Unit 1: Travel & Tourism

Industry
Types of Tourism Impacts
 Tourism plays an important role in
transforming old spaces into new places. In
some cases, historic spaces have been
accorded new and symbolic status (World
Heritage Sites)Some previously derelict areas
are being transformed and regenerated into
national cultural or international business
spaces.
 New shopping and leisure areas are created.
 Local businesses develop allowing local
communities to benefit through the informal
economy; by selling goods and services
directly to visitors.
 Tourism supports other economic activities,
like providing jobs that complement other
livelihood options, and through a complex
supply chain of goods and services.
The economic impacts of tourism - The
positive economic impacts of tourism
 Tourism is labour intensive, which is particularly
important in tackling poverty. The infrastructure required
by tourism can also benefit poor communities (transport
and communications, water supply and sanitation,
public security, and health services).
 International tourism generates foreign exchange.
 The rapid expansion of international tourism has led
to significant employment creation.
 Tourism can generate jobs directly through hotels,
restaurants, nightclubs, taxis, and souvenir sales,
and indirectly through the supply of goods and
services needed by tourism-related businesses.
Tourism supports over 10% of the world s workers.
Money is earned from tourism through informal
employment (example street vendors, informal
guides, rickshaw drivers).
Countries dependant on T&T Industry
The positive economic impacts of
tourism
 The positive side of New Tourist developments set
employment is that up (resort complex hotels,
attractions
the money is
returned to the local
economy, and has a Creates jobs directly in Local businesses
the developments supply services
great multiplier
effect as it is spent Other companies are
over and over again. attracted to the area

Workers spend their

income in the local area; More jobs indirectly
tax revenues increase created

The area becomes a

more popular destination, Taxes spent on improving
increasing profitability infrastructure, image an
and revenue for re- tourist services
Fig. 1.5 The tourism investment
multiplier
Money lost through
leakage
The negative economic impacts of
tourism
 There are many hidden costs to tourism, which can have unfavourable
economic effects on the host community. Often, it is the richer countries that are
better able to profit from tourism than the poorer ones.
 The LEDC’s have the most urgent need for income, employment and a general
rise of the standard of living by means of tourism, but they are unable to fully
realise such benefits. Among the reasons for this are large-scale transfer of
tourism revenues out of the host country and the exclusion of local businesses
and products from many parts of the tourism marketplace.
 The direct income for an area is the amount of tourist expenditure that remains
locally after taxes, profits, and wages are paid
outside the area; after imports are purchased;
these subtracted amounts are called leakage.
 In most all-inclusive package tours, about 80% of
travelers' expenditure go to the airlines, hotels and
other international companies, and not to local
businesses or workers. In addition, significant
amounts of income that is actually retained at
destination level can leave again through leakage.
The negative economic impacts of
tourism
 E.g., it is estimated that 70% of all the money spent by tourists end up leaving
Thailand and up to 80% in certain parts of the Caribbean. There are two main
ways that leakage occurs:
1. Import leakage: This commonly occurs when tourists demand standards of
equipment, food, and other products that the host country cannot supply.
Especially in LEDC s, food and drinks must often be imported, since local
products are not up to the hotel’s (i.e. tourists) standards or the country simply
does not have a supplying industry. Much of the income from tourism
expenditures leaves the country again
to pay for these imports.
2. Export leakage: Multi-national companies
have a substantial share in export leakage.
In the poorer developing destinations,
such companies are the only ones that
possess the necessary capital to invest in
the construction of tourism infrastructure
and facilities. As a consequence of this, an
export leakage arises when overseas
investors who finance the resorts and
hotels take their profits back to their country of origin.
The negative economic impacts of
tourism
 All-inclusive resorts and the increasing popularity of cruise ships
in many destinations exert a clear restraining influence on the
local economies.
 Local businesses often see their chances to earn income from
tourists severely reduced when tourists remain for their entire
stay at the same cruise ship or resort. Holidays on an all-
inclusive basis provide almost everything that the visiting
tourists need and very little opportunity is left for local people to
profit from tourism in such locations. Furthermore, all-inclusives
also tend to import more and employ fewer local people and so
a much smaller multiplier effect is felt within the local economy.
 Tourism development can cost the local government and local
taxpayers a great deal of money. Developers may want the
government to improve the airport, roads and other
infrastructures, and possibly to provide tax breaks and other
financial advantages, which are costly activities for the
government. Public resources spent on subsidised infrastructure
or tax incentives may reduce government investment in other
critical areas such as education and health.
The negative economic impacts of
tourism
 Increasing demand for basic services and goods from tourists
will often cause price rises and lead to inflation that negatively
affects local residents whose income does not increase
proportionately. In the same way, tourism development can
increase the price of buildings and land. This makes it more
difficult for local people to live in tourist areas and can result in
the displacement of the local population.
 Many developing countries with little ability to explore other
resources, have embraced tourism as a way to boost the
economy. Over-reliance on tourism carries risks to tourism-
dependent economies. Economic recession, the impacts of
natural disasters such as tropical storms and changing tourism
patterns can all have a devastating effect and the destination
could go into a serious economic decline.
 However, there is little doubt that tourism developments can
generate significant economic impacts for particular
destinations. Let us have a brief look at what happened to
Liverpool in 2008, when the city was the European Capital of
Culture.
Example - Liverpool
 The city of Liverpool was the European Capital of
Culture in 2008. Overall, tourism in the city region
showed a substantial increase between 2007 and
2008. The number of visits to Liverpool grew by 34%,
and the number of visits to the city region as a whole
grew by 19%. In comparison to other sub-regional
areas in the North West of England, the Liverpool city
region showed substantial increases over the rest of
the region in both day and staying visitors.
 It has been estimated that 35% of all visits to the city
in 2008 were influenced by Liverpool being the
European Capital of Culture, and would not have
happened otherwise. This equates to 9.7m visits
being generated, with 6.4m (66%) of those being first
time visits (and therefor first-time visitors). Almost 3
million of these visitors who came from the UK were
from outside the North West; and almost 2.6m (87%)
of these were first-time visitors.
Cont.
 The proportion of first-time visitors amongst those
influenced by the city being the European Capital of
Culture rises significantly in those coming from
outside the UK (almost 2.6m), with 97% of all
international visitors visiting the city for the first time.
 It is estimated that additional visits driven by
Liverpool being the European Capital of Culture,
including both event attendees and non event
attendees, generated £753.8m of direct visitor spend.
The impact of this additional spend, indirect impact
and jobs supported are estimated to be as following.
Visitor Type Liverpool City Elsewhere Elsewhere Outside North
City Region North West West
Direct Spend £521,630,000 £130,566,000 £49,113,000 £52,538,000
Indirect Spend £141,383,000 £33,597,000 £12,699,000 £13,403,000
Total £663,013,000 £164,163,000 £61,812,000 £65,942,000
Jobs Supported 10.225 2,632 991 1,065
The environmental impacts of tourism
 The quality of the environment, both natural and man-
made, is essential to tourism. Tourism activities can
have adverse environmental effects. Many of these
impacts are linked with the construction of general
infrastructure such as roads and airports, and of tourism
facilities including resorts, hotels, restaurants, shops,
golf courses and marinas.
 Development of tourism industry may destroy the
environmental resources on which it depends.
 On the other hand, tourism has the potential to create
beneficial effects on the environment by contributing to
environmental protection and conservation. It is a way to
raise awareness of environmental values and it can
serve as a tool to finance protection of natural areas and
increase their economic importance.
The environmental impacts of tourism
 Tourism takes place in both natural and built environments. The
various positive environmental impacts that can result from
tourism development will thus vary depending upon the type of
destination.
 Tourism can significantly contribute to environmental protection,
conservation and restoration of biological diversity and
sustainable use of natural resources. Tourism has had a positive
effect on wildlife preservation and protection efforts as well.
 On the other hand, numerous animal and plant species have
already become extinct or may become extinct soon.
 Many countries have, therefore, established wildlife reserves and
have enacted strict laws protecting the animals that draw nature-
loving tourists. As a result of these measures, several endangered
species have begun to thrive again e.g. in Hawaii, new laws and
regulations have been enacted to preserve the Hawaiian
rainforest and the native species. The coral reefs around the
islands and the marine life that depend on them for survival are
also protected. Hawaii now, has become an international centre
for research on ecological systems.
The positive environmental impacts of
tourism
 In urban areas, interest was expressed in the
redevelopment and regeneration of derelict or
decaying waterfront sites.
 The regeneration of derelict docksides was
very much a mark of many urban planning
and regeneration strategies. Well known
examples include Baltimore’s Inner Harbour,
San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf, Sydney’s
Darling Harbour and Liverpool’s Albert Dock
waterfront. To help illustrate the ways in which
tourism can generate positive environmental
impacts, we can now look at two contrasting
destinations in South Africa.
Example – Kruger National Park
Case Study 2 – The Krüger National Park in South Africa
 The world renowned Krüger National Park offers a
wildlife experience that ranks with the best in Africa.
Established in 1898 to protect the wildlife of the South
African Lowveld, the park covers nearly 2m hectares and
is a world leader in advanced environmental
management techniques and policies. It is the flagship of
South African national parks and is home to an
impressive collection of fauna and flora:
 336 types of tree and 49 species of fish
 34 species of amphibians and 507 species of birds
 147 species of mammals
 Man’s interaction with the Lewveld environment over
many centuries (from bushmen rock paintings to majestic
archaeological sites like Masorini and Thulamela) are
clearly evident in the Krüger National Park. These
treasures represent the cultures, persons and events that
played a role in the history of the Krüger National Park
and are conserved along with the parks natural assets.
Cont.
Case Study 2 – The Krüger National Park in South Africa
 Visitors to the area have the chance to seek out the following
highlights:
 The Big Five: Buffalo, Elephant, Leopard, Lion and Rhino.
 The Little Five: Buffalo Weaver, Elephant Shrew, Leopard
Tortoise, Ant Lion and Rhino Beetle.
 Birding Big Six: Ground Hornbill, Mori Bustard, Lapper-faced
Vulture, Martial Eagle, Pel’s Fishing Owl and Saddle-Bill Stork.
 Five Trees: Baobard, Fever Tree, Knob Thorn, Marula, Mopane.
 Natural/Cultural Features: Letaba Elephant Museum, Jock of
the Bushveld Route, Albasini Ruins, Maserini Ruins, Stevenson
Hamilton Memorial Library, Thulamela.
 All the main rest camps have day visitor areas. There are also
many picnic spots and visitor get out points distributed throughout
the park At the picnic spots visitors can (for a nominal fee) hire
gas skottels (outdoor elevated frying pans) to cook meals on.
These pans are cleaned by the attending staff, so that visitors do
not have to worry about carrying cumbersome and greasy pans in
their vehicles.
 There is a maximum threshold of vehicles that can enter the park
daily. If this threshold is reached, only visitors with pre-booked
overnight accommodation are permitted access.
Example – The Victoria and Albert
Waterfront in Cape Town
Case Study 3: The Victoria and Albert Waterfront in Cape Town, South Africa
 Although the Victoria and Alfred Basins became the centre for Cape Towns fishing
industry arid smaller scale ship repair activities during the 1960s, the area was
relatively isolated as a result of customs the fences and became derelict and
underutilized during the 1970’s.
 Development of the area was extremely slow and by the end of the 1970’s, much of
the area remained as a treeless wasteland of sand and parked cars. Cape Town
had effectively been cut off from its historic coastal heritage and the public was
denied access to the waters edge. In 1985, the Ministers of Transport Affairs and of
Environmental Affairs and Tourism began to investigate the potential for greater
public use of the harbour areas.
 In November 1988, Victoria and Alfred Waterfront (Pty) Ltd (V&AW) was established
as a wholly-owned subsidiary by Transnet Ltd to redevelop the historic docklands
around Victoria and Alfred (V&A) Basins as a mixed-use area with a focus on retail,
tourism and residential development, with the continued operation of a working
harbour.
 The main planning motivation for the project was the re-establishment of physical
links between Cape Town and its waterfront in order to create a quality
environment; a desirable place to work, live and play; and a preferred location to
trade and invest for Cape Town residents and visitors.
Cont.
Case Study 3: The Victoria and Albert Waterfront in Cape Town, South Africa
 The formerly declining fabric of the old port areas built environment was transformed
by waterfront regeneration developments such as the following:
 The Pierhead became the initial focus of the Waterfront project and the building
restoration program introduced new uses such as restaurants, taverns, speciality
shops, the V&A Hotel, a theatre, an arts and crafts market, and the national
Maritime Museum to replace the derelict harbour warehouses, workshops and
stores.
 Phase Two of the project saw the completion of the twenty six 500m 2 Victoria
Wharf, speciality retail and entertainment centre at the end of October 1992. The
additional restaurants, entertainment and speciality shopping provided the critical
mass necessary to make the V&A Waterfront the most visited shopping and
entertainment destination in the Cape Town downtown for locals, domestic
visitors and international tourists alike.
 The development of the Clocktower Precinct has seen the integration of fishing
industry activities with new uses such as retail, offices and a public ferry terminal
to service Robben Island. Used at various times as a hospital, leper colony and a
military base, Robben Island gained international recognition as the site of the
political prison where former President Nelson Mandela spent 18 years of his life.
The island, declared a World Heritage Site at the end of 1999, has also been
redeveloped as a museum and public visitor attraction.
Cont.
Case Study 3: The Victoria and Albert Waterfront in Cape Town,
South Africa
 There has been a sustained growth in visitor numbers over the years
and the V&A Waterfront has now become one of Africa’s most visited
destinations, with an average of over 20m people each year since
1997.
 During the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, approximately three
million people visited the V&A Waterfront between 11 th June and 11th
July, averaging around 115 000 per day. These figures were
unprecedented. They show a dramatic increase compared with the
previous year’s winter period when the destination averaged 60,000
visitors a day and they were well in excess of visitor numbers for
December, which is the peak tourist season and daily visitor numbers
usually average 87,000. About.50% of visitors to the V&A Waterfront
during the World Cup were locals; 29% international tourists; and 21%
South African tourists from other parts of the country.
 During the past year the V&A Waterfront has also announced two new
hotel developments. The Queen Victoria, a 5 star luxury boutique
hotel, opened in March 2011 and the 3-star Holiday-Inn Express to be
built on the roof of the Breakwater parking garage is scheduled to
open in early 2012. These hotels travellers at both the luxury and
more affordable ends of the visitor market.
The negative environmental impacts of
tourism
 Negative impacts from tourism occur when the level of visitor use is greater than the
environment’s ability to cope with this use within the acceptable limits of change.
Uncontrolled conventional tourism poses potential threats to many natural areas
around the world. It can put enormous pressure on an area and lead to impacts such
as:
• soil erosion,
• increased pollution,
• discharges into the sea,
• natural habitat loss,
• increased pressure on endangered species and heightened vulnerability to forest
fires.
 It also often puts a strain on water resources, and it can force local population to
compete for the use of critical resources.
 The growth of tourism inevitably brings pressure on the environment. Increasing
amounts of litter and hotel waste are a nationally recognised problem, even in
ecotourism destinations such as Costa Rica. A recent edition of the La Nacion
newspaper in Costa Rica carried a report on rubbish piling up in the streets of the
popular Pacific coastal resort of Samara. Waste disposal as landfill takes up precious
land and, if burnt in incinerators, adds to air pollution.
 Vehicles carrying tourists add to air and noise pollution in sensitive areas, unrestricted
building scars the landscape as visual pollution.
The negative environmental impacts of
tourism
 With the growth in tourist numbers, there is a very
real fear that some parts of Costa Rica are
approaching visitor overcapacity. Tourism carrying
capacity is defined by the World
 Tourism Organisation as:
The maximum number of people that may visit
a tourist destination at the same time, without
causing destruction of the physical, economic,
socio-cultural environment and an
unacceptable decrease in the quality of visitors’
satisfaction.
 Therefore, the carrying capacity is the point at
which a destination or attraction starts experiencing
adverse effects as a result of the number of visitors.
 To see how the environment can be put under
stress, we shall now look briefly at two case
studies.
Example – Machu Picchu Reserve and
Inca Trail Peru
Case Study 4: Machu Picchu Reserve and the Inca Trail Peru
 Machu Picchu is one of the most popular tourist destinations
in South America and normally some 68,000 people a month
come to visit the famous Inca ruins. A reserve was
established in the area of the River Urabamba valley by the
Peruvian government in 1981 to help protect both the Inca
ruins and the local environment, which is home to several
species of rare fauna and flora.
 Local people depend on the tourists who reach the site of
the ruins either by walking along the Inca Trail or by
travelling on the Machu Picchu railway. United Nations
Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
designated Machu Picchu a World Heritage Site in 1983.
 Physically the whole reserve, but especially the city site and
trail, is under permanent threat of degradation due to its
fragile ecological balance. Furthermore, because of its
precarious position with steep slopes and heavy seasonal
rainfall, it is at risk from severe mudslides and erosion.
Cont.
Case Study 4: Machu Picchu Reserve and the Inca Trail Peru
 The fact that fires are set off by local farmers who are
desperate to make a subsistence living in the harsh
environment are an added problem. Tourists using the same
trail repeatedly again trample the vegetation and soil,
eventually causing damage that can lead to loss of
biodiversity and have other impacts. Such damage can be
even more extensive when visitors frequently stray off
established trails.
 The main threat to this whole site is the sheer pressure of
visitor numbers. Up to 2,000 people visit Machu Picchu itself
daily, with visitor numbers growing at 6 % per year. These
tourists largely contribute to pollution in the area by leaving
rubbish along the banks of the Urubamba River and the
untreated sewage within it. Problems are focused also on the
campsites for backpacking groups, unregulated latrines and
issues of waste disposal. The site has become a ‘honeypot’
with over 1,000 people all trying to see sunrise in Machu
Picchu at the same time.
Example – Bimini Island
Case Study 5: Bimini Island in the Bahamas
 The multimillion dollar Bimini , Bay Resort is threatening both
local communities and their environment The first phase of the
project is now completed and includes a marina and numerous
condominiums. This development has outraged local community
members, who point out that the development is doing great
harm to the environment. Key issues include:
• Mangroves have been bulldozed, land has been carved up,
the seafloor dug and destroyed and the North Bimini lagoon
has been silted with dredge effluent.
• The destruction of fertile breeding grounds has resulted in a
decrease in conch and fish numbers, threatening the
livelihood of local people.
• Water supplies are being used for tourism development,
causing water for the local communities to be frequently
• turned off.
• Further planned developments will lead to greater destruction
of protective mangrove lagoons and seagrass beds which
support lobster, Conch, turtles and many species of fish.
Cont.
Case Study 5: Bimini Island in the Bahamas
 The devastating impact of the 2004 Asian tsunami has illustrated that
mangroves are the best defence there is when hurricanes and tidal waves
strike. The Bahamian Governments decision to permit a developer to destroy
Bimini islands protective mangroves and replace it with a tourist resort could
put the security of the island in jeopardy. The habitats of many endangered
species of marine life, including dolphins, turtles and sharks, are seriously
threatened. Local Biminites, fishermen, Bahamian environmental
organisations, and the international scientific community are desperately
fighting to protect the ecosystem of this island from tourism.
 In January 2009, the Bahamian Government announced that it would
establish a Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the north of the island. This
could put a halt to the golf course, planned under second phase of the
development, because part of the course would fall inside the MPA boundary.
If built, the golf course would require further mangroves to be destroyed and
cause pesticides to leach into the fragile marine environment. Golf courses
can also create additional negative environmental impacts because its
maintenance can deplete fresh water resources. If the water comes from
wells, over-pumping can cause saline intrusion into groundwater.
The socio-cultural impacts of tourism
 Important social and cultural impacts arise when tourism brings changes into
the host population’s value systems and traditional patterns of behaviour, thus
threatening aspects of the local social and cultural identity. Changes often
occur in community structure, family relationships, collective traditional life
styles, ceremonies and morality.
However, tourism can also generate positive impacts as it can serve as a
supportive force for peace, foster pride in cultural traditions and help avoid rural
to urban migration by creating local jobs.
The positive socio-cultural impacts of tourism
 There are many positive consequences of tourism that arise when tourism is
practiced and developed in a sustainable and appropriate way. Tourism
supports the creation of community facilities and services that otherwise might
not have been developed, and it can bring higher living standards to a
destination.
 Other benefits include upgraded infrastructure, health and transport
improvements, new sport and recreational facilities, restaurants, and public
spaces as well as the availability of new commodities and foodstuffs. Tourism
can also boost the preservation and transmission of cultural and historical
traditions, and a renaissance of indigenous cultures, cultural arts and crafts.
Example – Maori Tribe in New Zealand
Case Study 6: Maori Tourism in New Zealand
 The Maori people are the indigenous people of Aotearoa
(New Zealand) and first arrived there in waka hourua
(voyaging canoes) from their ancestral homeland of
Hawaiki over 1000 years ago. Today, Maoris make up
over 14% of the total population. Their language and
culture has a major impact on all facets of New Zealand
life including the tourism industry.
 Maori culture is intrinsically linked into the heritage and
culture of New Zealand. The haka (war dance) and the
moko (tattoo) are well-known both in New Zealand and
abroad. The national museum in the capital city,
Wellington, is Te Papa Tongarewa, meaning ‘Our Place’
and is one of the largest national museums in the world.
It houses the national art collection as well as many
 Maori artefacts and treasures. The Maori want their
tourism products to reflect the cultural resources of their
present communities and not to always look back to the
past.
Cont.
Case Study 6: Maori Tourism in New Zealand
 However, the main components of New Zealand’s Maori
tourism experience include:
 Teaching of woodcraft and woodcarving demonstrations, the
sale of art and craftwork
 Cultural and historic sites offering an interpretation of Maori
history via information hoards and visitor centre displays
 Cultural displays, wildlife tours and Maori language
sessions.
 Several towns and cities have reconstructed Maori villages
where it is not only possible to see how they once lived but also
to share in ceremonies and culture that continues even today.
 In Christchurch, the Maori tourist attraction, Ko Tane, in linked
to a wildlife reserve to widen participation and understanding of
today’s resources. The Ko Tane Living Maori Village at
Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, Christchurch is where Maori
culture and conservation meet to give visitors a unique glimpse
into the way of life of the South Island Ngai Tahu Maori people
before the arrival of the Europeans
The negative socio-cultural impacts of
tourism
 Tourism allows people from different countries to meet and
mingle. Many people from developing countries would not have
the chance to meet westerners if tourism did not exist. The
demonstration effect considers the socio-cultural impacts
tourism may have on the behaviour of the host population, and
is generally defined as behaviour that members of the host
population copy from the tourists. The demonstration effect can
thus lead to the erosion of traditional culture and values as the
local population adopt visitor behaviour and this is often a major
cause of tension within the sections of local society.
 A good illustration of this would be the Middle East where
western lifestyle is frequently at odds with Muslim tradition.
There are a range of additional negative impacts that can result
from tourism development within destinations with traditional
societies including the following:
 Commodification: Tourism can turn local cultures into
commodities wherein religious rituals, traditional ethnic rites
and festivals are reduced to conform to tourist needs and
expectations.
The negative socio-cultural impacts of
tourism
 Globalisation: Although tourists want to experience exotic locations and new facilities,
they also look for well-known hotels and familiar food brands.
 Loss of authenticity and staged authenticity: Adapting cultural activities or
performing shows for tourists as if they were happening in real life is known as staged
authenticity.
 Adaptation to tourism demands: Changes in the ways traditional crafts and
souvenirs are made to respond to tourist desires.
 Culture clash: In some destinations, tourists often fail to respect local customs and
moral values.
 Crime: The presence of a large number of tourists with a lot of money to spend, and
often carrying valuables such as cameras and jewellery increases the scope for crime
and brings with it activities like robbery, drug dealing etc.
 Sex tourism: The commercial sexual exploitation of children and young women has
paralleled the growth of tourism in many parts of the world. Though tourism is not the
cause of sexual exploitation it provides easy access to it in some destinations.
 Changing attitudes: The attitude of local residents towards tourism development has
changed over time. In the early stages of tourism development when there are only a
few visitors, they are made to feel very welcome. With increasing visitor numbers, there
is frequently a rise in both apathy and antagonism among particular sections of the
local population.
Example – Banaue Rice Terraces
Case Study 7: The Banaue Rice Terraces in the Philippines
 The Banaue Rice Terraces are 2000 year old terraces that were carved into the
mountains of Ifugao in the Philippines by the ancestors of the indigenous people.
The Rice Terraces are commonly referred to by Filipinos as the “Eighth Wonder of
the World”. The terraces were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1995.
 The tourism industry has developed a number of activities for visitors which
includes the traditional sight-seeing of the terraces and visits to the tribes at the foot
of the terraces.
 Tourism now attracts people into an area of exceptional history, beauty and
grandeur. This also means that there has been an inflow of people into the area that
includes tourists, investors/ entrepreneurs and jobseekers. As a result, there is an
increase of congestion as more residential and commercial establishments are
built. An area limited in size now has to struggle to support the ever-increasing
number of people.
 With an increased population and expanded infrastructure, a settlement once
pristine and fresh has been put under stress.
 The tourism industry has now become an agent of change in the lifestyle of the host
communities. As tourists come from wide cultural backgrounds, they bring with them
their socio-cultural traits which are different from those of the host communities.
Cont.
Case Study 7: The Banaue Rice Terraces in the Philippines
 The interaction between differing cultures has brought about negative socio-
cultural impacts as is most evident in Banaue, which has been visited by tourists
for more than three decades.
 Cultural performances including sacred rituals are performed to satisfy
the need for ‘authentic’ experiences of the tourists. Although entertaining
visitors with cultural performances and rituals is not entirely bad, some
performances are presented out of context. For staged cultural performances
of ethnic songs and dances, themes are often changed and abridged to suit
tourists’ expectations, thereby giving a false message to the visitors.
 In effect, cultural performances lose their authenticity. Moreover, cultural
performances are staged even when there are no appropriate occasions to
justify them. Agricultural rituals, for instance,
are staged at the wrong times of the year, just
for tourist consumption.
 Even though local villagers are aware of this
cultural travesty, they are encouraged to
perform for the financial incentives offered to
them by tourists, tour operators and even
academic researchers.
Cont.
Case Study 7: The Banaue Rice Terraces in the Philippines
 Loss of valuable artefacts, ancestral heirlooms and other items of cultural
heritage. From the onset of outsiders5 arrival in Ifugao, aged rice wine jars
(buhl), rice granary gods (bulul), glass and plastic beads (pango), gold
pendants {linglingo), gold and brass earrings, brass armlets and leglets
(padang) that were handed down through many generations were sold not only
to tourists, but also to private and public collectors, curators and museums.
 Local community members have started to realise the importance of their
material culture, resulting in an increased effort, to retrieve lost artefacts and to
preserve what is left.
 Commodification of material culture in the form of mass production of
wood carvings that used to have cultural significance among the local
folk Regarded as profitable merchandise for trade, wood carvings are
massively produced and sold as souvenir items to tourists and for the export
market. E.g. The bulul (religious icon), which were considered sacred for many
generations, have been reproduced to satisfy the demands of tourism. More
often than not, reproductions of the bulul are done in bad taste. This
commodification of cultural goods has degraded the cultural and religious
significance of the bulul, an important aspect of Ifugao culture.
Cont.
Case Study 7: The Banaue Rice Terraces in the Philippines
 The influx of tourists in the small and traditional villages of
Banaue, particularly in Batad, has started to irritate local
residents. Local folk feel that their private lives are being
invaded, particularly when tourists take their photograph without
consent. In some cases, their photographs are used
commercially, on postcards for example, or posted on the
internet without their knowledge.
 Tourists are mostly negligent or ignorant about local
customs and moral values. As such, tourists’ behaviour, from
the standpoint of the local community, is disrespectful and
offensive particularly in their mode of dressing, for example,
female tourists wearing bikinis while taking a dip in the rivers
and waterfalls.
 Other offensive behaviours includes overt displays of affection
between partners in public places and snooping into the houses
of local folk without permission from the owners. Members of
the local community do not want their children exposed to such
behaviours, which is against their moral and traditional values.
Managing Tourism Impacts
 It is important to remember that the development of
tourism within any given destination will have both
positive and negative impacts. This is to be expected
considering the range of spread effects that can take
place when a new tourism activity is established, as
indicated in Fig.1.6. It is, therefore, important that
those responsible for destination management make
every attempt to manage visitor impacts in a
sustainable way.
 It will make sense to try and maximise the positive
effects of tourism within particular locations, but it will
be equally important to try and minimise the negative
effects that can result from increasing tourist
numbers. Tourism activities can take place in a range
of locations throughout the world, and each
destination will have a different carrying capacity in
terms of the number of visitors; that can be managed
without causing significant negative impacts.
The SCEE Impact of T&T

Prospect of Visitors

Investment (Attractions,
New image
environmental improvements)

Marketing
Civic pride
Visitors
Further Other economic Population
investments activities expand Growth
(Attractions, Income
environmental
improvements)
Jobs

Physical, economic and social regeneration

Fig. 1.6 The spread effects associated with new tourism development(s) within a destination