According to Sharma (2021), Tourism is one of the specialities and subfields of sociology. This study of tourism uses sociological theories, methods, and approaches, but it mainly focuses on the social effects and aspects of tourism activities. Sociological studies of tourism include a variety of subjects, such as tourist activity, social elements of tourism, consequences of tourism, traveller motivation, and role, as well as social, economic, and cultural repercussions in both the host and destination nations (Apostolopoulos et al., 2013). Tourism can be referred to as “the total of these phenomena and relationships” because it is “the phenomenon and interactions originating from the interaction of tourists business suppliers, host governments, and host communities in recruiting and hosting these tourists and other visitors.”(Sharma, 2021). It is also feasible to travel for business purposes. The three types of tourism are domestic, international, and international. Travel by residents inside their own country is known as domestic tourism, whereas international travel is known as inbound tourism, and domestic travel is known as outward tourism. The WTTC defines sustainable tourism as “tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities.” (2021).
According to Apostolopoulos et al. (2013), tourism entails cross-cultural contact between citizens of various countries and promotes understanding and harmony. Tourism improves communication between communities and neighbouring nations by fostering cultural understanding, respect for one another, and peace. Tourists comprehend and value the culture, architecture, art, and other factors that significantly impact them. By outlining tourism’s many impacts on society, this essay seeks to demonstrate the interrelationship between tourism and society. The impacts include positive and negative, direct and indirect impacts on the culture, socioeconomics, environment, and economy. The essay also makes future predictions about how tourism and society will interact:
Economic Impacts of Tourism
Tourism has both positive and negative economic effects on society, both direct and indirect. The GDP created by industries directly related to the tourism industry, such as hotels, travel agencies, airlines, and tour operators, as well as restaurants and other businesses that serve visitors, is represented by the direct impacts category (WTTC 2019). Impacts that result from the sector’s actions are known as “indirect impacts.” They depend on three key variables: Capital investment in the tourist industry includes expenditures by businesses in other industries on tourism-related assets, such as transportation and lodging, and capital investment across all sectors directly related to the industry. Government assistance of the tourist industry via national and local expenditure is “government spending for tourism.” Promotion of tourism and administration and guest services are among the activities. Supply Chain Effects: These are the purchases made by businesses in the tourist industry of domestic products and services used as inputs to manufacture their ultimate outputs. According to Steck (2010), there are six key ways that tourism directly affects the more extensive economy: Employment Creation: When tourism-related activities result in jobs being created via a variety of channels, such as hotel personnel, tour guides, and chefs. Food and furnishings are examples of the goods and services that local or national firms may provide to the tourist industry(WTTC 2019). However, these products may also be imported if the local supply is insufficient to meet the price, quality, or quantity demand. Direct sales of goods and services allow retailers in tourist areas to sell their goods and services directly to visitors, immediately harnessing tourism’s financial benefits. Construction of Tourism Businesses: High levels of tourist activity encourage the development of new businesses and the creation of new jobs. Tax and Levy Generation: Tourism businesses pay taxes that go to the government, and visitors may also pay taxes directly, which brings in more money for the federal, state, and municipal governments. Investment in Infrastructure – As the tourist industry grows, so will its demands on the local infrastructure, which drives infrastructure investment from the public or private sector.
However, the adverse economic effects include the following: Very often, a massive influx of tourists drives up the cost of products and services, forcing locals to pay more for transportation, food, and other necessities. There are a lot of second houses in specific tourist destinations that are only used for a few months out of the year by their owners. The desire for second houses often drives up the cost of all local housing, making it more difficult for locals, particularly young people, to purchase their first home, leading to conflict between locals and visitors.
According to the WTTC (2019) research report, compared to other sectors, the sector produced more jobs in 2012 than the combined total of the banking sector, higher education, automobile, and chemical manufacturing sectors. (See figure 1 below). The main economic benefit of tourism-related activities is their contribution to the three top priorities of developing nations: employment, income creation, and foreign currency earnings. In this regard, tourism may significantly contribute to economic growth (Sparrowly Group, 2022).
Environmental Impacts
Tourism can benefit the ecology of a place and, in some situations, function as a catalyst for environmental reform. In the UK, several abandoned industrial sites and other vacant spaces have been saved and turned into tourist attractions (Fletcher, 2018). Additionally, sections of abandoned canals have been restored and made usable for tourism. In order to guarantee that historic structures like castles, churches, and cathedrals are maintained for future generations, tourism may also assist in generating financing for rehabilitation work on these structures.
However, several travel and tourist activities hurt the environment. Natural resource depletion: When tourism puts more strain on resources where they may already be limited, as shown in the usage of water and local resources. Water Resources: Overuse of water by tourism-related businesses, such as swimming pools, garden upkeep, and visitor use. Local Resources: The demand for resources like food, energy, and raw materials may rise due to tourism. According to the WTTC (2020), tourism may harm biodiversity by overfishing and trekking. Pollution: tourism may cause pollution by releasing air pollutants, solid waste, and wastewater. Noise & Air Pollution: As the number of tourists grows, the tourism industry’s role as a significant producer of pollutants increases. Based on data from 2005, the WTTC (2019) studied the effect of tourism on carbon emissions. Findings of the predicted emissions (2005) are shown in Table 11, which highlights how the sector contributed almost 5% of all carbon emissions.
Social Impacts
Meeting new people and learning about other cultures are two main reasons people travel, and tourism often fosters better understanding amongst individuals from various social groups. (Fletcher, 2018). Tourists often gain from newly upgraded amenities that are made available to them. Nothing prohibits residents of a tourist location from having fun in restaurants or visiting attractions designed primarily for tourist usage (Philipp, 2022). Tourists often develop a more profound regard for the locals’ way of life while travelling. Increased tourism also boosts the social standing and educational attainment of nearby areas.
Some unfavourable societal effects have been noted. These mostly have to do with host community disputes with visitors. These could emerge from the actions of locals who object to visitors encroaching on their neighbourhood. Local crimes increase, including robbery, prostitution, illicit gambling, and drug trafficking. In order to create room for tourist development, locals in particular places have been forced to leave their traditional homes. Seasonal work, or more accurately, unemployment, is another frequent problem (Philipp, 2022).
Cultural Impacts
A desire for locally produced foods and beverages and the preservation of cultural practices like music, dancing, and theatre may sometimes result from tourism. Tourism also encourages local arts and crafts production and sale to satisfy tourist demand and support the survival of traditional crafts and skills. According to WTTC (2020), tourism promotion is crucial for preserving a region’s cultural character. Nowadays, more people are aware that tourism may erode a region’s cultural identity, particularly in areas where mass tourism has developed quickly. Instead of urging visitors to consume local dishes, giving them ethnic cuisine and beverages that they are used to is simpler. Staging of performances, such as Spanish dancing, in which the local culture is insulted or made fun of to attract visitors (WTTC 2020).
According to WTTC (2021), the tourism sector has to acknowledge that it produces a significant amount of carbon emissions and look into strategies to do so while preserving the mobility required for travel. Local tourist stakeholders must be aware of the threat they pose to protecting pristine local surroundings and take action to make sure their activities are sustainable. (Sparrowly Group, 2022)
According to Vintean (2019), international tourism is expected to expand rapidly by 2023. As of that year, there will have been 1.6 billion tourists from all around the world. With better transportation links, more people will visit the UK. According to WTTC ( 2019), many factors will determine the future tourism business’s course. The increasing number of people on Earth, the expansion of international trade and travel, the emergence of affluent middle classes in emerging markets, the advent of low-cost airlines and their effect on consumer behaviour, and the development of new technologies that influence costs, travel times, and information dissemination are all factors to consider.
Longer flights are now possible with new aircraft technology while simultaneously reducing emissions, fuel consumption, and noise. According to Vintean (2019), Clouds in the sky include the availability and cost of energy, terrorist attacks, and political unrest worldwide. Buyers are starting to pay attention to carbon dioxide levels and environmental consequences. Companies of all sizes are beginning to understand the importance of environmental protection. This is often a result of public demand. The aviation industry, a significant contributor to carbon emissions, is under intense scrutiny.
Some preventative measures that can be put in place for future development include using newer planes and greener technologies and allowing consumers to offset their emissions by donating to environmental causes. Because of the damage it does to the planet, flying can lose its appeal. Better fuel efficiency, carbon dioxide collection and storage, and alternative fuel mixes might benefit the aviation industry. As a means of mitigating their impact on the planet and becoming ready for a future with fewer resources, several industries advocate for eco-friendly and sustainable technologies.
Countless variables have an impact on the tourist industry. WTTC(2021) predicts cultural and social disruptions brought by the global crisis and mindful consumerism. The emphasis is no longer on the individual but on the group. In the wake of the Great Recession, prudent consumption has taken the place of frivolous spending. Consumers’ perceptions of brands and the values they represent are shifting. Plans include promoting mindful travel, i.e. keeping in mind the true purpose of travel, which is to familiarise oneself with the locals, form meaningful relationships with the landscape, and absorb as much of the history and culture of the place visited as one’s own pace allows.
In conclusion, there are four connected ways that tourism affects economies: positively and negatively, directly and indirectly. Direct effects come directly from tourism-related activities, such as tourist spending, employment in the industry, and taxes generated by these activities. The influence of tourism on other economic sectors, such as hotels buying products from shops or procuring food from growers, results in indirect effects. The economic impact of the tourist industry on a nation is determined by these effects and the sector’s organisational structure. The statistics on the direct and overall impacts of the tourist industry reveal considerable positive economic consequences, and the section demonstrates an apparent beneficial influence on growth by the sector. The favourable effects of tourism on employment are similar to those of growth.
Overall, the tourist industry supports a sizeable number of employees and performs well compared to other important industries like the extractive, financial, and car manufacturing sectors. Depending on the nation and how prevalent tourism is, its effects vary, but generally, it is a net contributor to employment. Compared to growth and employment, the impact of tourism on incomes is more challenging to measure, primarily because of the sparse data and the global scale. The data on how tourism affects growth and employment is sufficient to understand the “raw” effects of the industry. However, more information is needed on how the industry affects incomes, livelihoods, and poverty, making it more challenging to measure and track how it affects equality. Due to the scarcity of impact data, it is more challenging to accurately estimate tourism’s environmental effects. However, there needs to be more information on the industry’s other environmental effects, such as waste, deforestation, and land degradation. However, data indicates that tourism may have a negative environmental effect since GHG emissions rise when travel demand rises along with the sector’s demand.
References
Apostolopoulos, Y., Leivadi, S. and Yiannakis, A., 2013. The sociology of tourism: Theoretical and empirical investigations. Routledge.
Fletcher, J., Fyall, A., Gilbert, D. and Wanhill, S., 2018. Tourism: Principles and Practice (6th Editio). Harlow, England: Pearson.
Miles, S. (2021). Consumer Culture. Oxford Bibliographies Online
Philipp, J., 2022. World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). In Encyclopedia of Tourism Management and Marketing (pp. 806-808). Edward Elgar Publishing.
Sharma, S. (2021). Introduction to tourism. New Delhi: SAGE Publications
Sparrowly Group. (2022). Tourism for all – Why accessible tourism matters.
Vintean, A. (2019). Tourism of the Future – An ongoing challenge. Studies in Business and Economics. 14. 258- 272. 10.2478/sbe-2019-0058
World Travel and Tourism Council (2021). Trending in Travel: Emerging consumer trends in travel and tourism in 2021 and beyond.
World Travel and Tourism Council, 2019. Travel and tourism economic impact.
World Travel and Tourism Council, 2020. Economic impact reports.
WTTC, 2020. Travel & Tourism: Global Economic Impact & Trends 2020. World Travel & Tourism Council, pp.1-20.
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