Sustainable Reviewer: Society and Culture in Tourism PDF

SUSTAINABLE REVIEWER SOCIETY AND CULTURE IN TOURISM PERSPECTIVE Society is a concept studied under the subject of Sociology. It focuses on people and the way they interact Within a specific group which includes their attitude and behavior. Culture, on the other hand, is a similar Concept with socie...

SUSTAINABLE REVIEWER SOCIETY AND CULTURE IN TOURISM PERSPECTIVE Society is a concept studied under the subject of Sociology. It focuses on people and the way they interact Within a specific group which includes their attitude and behavior. Culture, on the other hand, is a similar Concept with society which observes behavioral patterns, knowledge, belief, moral law, and values acquired And passed through generation Cultural Heritage The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) defines cultural heritage as “the legacy of physical artifacts and intangible attributes of a group or society that are inherited from past Generations, maintained in the present and bestowed for the benefit of future generations.” Tangible Cultural Heritage – These are cultural assets that bear importance to the archeology, architecture, and science/technology of a specific culture which is preserved for the future. (e.g.,historic buildings/sites, monuments, artifacts, etc.) Intangible Cultural Heritage – These are the practices, representations, knowledge, and skills that are recognized as part of a community, group, or individual’s cultural heritage. (e.g., traditional festivals, way of life, traditional crafts, etc.) Relationship Between Tourists and Local Communities The nature of both tourist visiting a certain destination and the host population may influence one another. The interaction between two (2) groups—tourists coming from different countries and different walks of life and the host population—can have different types of impact to both, especially in the socio-cultural dimension of tourism. Their coexistence is bound to either be a good influence or something that can create conflict. SOCIAL/CULTURAL IMPACTS OF TOURISM POSITIVE IMPACTS Emotional Well-Being of Residents This is an impact of tourism that is present during interaction between tourists and residents of a specific Destination. Cultural Preservation Culture is considered as an asset used for tourism, so preservation is important for the benefit of future generations. Traditional art forms and cultural identity can be preserved by passing it to future generations. Education Experiences that tourism brings help people see things from different perspectives. UNESCO stated that tourism brings cultural awareness and mutual understanding that help tourists and residents see contrasting ways of living and doing things. Better Quality of Life Tourism development in an area can bring several projects to improve the quality of life of the community. Empowerment Every destination has something unique within their culture that can be used as cultural assets for tourists to enjoy NEGATIVE IMPACT Stunted Cultural Development Tourism serves as a catalyst for globalization that it causes native cultures to be forgotten. Commodification of Culture It is an impact where cultural elements are commercialized for mass consumption of tourists. Moral Decadence Local communities are vulnerable to being exploited by foreign tourists involved in immoral activities and/or illegal trade such as prostitution, illegal drug trade, human trafficking, etc.  Social Divisions Tourism may cause division among social classes. Migrants that are granted jobs in different sectors to meet tourism demands are often the targets of insecurity by local residents who think their livelihood is being taken away. Social Displacement In areas where the tourism industry is continuously growing, outside investors acquire parcels of land to develop tourism establishments. The locals are forced to sell their ancestral lands Community Stress Tourism is often the cause of stress within the local community due to various activities. Dependence Third world communities often see tourism as the ticket to economic growth and stability, which cause them to rely on livelihoods tourism brings heavily. TOURISM AS A TOOL FOR SOCIO-CULTURAL GROWTH Community Response to Tourism Development There are several groups in a community that have different responses to tourism development within their area Models of Attitude Towards Tourism According to George Victor Doxey (1976), the attitudes of local communities towards tourism have a series of stages, from pure excitement to hostility towards tourist Richard Butler (1975) said that the attitudes and behaviors of different parts of the community (individual and groups) could be either positive or negative or active or passive. Hasan Zafer Dogan (1989), based on his study of European tourists, proposed that the categories of attitudes range from resistance to adoption of cultures. Ap and Crompton (1993) examining interactions between tourists and locals from the same culture concluded that responses fell into the following strategies: embracement, tolerance, adjustment, and withdrawal. McGehee and Andereck (2004) suggested that the attitude of people towards tourism varies in terms of what it will cost them and what benefits they will have. Community Involvement in Sustainable Tourism Develop Community-Based Tourism It can be described as a type of tourism that incorporates high levels of community involvement under the sustainability umbrella. It can also be linked to some forms of Indigenous tourism, or “tourism activities TOURISM PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT BASIC CONCEPTS Tourism planning and development sets the objectives and serves as the guide on how to carry out the major tasks such as management, monitoring, and implementation (Cruz, 2014 Tourism Policy It is defined as a “set of rules, regulations, guidelines, directives, and development/promotion objectives an Tourism Plan 1. Acquiring understanding – This step emphasizes the importance of being educated through different ways, such as consultations, area visits, face-to-face contact with the local communities 2. Preliminary position statement – This involves the development of the formal statement of interest by the people involved in tourism planning. 3. Commitment for tourism study – Full commitment to the required studies will help establish the plan’s feasibility. This will serve as the basis of the plan’s actual development. 4. Market and resource analysis – This step gathers data on the destination’s tourism products and possible target markets. 5. Conceptual planning – This step uses the gathered data in market and resource analysis to establish the image and identification of the area of concern.  6. Plan approval – This is when the initial plan is recognized. The decision makers will review the plan thoroughly before proceeding to master planning. 7. Master planning – This step involves more time and money compared to the previous steps. The master plan is more detailed and frequent changes could take place. 8. Final commitment – After finalizing the master plan, several commitments in different sectors are needed. These may involve government support, private investments, etc. 9. Implementation programs – This step fills the gap between a plan on paper and an actual operating tourism destination. Different elements in the plan should be coordinated. 10. Evaluation and direction – This step involves monitoring of the operations. Continuous feedback on Visitor arrivals and levels of satisfaction must be gathered. Tourism Planning Dimensions Levels – There are different levels where a tourism plan can be made, such as international, national, regional, provincial, city, or site, depending on the scope and details involved. Time-frame – Plans are always future-oriented and dependent on the length of time that the plan intends to be completed. It can be short-term (two years or less), medium-term (two to five years), and long-term (five years and more). Scope – A tourism plan’s coverage can be wider and more comprehensive or can focus only on a few aspects of tourism planning. Spatial Units – These are the spaces that are covered in tourism planning and where tourism is developed, also known as tourism development unit. Characteristics of Tourism Tourism is a very complex product that consists of goods and services provided in the tourism value Chain Tourism destinations are intangible, The progress of a destination to be a prime tourist spot t Tourism requires a big capital investment, especially during the initial stages of development EFFECTIVE TOURISM PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT The accuracy of tourism-relevant data is highly essential for estimating supply-capacity, demanding forecast, and monitoring results. Caliber of Planning Expertise – Expertise in planning is built over years of education and experience. Type and Variety of Tourism Resources – Each country has a unique characteristic that can be used as an asset for tourism purposes. Tourism planning may depend on the available tourism resources or assets a destination may offer Kinds of Tourism Resources in Nearby Destinations – The different kinds of tourism resources or Assets in adjacent destinations may affect the level of competitiveness of a potential area for tourism. Culture of the Residents – The cultural characteristics of a destination may affect the types of tourists they may attract. The tourism plan must take note for it can be used as an advantage to improve its competitiveness. Geographic Location These factors may be in the Form of the area’s climate, security, vulnerability to natural disasters, and infrastructure requirements. Target Market – The characteristics and the possible influence of the target markets, which are what The tourists expect to visit in the destination of concern in the tourism plan, must be taken into Consideration Tourism Development Paradigm – This defines the choice of issues that the plan must address, the goals, and the strategies needed to achieve the desired outcome. National Tourism Policy and Legislation – These set the limitations and provide guidelines on what Can and cannot be done within the area of concern Stakeholders’ Perception and Attitudes – Perception and attitudes towards tourism development may be factors regarding the level of support these can get from stakeholders  Awareness of External Forces – Tourism planning must also consider external development, especially those which involve the tourism industry, for it might affect the feasibility of the plan Financial Capital – In order to proceed in tourism development, the tourism plan must consider the Amount needed to cover all the expenses required by the tourism project. TOURISM AREA LIFE CYCLE is a model Formulated by Professor Richard W. Butler, which analyzes the development of a tourist destination through The following stages: Exploration – This stage is when people start to discover the destination. Facilities are not yet available Involvement – The number of visitors in the destination starts to increase; some can be considered as “regulars,” while others may observe seasonal patterns of visitor Development – Additional infrastructure and well-developed market areas are starting to get visible. Consolidation – The growth in tourist arrivals starts to decline, but the number of visitors is still at high. Stagnation – The number of tourists the destination can accommodate reaches its limit. Decline/Rejuvenation – This is the final stage in which the destination can either fade or recover. TYPES OF TOURISTS Institutionalized Tourists Cohen described them as tourists who prefer familiarity on a destination. They are the types that are commonly dealt with in a routinary way by professionals in the tourism Industry. The Organized Mass Tourist – This is the type of tourist that has a low appetite in adventure- Type experience with local people. o The Individual Mass Tourist – Same with organized mass tourists, they just have more flexibility and scope regarding their personal travel choices. Non-Institutionalized Tourists – They are described as tourists who prefer and seek to try new things by not utilizing traditional tourism service providers unless necessary. Under this classified role are the following specific type The Explorer – They arrange trips independently in an almost non-traditional way However, They still seek the comfort of having a reliable and traditional travel needs The Drifter – They seek a whole new experience and a different way of traveling. Their main objective is to detach themselves from their daily lives and immerse themselves in an entirely Indicators for sustainability are used for assessing existing issues, situations, problems, and possible risks, as well as the potential of an area by being a destination for tourism development. Types of Indicators Early warning indicators – These are indicators that provide the ability to anticipate things that might affect sustainability. (e.g., decline in the number of tourists who intend to return) Stresses on the system – These are indicators that identify the factors that may compromise the sustainability of a destination. (e.g., water shortage and crime indices) State of the tourism industry – These are indicators that measure the condition of the tourism industry within the area of concern. (e.g., occupancy rate and tourist satisfaction) Impacts on biophysical and socio-economic environments – These are indicators that measure the impacts of tourism development on the three (3) dimensions of sustainable tourism. (e.g., level of deforestation, changes in consumption patterns, and changes in income levels in local communities) Management effort – These are indicators that measure the current level of effort in managing the sustainability of a potential destination. (e.g., cleanup drive and social enterprise programs) Management effects – These are indicators that measure the results of management performance.(e.g., changed pollution levels and number of returning tourists) Indicators at Different Levels Indicators can be used as a basis for decision-making in several levels of tourism planning and development National level – This checks broad changes in tourism within this level and compares it with other nations. This is done to provide a basis for changes in local levels of support and broad strategic planning. Regional level – Comparisons are done with other regions to provide vital information and support the national level planning process. Specific destination level – This classifies key elements of tourism assets and state of the tourism sector in the area of concern, including its performance and risks involved. Key tourist sites level – This identifies specific indicators of development that may affect key decisions on site control and management within the area of concern for the future development of tourism attractions. Tourism companies level – Indicators are used to support their strategic management process for the destinations. Individual tourism establishments level – Indicators are used to monitor the impact and performance of their operations. Criteria for Choosing Indicators No single set of indicators can be applied to all destinations. Choosing an indicator should be based on the Following considerations: Relevance – Who will use it and how will it influence decisions on the issue? Feasibility – Is it practical and affordable to collect and analyze data? Credibility – Is it supported by valid and reliable information? Clarity – Can anyone understand it? Comparability – Can it be used as a basis of comparison with other areas? Measurement and Expression of Indicators The following are the different methods of how indicators are measured and portrayed: Quantitative Measurements – This is where data and information come from comparable numbers that are obtained over time. Under this method are the following concepts: - Raw Data – obtained information straight from the source that is unaltered and in its purest form (e.g., number of visitors in a site and volume of generated waste in an area) - Ratios – information or data set that is related to another to show relativity (e.g., tourist to local population ratio during peak season – representing the number of tourist in comparison with local residents showing who outnumbers who during peak season) - Percentage – where information is identified with an overall data, a benchmark, or a prior measure (e.g., percentage in changes in tourist arrivals and percentage in wastewater treatment) Qualitative Measurements – Data and information are gathered and expressed subjectively. Under this method are the following concepts: Category Indices – These depict the state or level of accomplishment based on criteria. (e.g.,level of protection on natural areas according to environment organizations) Nominative Indicators – The data is identified with the presence of specific components of tourism development and operation. (e.g., existence of tourism plan, on-going clean-up drive programs for conservation, etc.) Nominal Indicators – These are generally labels or titles. (e.g., environmental compliance certificates, eco-labels, etc.). Opinion-based Indicators – These are information normally based on surveys and questionnaires and can be expressed through numbers, percentages, etc. (e.g., level of tourist satisfaction, level of waste production, etc.)