Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
One-to-one interaction between hosts and guests can break down stereotypes, or the act of
categorizing groups of people based on a single dimension. By
people, often erroneously,
individualism is lost. When a visitor gets to know people personally and is aware of their problems,
hopes, and ways in which they are making life more pleasant, this visitor becomes much more sensitive
to the universality of humankind. It is much easier to distrust and dislike indistinguishable groups of
people than to distrust and dislike individuals one has come to know personally.
Some problems are often rooted in economic problems, such as unemployment or underemploy-
ment. The economic contributions of tourism can help to moderate such social dif
culties. Nine
negative social effects on a host society
''
labeling
''
have been identi
ed:
1.
Introduction of undesirable activities, such as gambling, prostitution, drunkenness, and other
excesses
2.
The so-called demonstration effect of local people wanting the same luxuries and imported
goods as those indulged in by tourists
3.
Racial tension, particularly where there are very obvious racial differences between tourists and
their hosts
4.
Development of a servile attitude on the part of tourist business employees
5. Trinketization
of crafts and art to produce volumes of souvenirs for the tourist trade
6. Standardization
of employee roles such as the international waiter
—
the same type of person in
every country
7.
Loss of cultural pride, if the culture is viewed by the visitor as a quaint custom or as entertainment
8.
Too-rapid change in local ways of life because of being overwhelmed by too many tourists
9.
Disproportionate numbers of workers in low-paid, menial jobs characteristic of much hotel and
restaurant employment
Many, if not all, of these negative effects can be moderated or eliminated by intelligent planning and
progressive management methods. Tourism can be developed in ways that will not impose such a heavy
social cost. Strict control of land use by zoning and building codes, enlightened policies on the part of
the minister of tourism or similar of
cial organization, and proper phasing of supply components, such
as infrastructure and superstructure, to match supply with demand for orderly development are some
of the measures needed. Education and good public relations programs can accomplish much. Enforcing
proper standards of quality in the marketing of local arts and crafts can actually enhance and
''
rescue
''
such skills from oblivion. As cited in the topic Hosts and Guests,
2
the creative skills of America
sIndians
of the Southwest were kept alive, enhanced, encouraged, and ultimately expanded to provide tourists
with authentic Indian rugs and turquoise jewelry particularly, but other crafts as well. Fred Harvey,
founder of the Fred Harvey Company, is credited with encouraging Indians to continue these attractive
crafts so that he could market them in his hotels, restaurants, and gift shops.
'
Changing Population and Travel Interests
People change, group attitudes change, and populations change. All these factors affect travel
interests. Travel interests also change. Some countries grow in travel popularity; others wane. World
events tend to focus public attention on particular countries or regions of the world. Examples are the
emergence of Japan and Korea as travel destinations following World War II and the Korean War, and
interest in visiting the Caribbean area, as well as Israel, Spain, Morocco, and east Africa. Currently,
travel to China and Australia is of great interest. There is an old saying among travel promoters that
''
This has been proven beyond a doubt. Travel-page publicity concerning
prominent persons visiting a particular area inevitably produces a growth of interest in the area
and subsequent increases in demand for travel to such well-publicized places.
mass follows class.
''
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