Tourism and Cultural Conflicts

The tourism industry and the tourists it serves can exert a major influence on host communities. Tourism can preserve cultures, resurrect forgotten traditions and prevent cultural stagnation. However, where existing values, social norms, traditions, and behaviour are challenged by tourists, this can lead to situations of conflict. An array of complex issues including the nature of cultural identity, social power relations, moral rights, management responsibilities and economic realities are involved. In extreme cases, resistance or even violence is the result. However, as long as the tourists bring economic benefits, the problems are often tolerated. This book examines the changing relationships between tourism and host cultures and explores the reasons why and how these conflicts emerge, in a series of detailed case studies from many part of the globe. Initiatives and good practices whereby conflict can be replaced by consensus and effective management are highlighted. The text is reading for tourism industry professionals and students and researchers in anthropology, sociology and geography.