Tourism Protects Traditional Communities and Local Cultures - Essay Example

Table of Contents Particulars Page No 1.0 Introduction 2 2.0 Positive and Negative Effects of Tourism on Traditional Communities And Their Culture 3 2.1 Strengthening Communities 3 2.2 Revaluation of Culture and Traditions 4 2.3 Cultural Empowerment and Cultural Exchange 5 2.4 Local Community Awareness 5 2.5 Standardization of Traditional Communities and Their Local Culture 6 3.0 Conclusion 7 4.0 References 9 1.0 Introduction This report has been designed in a systematic and synchronised manner to discuss on the broader topic “The extent to which tourism protects traditional communities and local culture”. The report not just looks to diagnose upon the positive aspects but equally looks to draw inferences on the negative side. Tourism has been the latest buzz word of 21st century which has grown significantly in the past decade and is expected to rise further in future years. It has become a global source of income generation techniques with more countries looking to find newer means to promote the tourism industry by attracting more tourists towards their specific culture and heritage along with drawing means to protect their traditional communities and their local culture. The report here clearly projects out the extent to which tourism has both positive and adverse affect on the local communities and their culture. Finally a conclusion is provided to ensure that readers are equipped with both theoretical and practical understanding of the entire topic under study. 2.0 Positive and Negative Effects of Tourism on Traditional Communities And Their Culture It has been a long debatable question of the extent to which tourism protects traditional communities and their local culture as there are both positive and negative sides of the same. The following sub points clearly describe the reasons behind it. 2.1Strengthening Communities Tourism has been successful in the past decade to add vitality of communities in many ways. One classic example of the same is traditional communities are known for their rich culture and heritage which has been preserved by ages. Tourism helps this cultural communities tradition to be known across the globe as the local festivals and events of such communities comes to be known on global basis. Tourism not just help the local culture to be known but equally contribute monetarily in terms of development of local business and further creating jobs and demand for their traditional products and services. With more tourism attracts better facilities for traditional communities and their local people as tourism significantly contribute to the growth and development of community facilities and services that otherwise might not have been developed. It helps in upgrading the standard of living of the local people and their traditional culture and heritage. It can contribute immensely in terms of different factors such as upgraded infrastructure, health and transport improvements, creation of new sports and recreational facilities, better public spaces as well as an influx of better quality food and commodities (Okech, 2008). However on the negative side, the adverse effect could be non-preservation of the traditional communities and their local culture as with technological advancements and higher standard of living the old and preserved culture may be at higher risk of being eliminated or changed. The contemporary life and society of the local communities may experienced a complete change from their traditional culture and heritage as tourist not only brings their suitcase in the destination they visit; they however bring their own lifestyle, habits and customs which may have significant influence on the local people to imitate the new lifestyle and move from their traditional culture, habits and customs (Burton, 2007). 2.2Revaluation of Culture and Traditions Tourism can greatly boost the preservation and transmission of the community culture and their historic traditions. Tourism can positively contribute only when tourism is practiced and developed in an appropriate and sustainable manner. Participation of the local communities is an essential ingredient for the success of tourism. A traditional community when involved in the planning, promotion and implementation of tourism is more likely to fetch better results. Furthermore, when the traditional communities are themselves involved the risk of non-preservation of traditional customs and local culture is eliminated to a considerable extent. Tourism as a result of the same helps in community development which is a process and capacity to make decisions considering the long term sustainable success of the economy, ecology and equality of all communities. In a nutshell, tourism thus helps in revaluation of the local communities and their local cultures. On the adverse side, tourism along with participation of the local communities leads to extensive commercial emphasis. The tourism industry takes upon the local culture as a part of tourism product by taking upon the traditional rituals and customs, dance, arts, music and crafts which highlight the traditional values as a means of tourist attractions. This often involves manipulating the original traditional culture for tourist benefits and may often lead to little or no resemblance to the original culture and experiences which had been derived and preserved from ages (Mowforth, et al., 2008). In some cases, it has witnessed that the original meaning of the custom or performance of the local people is lost as the same is replaced by the advanced tourist version. When such a situation is continued for a prolong period of time it threatens the culturally importance and its values. 2.3 Cultural Empowerment and Cultural Exchange Tourism not juts encourages improved local services and sustainable income generation from the visitors but equally contribute towards cultural empowerment and cultural exchange. Different tourists come from different cultural backgrounds and enjoy meeting with the local communities and learn their local culture. Furthermore the traditional communities often feel greater self-esteemed as a result of respectful interest shown by outsiders towards the local people and their traditional culture and beliefs (Mansperger, 1995). There is a complete mingle or exchange of different culture as a result of the same which allows local culture to grow significantly and in turn learn new cultural values and norms as per the current economic situation. However on the negative side, the cultural exchange may lead to erosion of traditional culture and values and widen the gap between cultural differences. Hence, it is necessary to maintain a right balance between the cultural exchanges which might otherwise lead to complete evasion of the original culture of the local communities. 2.4 Local Community Awareness It is common human nature to not appreciate their surroundings and to take what you have as granted. Often it is the outsiders who appreciate and teach the local communities the real value of their resources. These help the local communities to act more consciously and preserve their local culture, traditions, beliefs and values. Tourism helps in making the local communities more aware towards conservation and helps them preserve their local culture and tradition. Furthermore with more awareness come more responsibility in the form of waste management, clear environment, protection of natural resources etc which all helps in blooming of the local communities and their local culture. On the negative side, with local communities becoming more aware towards the environment protection and moving towards globalization shall look towards more tourists to visit their places and find newer means to attract more tourists. As a result of the same environmental impacts from excessive number of visitors may in tune disrupt the local environment and its cultural values and traditions. 2.5 Standardization of Traditional Communities and Their Local Culture The traditional culture and its beliefs were developed earlier as per the societal needs and specifications. However, many of such traditional customs and beliefs are near to obsolete and are of more hindrance in the modern era of development as the same lacks standardization. Tourism helps in brining standardization in different spheres for the traditional communities and their local culture. Standardization may be in different forms ranging from better standard of living to generation of sustainable income and preservation of the old culture and beliefs (Brunet,et al. 2001). With standardization comes community development and strengthening. The local people get a chance to meet different tourist and add upon new cultural values to shape the old culture in a standardized manner. Contrary with standardization there is always a high potential risk of outside control and economic leakage. The tourist or the outsiders may take “too much control” of the traditional communities. The outside developers may have significant financial strength and years of experience to squeeze out the traditional communities and the local people into only a supporting role. Furthermore, with standardization the risk of economic leakage is break through as the tourist may be more interested in buying international goods and patronizing internationally owned business over the locally traditional and cultural goods and products produced. This shall have a direct adverse impact on the preservation of traditional communities and their local cultures, beliefs and values. Furthermore, the risk of cultural changes is significantly trigger by standardization which in turn may have both positive or negative impact on the traditional communities as indigenous local people may themselves have mixed desires such as wanting to modernize their culture or retaining their traditional ways of life. 3.0 Conclusion The report thus looks to provide both positive and adverse effect of tourism on the protecting the traditional communities and their local cultures. On the positive side, tourism not juts helps in traditional communities towards sustainable income generation and improvement of the local areas but equally contribute to preservation of traditions, standardization, conversation, cultural empowerment, revaluation of culture etc. However, the negative aspects of the same may lead to over commercial emphasis along with economic leakage, outside control, excessive development, cultural changes, cultural shifts etc. Thus, it is viable to reflect that tourism considerably helps protecting the traditional communities and their local culture with its own adverse effects to the same. 4.0 References Brunet, Sandra, Johannes Bauer, Terry De Lacy and Karma Tshering. 2001. Tourism Development in Bhutan: Tensions between Tradition and Modernity. Journal of Sustainable Tourism 9.3: 243-263. Burton, B. 2007. “Qualitative Research in Finance – Pedigree and Renaissance”. Studies in Economics and Finance; 24 (1). Mansperger, M. C. 1995. Tourism and cultural change in small-scale societies. Human Organization, 54(1), 87Ð94. Mowforth, M., Munt, I., Charlton, C., Dawsonera 2008. Tourism and responsibility: perspectives from Latin America and the Caribbean. Abingdon: Routledge. Okech, R. 2008. Ecotourism and the economy: case study of Mara and Amboseli in Kenya. Journal of tourism 5, 9-13 Read More