Social Impact of Tourism

Social and cultural impacts on communities often are highly detrimental to social cohesion and bring changes that are not always welcome

Social impacts are reflected in resident attitudes. Social impacts that are felt locally tend to be negative.

• Economic issues tend to dominate
• Social and environmental issues are seen as costs and/or impediments to economic progress

Negative social impacts of tourism include:

• Demoralization and disenchantment manifesting as:
• Loss of authenticity and diminished sense of place
• Crime such as drug trafficking
• The Demonstration Effect
• Drug and alcohol abuse
• Child abuse
• Suicide
• Prostitution
• Over-crowding
• Locals removed and displaced from popular areas

Positive social impacts of tourism include:

• Increased sense of common issues between peoples and regions
• Increased awareness of economic, social, cultural and environmental issues
• Improved and more diverse education and work opportunities
• Improved resources and tools for mitigating negative social impacts
• More skills transfer and channels for skills dissemination

Collectively, indigenous people have a much clearer, more deeply rooted understanding of the wholeness of the Earth and of life on it. Why this basic understanding is not present in European cultures is mysterious.

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