain significant natural habitats
necessary for conservation of biological
diversity
Any questions?