Introduction to Tourism

6 Social and cultural aspects of tourism

Introduction

The objective of this chapter is to identify some of the major social and cultural impacts on a society which can result from the development of, or an increase in, tourism. Society can refer to a country, region or specific location and to that group of people who collectively live in a location. Over a period of time, a society will develop its own tradition, attitudes and a style of life which may be more or less distinctive. It is this way of life which is usually incorporated in the word ‘culture’.

There is now a well-developed literature on social and cultural impacts of tourism. Many research studies are highly specific, and may therefore be of more academic interest rather than of ...