Introduction to Tourism - Term Paper Example

Introduction to Tourism Table of Contents Introduction to Tourism Table of Contents 2 Introduction 3 The Socio-Cultural Impacts of Tourism 3 Arguments relating to Isolation and Integration of Tourists 4 Conclusion 6 Reference List 7 Introduction Tourism is observed to act as an effective driver of global trade and economic activity related to a specific region. It is also observed to effectively contribute in the reduction of poverty through the generation of employment opportunities and enhancement of the economic potential of a region. The paper aims to reflect on the social and cultural impacts of tourism along different regions. It would aim to reflect on both the positive and negative nature of impacts of the tourism business. Based on the inferences obtained relating to the understanding of the social and cultural impacts the paper intends to conduct a case study based research. The research would aim to reflect on the manner the tourists are to be accommodated whether in private resorts or in developing the existing tourism sites to help in the integration of the visitors. The Socio-Cultural Impacts of Tourism Tourism tends to generate a varied number of impacts on the social and cultural environment of a region. The development of the tourism potential relating to a region contributes in the emergence of commercial undertakings and thereby contributes in the generation of effective revenue figures and profitability potential. Though the above issue is taken to enhance the parameter of commoditisation for which it is considered as negative; however it also contributes in the generation of the revenue earning and profitability potential of the area. The development of the financial aspects by dearth of tourism related to the different regions is observed to potentially contribute in the enhancement of the lifestyle of the people. Similarly the growth of tourism in different regions is also observed to largely contribute in the growth and development of entrepreneurial activity like the emergence and sustainment of the companies pertaining to the small scale sector. Tourism is also observed to generate considerable opportunities relating to employment in the different regions in terms of developing professions related to catering and tour guides. Development of tourism is also observed to significantly protect and foster the social and cultural fabric of the region. It also contributes in protecting the social customs and the heritage factors of the region. Tourism as a global activity also contributes in helping the different economies to effectively share needed information amongst each other. This contributes in the development of a uniform model for the tourism activity for the developed and emerging markets. Sharing of the cultural parameters between the different nations is taken to enhance the cultural parameters of the developing or the emerging regions. Tourism also effectively contributes in the promotion of the sustainable development of different regions through the empowerment of the potential of the local communities and authorities. This helps in augmenting the decision making potential of the people in the different regions to promote the economic and social development of the regions. Further the growth of tourism operations along different regions effectively contribute in the generation of different types of social programs (UNTWO 2014). The growth in the level of tourism in the emerging nations reflects a continuous flow of visitors from developed nations. This fact contributes in the emergence of the issue of cultural imperialism in that the growth of tourism from the developed countries tends to generate an increasing influence on the cultural dimensions of the emerging countries. This is considered as a negative impact or influence of tourism business. Increasing dominance of the westernised culture is potentially observed to disturb the social fabric of the developing nations thereby helping in the growth of conflicting attitudes, behaviours and also in the changes in the dietary and wearing habits of the people. Growth of tourism operations is also found to effectively contribute in the increase of employment of the female workforce in the different regions. Increase in the growth of employment opportunities for the women population as compared to the male workforce accounts for the changes in the social scenario in the developing nations. Similarly, increase in the flow of tourists from the developing countries to the western nations and vice versa also relates to the growth of different types of diseases like AIDS and other type of contagious diseases. Advent of tourism is also observed to contribute in an unlikely increase of population which in turn increase the level of constraints related to the use of public resources. Growth in the number of visitors and also in the number of staffs relating to the tourism operations is observed to create trouble pertaining to the management and utilisation of the food, shelter, health and employment resources (Sharma 2004). Arguments relating to Isolation and Integration of Tourists Based on the above discussion the paper would aim in the generation of case studies related to the accommodation of tourists in private lodges or in integrating the tourists through development of the tourist sites. In the first case the accommodation requirements for tourists pertaining to the category of Visiting Friends and Relatives (VFR) is evaluated based on the tourist visits to Townsville, Australia. It is observed that VFR category of tourists tending to visit the Townsville area generate greater significance in residing in commercial accommodations. This contributes in the development of the tourist sites for helping in the accommodation of tourists in different types of commercial accommodations. Like Townville, other areas like Sunshine Coast and Ballarat in Australia are also observed to be emerges as effective areas contributing in the development of commercial accommodations. This reflects the essential development of the tourism sites in the Australian region to contribute in the significant growth of tourists (Backer 2013). Other cases of tourism activities related to Visiting Friends and Relatives (VFR) owe to the growth of visitors in different American regions like Waco and also for other Canadian regions like Vancouver and Calgary. The tourism activities related to Waco are observed to effectively integrate to help in the enrichment and enhancement of the tourism sites. Thus the local residents in Waco act as effective ambassadors in promoting accommodation for tourists and also in providing information related to the local cultures. Similarly for the Canadian region, Vancouver it is observed that the tourism operations are effectively integrated to help in the enhancement of the tourism sites. This also contributes in generating increased awareness for the development of the tourism spots and sites for attracting larger number of tourists. In another case, Calgary, a Canadian region the growth of VFR tourism is observed to be potentially integrated with the development of the tourism sites and also in the enhancement of needed awareness and promotions of the regional cultures and societies (Briggs 2002). The tourism activities pertaining to the United Kingdom are also promoted through the generation of different types of accommodations relating to both serviced and non-serviced categories. Guest houses and hotels on one side and also holiday homes and tourist parks on the other hand potentially contribute in the attracting of large number of tourists in the United Kingdom. Generation of the above residential and accommodation facilities is taken to effectively promote the cultural and social image of the country to the global visitors (VisitEngland 2013). The case for Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED) is observed to potentially promote hotels, resorts and lodges for attraction of tourists in different African regions. It is observed that the development of the accommodation facilities is made with the integration of different social and infrastructural support generating communities. This is taken to aptly contribute in the development of the social and economic parameters of the African region. Another case relates to the development of the Haciendas Project pertaining to the Mexican region. The project aims in the development of tourist accommodations like hotels and resorts through the active integration of the local communities in that it would contribute in generating increased awareness for the Mexico City and the Mayan culture. The development of the Spier Estate in South Africa is observed to effectively contribute in the development for hotels and resorts through a large scale integration of the social community base (Middleton 2003). This is taken to develop the generation of trade and employment opportunities in the region. Finally another effective case study relates to the Sandals Group of the Caribbean Islands. The activity of the group relates to the growth of employment opportunities and also the development of the social and environmental situation in the Caribbean region. Sandals Group through the development of facilities for accommodating tourists is observed to largely contribute in the enhancement of the farming potential. The development of the distribution and marketing potential for the farming products is taken to augment the situation of the farming community in the region. It is also taken to effectively help in the development of the supply chain networks and the communication of the hospitality sector with the farming communities (Ashley et al. 2007). Conclusion The discussion made effectively throws light on the impacts of tourism on the social and cultural parameters of the developed and emerging economies. Both positive and negative social and cultural impacts of the tourism activities are analysed in the course of the discussion. The second part of the discussion endeavours to incorporate the use of large number of case studies which tends to evaluate the benefits of the development of integrated visitor and tourism networks compared to the design of private resorts. It reflects that the development of an integrated network for the accommodation of tourists would rightly help in the development of the social, cultural and economic situation of the region. Reference List Ashley, C., Brine, P.D., Lehr, A. and Wilde, H., 2007. The Role of the Tourism Sector in Expanding Economic Opportunity. United States: International Business Form Backer, E., 2013. VFR travel: Itis underestimated. Tourism Management, 33, pp. 74-79. Briggs, S., 2002. Friends and Family Reunited — Customers Queuing on Your Doorstep. Middleton, V.T.C., 2003. Leaking Bucket Revisited: Domestic Tourism and the UK Balance of Payments. United Kingdom. Sharma, K.K., 2004. Tourism and Socio-cultural Development. New Delhi: Sarup & Sons. UNTWO, 2014. UNTWO Tourism Highlights. UNTWO. VisitEngland, 2013. England Tourism Factsheet. England. Read More