essay on cultural tourism

What is cultural tourism and why is it growing?

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Cultural tourism is big business. Some people seek to embark on their travels with the sole intention of having a ‘cultural’ experience, whereas others may experience culture as a byproduct of their trip. We can argue that there is some form of cultural tourism in most holidays (even when taking an all-inclusive holiday you might try to local beer, for example).

But what do we mean by the term ‘cultural tourism’? What’s it all about? In this post I will explain what is meant by the term cultural tourism, providing a range of academic definitions. I will also explain what the different types of cultural tourists are, give examples of cultural tourism activities and discuss the impacts of cultural tourism. Lastly, I will provide a brief summary of some popular cultural tourism destinations.

What is cultural tourism?

Cultural tourism is the act of travellers visiting particular destinations in order to experience and learn about a particular culture . This can include many activities such as; attending events and festivals, visiting museums and tasting the local food and drinks.

Cultural tourism can also be an unintentional part of the tourism experience, whereby cultural immersion (with the local people, their language, customs, cuisine etc) is an inevitable part of a person’s holiday.

Cultural tourism definitions

It has been suggested that tourism is the ideal arena in which to investigate the nature of cultural production (MacCannell, 1976). Tourism provides endless opportunities to learn about the way other people live, about their society and their traditions. Whether you are attending the Running of the Bulls Festival in Pamplona , visiting the pyramids in ancient Egypt , taking a tour of the tea plantations in China or enjoying the locally brewed Ouzo on your all-inclusive holiday to Greece, you will inevitably encounter some form of cultural tourism as part of your holiday experience.

The World Tourism Organisation (WTO) (1985) broadly define cultural tourism as the movements of persons who satisfy the human need for diversity, tending to raise the cultural level of the individual and giving rise to new knowledge, experience and encounters. Cultural tourism is commonly associated with education in this way, some describing it more narrowly as educational cultural tourism (e.g. Bualis and Costa, 2006; Harner and Swarbrooke, 2007; Richards, 2005).

Although a common, more specific definition has not been agreed amongst academics due to the complexity and subjectivity of the term, there do appear to be two distinct viewpoints. The first focusses upon the consumption of cultural products such as sites or monuments (Bonink, 1992; Munsters, 1994), and the second comprises all aspects of travel, where travellers learn about the history and heritage of others or about their contemporary ways of life or thought (MacIntosh and Goeldner, 1986).

Csapo (2012) pertains that the umbrella term of cultural tourism can encompass a number of tourism forms including heritage (material e.g. historic buildings and non-material e.g. literature, arts), cultural thematic routes (e.g. spiritual, gastronomic, linguistic), cultural city tourism, traditions/ethnic tourism, events and festivals, religious tourism and creative culture (e.g. performing arts, crafts).

Types of cultural tourists

In attempt to understand the scope of cultural tourism academics have developed a number of typologies, usually based upon the tourist’s level of motivation.

Bywater (1993) differentiated tourists according to whether they were culturally interested, motivated or inspired.

Culturally interested tourists demonstrate a general interest in culture and consume cultural attractions casually as part of a holiday rather than consciously planning to do so.

Culturally motivated tourists consume culture as a major part of their trip, but do not choose their destination on the basis of specific cultural experiences, whereas for culturally inspired tourists culture is the main goal of their holiday. 

A more complex typology was proposed by McKercher and Du Cros (2002), who defined tourists based upon the depth of the cultural experience sought, distinguishing them in to one of five hierarchical categories. 

The first is the purposeful cultural tourist for whom cultural tourism is their primary motive for travel. These tourists have a very deep cultural experience. 

The second category is the sightseeing cultural tourist for whom cultural tourism is a primary reason for visiting a destination, but the experience is more shallow in nature.

The serendipitous cultural tourist does not travel for cultural reasons, but who, after participating, ends up having a deep cultural tourism experience, whilst the casual cultural tourist is weakly motivated by culture and subsequently has a shallow experience. 

Lastly, the incidental cultural tourist is one who does not travel for cultural tourism reasons but nonetheless participates in some activities and has shallow experiences. 

Adapting this theory, Petroman  et al (2013) segments tourists based upon their preferred cultural activities.

The purposeful cultural tourist, described as according to Mckercher and Du Cros (2002), enjoys learning experiences that challenge them intellectually and visits history museums, art galleries, temples and heritage sites that are less known.

The tour-amateur cultural tourist is akin with the sightseeing cultural tourist above and they often travel long distances, visit remote areas, enjoy tours and wandering through the streets.

The occasional cultural tourist plays a moderate role in the decision of travelling and enjoys an insignificant cultural experience, their preferred activities being to visit attractions and temples that are easy to reach and to explore, although not to the extent that the tour-amateur cultural tourist does.

The incidental cultural tourist plays a small or no role in the decision to travel and enjoys an insignificant cultural experience, whilst visiting attractions that area within easy reach and heritage theme parks.

The last segment is the accidental cultural tourist, who plays a small or no role in the decision to travel but enjoys a deep cultural experience. This tourist type is diverse and as such has no preferred activities attributed to it. 

Importance of cultural tourism

Cultural tourism is important for many reasons. Perhaps the most prominent reason is the social impact that it brings.

Cultural tourism can help reinforce identities, enhance cross cultural understanding and preserve the heritage and culture of an area. I have discussed these advantages at length in my post The Social Impacts of Tourism , so you may want to head over there for more detail.

Cultural tourism can also have positive economic impacts . Tourists who visit an area to learn more about a culture or who visit cultural tourism attraction, such as museums or shows, during their trip help to contribute to the economy of the area. Attractions must be staffed, bringing with it employment prospects and tertiary businesses can also benefit, such as restaurants, taxi firms and hotels.

Furthermore, for those seeking a deep cultural experience, options such as homestays can have positive economic benefits to the members of the community who host the tourists.

Read also: Overtourism explained: What, why and where

Personally, I think that one of the most important benefits of cultural tourism is the educational aspect. Tourists and hosts alike can learn more about different ways of life. This can help to broaden one’s mind, it can help one to think differently and to be more objective. These are qualities that can have many positive effects on a person and which can contribute to making them more employable in the future.

Cultural tourism activities

Whether a tourist is seeking a deep cultural experience or otherwise, there are a wide range of activities that can be classified as cultural tourism. Here are a few examples:

• Staying with a local family in a homestay
• Having a tour around a village or town
• Learning about local employment, for example through a tour of a tea plantation or factory
• Undertaking volunteer work in the local community
• Taking a course such as cooking, art, embroidery etc
• Visiting a museum
• Visiting a religious building, such as a Mosque
• Socialising with members of the local community
• Visiting a local market or shopping area
• Trying the local food and drink
• Going to a cultural show or performance
• Visiting historic monuments

Impacts of cultural tourism

There are a range of impacts resulting from cultural tourism activities, both good and bad. Here are some of the most common examples:

Positive impacts of cultural tourism

Revitalisation of culture and art.

Some destinations will encourage local cultures and arts to be revitalised. This may be in the form of museum exhibitions, in the way that restaurants and shops are decorated and in the entertainment on offer, for example.

This may help promote traditions that may have become distant.

Preservation of Heritage

Many tourists will visit the destination especially to see its local heritage. It is for this reason that many destinations will make every effort to preserve its heritage.

This could include putting restrictions in place or limiting tourist numbers, if necessary. This is often an example of careful tourism planning  and sustainable tourism management.

This text by Hyung You Park explains the principles of heritage tourism in more detail.

Negative impacts of cultural tourism

Social change.

Social change is basically referring to changes in the way that society acts or behaves. Unfortunately, there are many changes that come about as a result of tourism that are not desirable.

There are many examples throughout the world where local populations have changed because of tourism. Perhaps they have changed the way that they speak or the way that they dress. Perhaps they have been introduced to alcohol through the tourism industry or they have become resentful of rich tourists and turned to crime. These are just a few examples of the negative social impacts of tourism.

Read also: Business tourism explained: What, why and where

Globalisation and the destruction of preservation and heritage.

Globalisation is the way in which the world is becoming increasingly connected. We are losing our individuality and gaining a sense of ‘global being’, whereby we more and more alike than ever before.

Globalisation is inevitable in the tourism industry because of the interaction between tourists and hosts, which typically come from different geographic and cultural backgrounds. It is this interaction that encourage us to become more alike.

Standardisation and Commercialisation

Similarly, destinations risk standardisation in the process of satisfying tourists’ desires for familiar facilities and experiences.

While landscape, accommodation, food and drinks, etc., must meet the tourists’ desire for the new and unfamiliar, they must at the same time not be too new or strange because few tourists are actually looking for completely new things (think again about the toilet example I have previously).

Tourists often look for recognisable facilities in an unfamiliar environment, like well-known fast-food restaurants and hotel chains. Tourist like some things to be standardised (the toilet, their breakfast, their drinks, the language spoken etc), but others to be different (dinner options, music, weather, tourist attractions etc).

Loss of Authenticity 

Along similar lines to globalisation is the loss of authenticity that often results from tourism.

Authenticity is essentially something that is original or unchanged. It is not fake or reproduced in any way.

The Western world believe that a tourist destination is no longer authentic when their cultural values and traditions change. But I would argue is this not natural? Is culture suppose to stay the same or it suppose to evolve throughout each generation? 

Take a look at the likes of the long neck tribe in Thailand or the Maasai Tribe in Africa. These are two examples of cultures which have remained ‘unchanged’ for the sole purpose of tourism. They appear not to have changed the way that they dress, they way that they speak or the way that they act in generations, all for the purpose of tourism.

You can learn more about what is authenticity in tourism here or see some examples of staged authenticity in this post.

Culture clashes

Because tourism involves movement of people to different geographical locations cultural clashes can take place as a result of differences in cultures, ethnic and religious groups, values, lifestyles, languages and levels of prosperity.

Read also: Environmental impacts of tourism

The attitude of local residents towards tourism development may unfold through the stages of euphoria, where visitors are very welcome, through apathy, irritation and potentially antagonism when anti-tourist attitudes begin to grow among local people. This is represented in Doxey’s Irritation Index, as shown below.

Tourist-host relationships

Culture clashes can also be exasperated by the fundamental differences in culture between the hosts and the tourists.

There is likely to be economic inequality between locals and tourists who are spending more than they usually do at home. This can cause resentment from the hosts towards the tourists, particularly when they see them wearing expensive jewellery or using plush cameras etc that they know they can’t afford themselves.

Further to this, tourists often, out of ignorance or carelessness, fail to respect local customs and moral values. 

There are many examples of ways that tourists offend the local population , often unintentionally. Did you know that you should never put your back to a Buddha? Or show the sole of your feet to a Thai person? Or show romantic affection in public in the Middle East?

Cultural tourism destinations

Whilst many would argue that cultural tourism is ingrained to some extent in travel to any country, there are some particular destinations that are well-known for their ability to provide tourists with a cultural experience.

Cultural tourism in India

It is impossible not to visit India and experience the culture. Even if you are staying in a 5 star Western all-inclusive hotel in Goa, you will still test Indian curries, be spoken to by Indian workers and see life outside of the hotel on your transfer to and from the airport.

For most people who travel to India, however, cultural tourism is far more than peeking outside of the enclave tourism bubble of their all-inclusive hotel.

Thousands of international tourists visit the Taj Mahal each year. Many more people visit the various Hindu and Buddhist temples scattered throughout the country as well as the various Mosques. Some visit the famous Varanassi to learn about reincarnation.

Most tourists who visit India will try the local dal, eat the fresh mutton and taste chai.

All of these activities are popular cultural tourism activities.

Cultural tourism in Thailand

Thailand is another destination that offers great cultural tourism potential. From the Buddhist temples and monuments and the yoga retreats to homestays and village tours, there are ample cultural tourism opportunities in Thailand .

Cultural tourism in Israel

Israel is popular with religious tourists and those who are taking a religious pilgrimage, as well as leisure tourists. I visited Israel and loved travelling around to see the various sights, from Bethlehem to Jerusalem . I’m not religious in any way, but I loved learning about the history, traditions and cultures.

Cultural tourism in New York

New York is a city that is bustling with culture. It is world famous for its museums and you can learn about anything from World War Two to the Twin Towers here.

Many would argue that shopping is ingrained in the culture of those who live in New York and many tourists will take advantage of the wide selection of products on offer and bargains to be had on their travels to New York.

You can also treat yourself to watching a traditional West End show, trying some of the famous New York Cheesecake and enjoying a cocktail in Times Square!

Cultural tourism in Dubai

Dubai might not be the first destination that comes to mind when you think of cultural tourism, but it does, in fact, have a great offering.

What I find particular intriguing about Dubai is the mix of old and new. One minute you can be exploring the glitz and glamour of the many high-end shopping malls and skyscrapers and the next you can be walking through a traditional Arabian souk.

Cultural tourism: Conclusion

As you can see, there is big business in cultural tourism. With a wide range of types of cultural tourists and types of cultural tourism experiences, this is a tourism sector that has remarkable potential. However, as always, it is imperative to ensure that sustainable tourism practices are utilised to mitigate any negative impacts of cultural tourism.

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Further reading

Want to learn more about cultural tourism? See my recommended reading list below.

• Cultural Tourism – A textbook illustrating how heritage and tourism goals can be integrated in a management and marketing framework to produce sustainable cultural tourism. 
• Deconstructing Travel: Cultural Perspectives on Tourism – This book provides an easily understood framework of the relationship between travel and culture in our rapidly changing postmodern, postcolonial world.
• Re-Investing Authenticity: Tourism, Place and Emotions – This ground-breaking book re-thinks and re-invests in the notion of authenticity as a surplus of experiential meaning and feeling that derives from what we do at/in places.
• The Business of Tourism Management – an introduction to key aspects of tourism, and to the practice of managing a tourism business. 
• Managing Sustainable Tourism – tackles the tough issues of tourism such as negative environmental impact and cultural degradation, and provides answers that don’t sacrifice positive economic growth.
• Tourism Management: An Introduction – An introductory text that gives its reader a strong understanding of the dimensions of tourism, the industries of which it is comprised, the issues that affect its success, and the management of its impact on destination economies, environments and communities.
• Responsible Tourism: Using tourism for sustainable development – A textbook about the globally vital necessity of realising sustainable tourism.

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Tourism Essay for Students and Children

500+ Words Essay on Tourism

Tourism Essay – Tourism is a major economic activity that has developed significantly over the years. It’s an activity that can be recognized in both developed and developing nations. In general terms, tourism is the movement of a person from one place to another to visit and mesmerize the beauty of that place or to have fun. Moreover, the concept of traveling is considered a luxury and only people with higher income can afford this luxury.

The Growth of Tourism

Earlier our ancestors used to travel by sea routes as it was a convenient and most affordable medium but it was time taking. Due to, technological advancement we can now easily travel to any place without wasting time we can travel thousands of miles within a few hours. Technological advancement has shrunk the earth into a global village. Besides, the modern modes are much safer than the modes that our predecessors used.

Effect of Tourism on a Country

For any country, tourism generates a lot of money especially a country like India. Due to the Taj Mahal (one of the seven wonders of the world) every year the government raise a huge sum of revenue. Also, because of tourism other industries also bloom. Such industries include transportation, wildlife, arts and entertainment, accommodation, etc.

Moreover, this ultimately leads to the creation of job and other opportunities in the area. But there are some drawbacks too which can affect the lifestyle and cultural value of the country.

Importance of Tourism

Traveling is a tiring and difficult thing and not everyone is able to travel. But at the same time, it’s a fun activity that takes your tiredness away. Travelling adds flavor to life as you travel to different places that have a different culture and lifestyle. Also, it’s an easy way to learn about the culture and tradition of a place. Besides, for many areas, tourism is their main source of income.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

India- A Tourist Attraction

The Taj Mahal is not the only destination in India that attract tourist. Likewise, there are hundreds of tourist destination that is spread over the Indian plateau. India has a large variety of Flora and Fauna. Besides, the equator divides the geographical land of India into almost two equal halves that make India a country where six seasons occurs.

Moreover, in almost every city of India, there is a historical monument made by the rulers in their time period.

Benefits of Tourism

Tourism not only benefits the government but also the people that live in the local area. It also creates a business as well as employment opportunities for the local people which ultimately help the government to earn income.

Benefits Due to Tourism

As we know that tourism contributes a lot to the revenue of the country. Also, the government uses this income for the growth and development of the country. Likewise, they construct dams, wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, Dharamshala and many more.

In conclusion, we can say that tourism is a very productive activity both for the tourist and the government. As they support each other simultaneously. Also, the government should consider improving the conditions of the country as more and more number of tourist visit their country.

Above all, tourism is one of the fastest-growing industry in the world that has changed the scenario of the world.

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UN Tourism | Bringing the world closer

Ethics, Culture and Social Responsibility

• Global Code of Ethics for Tourism
• Accessible Tourism

Tourism and Culture

• Women’s Empowerment and Tourism

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The convergence between tourism and culture, and the increasing interest of visitors in cultural experiences, bring unique opportunities but also complex challenges for the tourism sector.

“Tourism policies and activities should be conducted with respect for the artistic, archaeological and cultural heritage, which they should protect and pass on to future generations; particular care should be devoted to preserving monuments, worship sites, archaeological and historic sites as well as upgrading museums which must be widely open and accessible to tourism visits”

UN Tourism Framework Convention on Tourism Ethics

Article 7, paragraph 2

This webpage provides UN Tourism resources aimed at strengthening the dialogue between tourism and culture and an informed decision-making in the sphere of cultural tourism. It also promotes the exchange of good practices showcasing inclusive management systems and innovative cultural tourism experiences .  

About Cultural Tourism

According to the definition adopted by the UN Tourism General Assembly, at its 22nd session (2017), Cultural Tourism implies “A type of tourism activity in which the visitor’s essential motivation is to learn, discover, experience and consume the tangible and intangible cultural attractions/products in a tourism destination. These attractions/products relate to a set of distinctive material, intellectual, spiritual and emotional features of a society that encompasses arts and architecture, historical and cultural heritage, culinary heritage, literature, music, creative industries and the living cultures with their lifestyles, value systems, beliefs and traditions”. UN Tourism provides support to its members in strengthening cultural tourism policy frameworks, strategies and product development . It also provides guidelines for the tourism sector in adopting policies and governance models that benefit all stakeholders, while promoting and preserving cultural elements.

Recommendations for Cultural Tourism Key Players on Accessibility 

UN Tourism , Fundación ONCE and UNE issued in September 2023, a set of guidelines targeting key players of the cultural tourism ecosystem, who wish to make their offerings more accessible.

The key partners in the drafting and expert review process were the ICOMOS International Cultural Tourism Committee and the European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT) . The ICOMOS experts’ input was key in covering crucial action areas where accessibility needs to be put in the spotlight, in order to make cultural experiences more inclusive for all people.

This guidance tool is also framed within the promotion of the ISO Standard ISO 21902 , in whose development UN Tourism had one of the leading roles.

Download here the English and Spanish version of the Recommendations.

Compendium of Good Practices in Indigenous Tourism

The report is primarily meant to showcase good practices championed by indigenous leaders and associations from the Region. However, it also includes a conceptual introduction to different aspects of planning, management and promotion of a responsible and sustainable indigenous tourism development.

The compendium also sets forward a series of recommendations targeting public administrations, as well as a list of tips promoting a responsible conduct of tourists who decide to visit indigenous communities.

For downloads, please visit the UN Tourism E-library page: Download in English - Download in Spanish .

Weaving the Recovery - Indigenous Women in Tourism

This initiative, which gathers UN Tourism , t he World Indigenous Tourism Alliance (WINTA) , Centro de las Artes Indígenas (CAI) and the NGO IMPACTO , was selected as one of the ten most promising projects amoung 850+ initiatives to address the most pressing global challenges. The project will test different methodologies in pilot communities, starting with Mexico , to enable indigenous women access markets and demonstrate their leadership in the post-COVID recovery.

This empowerment model , based on promoting a responsible tourism development, cultural transmission and fair-trade principles, will represent a novel community approach with a high global replication potential.

Visit the Weaving the Recovery - Indigenous Women in Tourism project webpage.

Inclusive Recovery of Cultural Tourism

The release of the guidelines comes within the context of the International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development 2021 , a UN initiative designed to recognize how culture and creativity, including cultural tourism, can contribute to advancing the SDGs.  

UN Tourism Inclusive Recovery Guide, Issue 4: Indigenous Communities

Sustainable Development of Indigenous Tourism

The Recommendations on Sustainable Development of Indigenous Tourism provide guidance to tourism stakeholders to develop their operations in a responsible and sustainable manner within those indigenous communities that wish to:

• Open up to tourism development, or
• Improve the management of the existing tourism experiences within their communities.

They were prepared by the UN Tourism Ethics, Culture and Social Responsibility Department in close consultation with indigenous tourism associations, indigenous entrepreneurs and advocates. The Recommendations were endorsed by the World Committee on Tourism Ethics and finally adopted by the UN Tourism General Assembly in 2019, as a landmark document of the Organization in this sphere.

Who are these Recommendations targeting?

• Tour operators and travel agencies
• Tour guides
• Indigenous communities
• Other stakeholders such as governments, policy makers and destinations

The Recommendations address some of the key questions regarding indigenous tourism:

Download PDF:

• Recommendations on Sustainable Development of Indigenous Tourism
• Recomendaciones sobre el desarrollo sostenible del turismo indígena, ESP

UN Tourism/UNESCO World Conferences on Tourism and Culture

The UN Tourism/UNESCO World Conferences on Tourism and Culture bring together Ministers of Tourism and Ministers of Culture with the objective to identify key opportunities and challenges for a stronger cooperation between these highly interlinked fields. Gathering tourism and culture stakeholders from all world regions the conferences which have been hosted by Cambodia, Oman, Türkiye and Japan have addressed a wide range of topics, including governance models, the promotion, protection and safeguarding of culture, innovation, the role of creative industries and urban regeneration as a vehicle for sustainable development in destinations worldwide.

Fourth UN Tourism/UNESCO World Conference on Tourism and Culture: Investing in future generations. Kyoto, Japan. 12-13 December 2019 Kyoto Declaration on Tourism and Culture: Investing in future generations ( English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian and Japanese )

Third UN Tourism/UNESCO World Conference on Tourism and Culture : For the Benefit of All. Istanbul, Türkiye. 3 -5 December 2018 Istanbul Declaration on Tourism and Culture: For the Benefit of All ( English , French , Spanish , Arabic , Russian )

Second UN Tourism/UNESCO World Conference’s on Tourism and Culture: Fostering Sustainable Development. Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. 11-12 December 2017 Muscat Declaration on Tourism and Culture: Fostering Sustainable Development ( English , French , Spanish , Arabic , Russian )

First UN Tourism/UNESCO World Conference’s on Tourism and Culture: Building a new partnership. Siem Reap, Cambodia. 4-6 February 2015 Siem Reap Declaration on Tourism and Culture – Building a New Partnership Model ( English )

UN Tourism Study on Tourism and Intangible Cultural Heritage  

The first UN Tourism Study on Tourism and Intangible Cultural Heritage provides comprehensive baseline research on the interlinkages between tourism and the expressions and skills that make up humanity’s intangible cultural heritage (ICH). 

Through a compendium of case studies drawn from across five continents, the report offers in-depth information on, and analysis of, government-led actions, public-private partnerships and community initiatives.

These practical examples feature tourism development projects related to six pivotal areas of ICH: handicrafts and the visual arts; gastronomy; social practices, rituals and festive events; music and the performing arts; oral traditions and expressions; and, knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe.

Highlighting innovative forms of policy-making, the UN Tourism Study on Tourism and Intangible Cultural Heritage recommends specific actions for stakeholders to foster the sustainable and responsible development of tourism by incorporating and safeguarding intangible cultural assets.

UN Tourism Study on Tourism and Intangible Cultural Heritage

• UN Tourism Study
• Summary of the Study

Studies and research on tourism and culture commissioned by UN Tourism

• Tourism and Culture Synergies, 2018
• UN Tourism Study on Tourism and Intangible Cultural Heritage, 2012
• Big Data in Cultural Tourism – Building Sustainability and Enhancing Competitiveness (e-unwto.org)

Outcomes from the UN Tourism Affiliate Members World Expert Meeting on Cultural Tourism, Madrid, Spain, 1–2 December 2022

UN Tourism and the Region of Madrid – through the Regional Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Sports – held the World Expert Meeting on Cultural Tourism in Madrid on 1 and 2 December 2022. The initiative reflects the alliance and common commitment of the two partners to further explore the bond between tourism and culture. This publication is the result of the collaboration and discussion between the experts at the meeting, and subsequent contributions.

Relevant Links

• 3RD UN Tourism/UNESCO WORLD CONFERENCE ON TOURISM AND CULTURE ‘FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL’

Photo credit of the Summary's cover page:  www.banglanatak.com

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Essay on Tourism

• Updated on  
• Feb 7, 2024

Essay writing holds importance in various competitive exams like IELTS , TOEFL , UPSC or in general as part of your school curriculum. Being prepared for essay writing is crucial as it tests your command over English, grammar, your clarity of thoughts and how to present them in a meaningful way. Tourism and travel is one such frequently asked topic for which you should be prepared. This blog explores a few essay on tourism samples which will assist in writing on the topic of tourism.

This Blog Includes:

What is tourism, benefits of tourism, samples for essay on tourism, essay for 250 words, sample essay on tourism for 300 words, sample essay on tourism for 800 words.

Tourism, literally speaking, is the act of travelling to a place for your pleasure or business. The tourism industry is one the biggest industries in the world and is a major source of foreign exchange for any country. Tourism helps to develop a country through the generation of jobs, creation of attractions, restaurants, entertainment, better services in a community, diversification of the economy and cross-cultural diversity. However, recently the tourism industry has been greatly affected due to the pandemic. With the world being shut down, travel was completely restricted and even with everything slowly going back to normal, people are hesitant to travel. Still, the tourism industry remains important for the national economy and would bounce back. 

Plenty of employment is generated by the tourism industry and so it alleviates poverty and sustains development. Local handicrafts and cultural activities are all benefitted by tourism. It plays a significant role in promoting international understanding as well as national integrity. One more loftier goal of tourism is to provide a sense of relief and relaxation to people when they feel tired and exhausted from the same monotonous work routine. For many people, it is a way of escape. May be sometimes, all they need is a weekend getaway. A lot of sectors such as aviation, transport, handicraft and horticulture are also benefitted from tourism. It contributes significantly to the GDP of a country as well as to its economic development. Through tourism, the culture and heritage of a country get promoted in foreign as well.

Also Read: Essay on Republic Day

Here we have structured some of the most efficient ways to write an essay on tourism. There are multiple samples related to the essay on tourism, all written in various sub-topics and ranging from different word limits.

Things have now started looking bright for the Indian tourism industry. However, the Indian tourism industry has been hit by pollution. The effluents emitted by the Mathura Refinery have led to the decolourization of the Taj Mahal in Agra. The condition of many of our monuments is deteriorating due to the negligence of the concerned authorities. On the other hand, beaches have become the dumping grounds of garbage and waste left by tourists. The natural environment and heritage sites remain a source of attraction as long as these are not damaged beyond control from their degradation or pollution. Massive tourist traffic, unless regulated, creates these mal-effects. The tourist carrying capacity of a resort needs to be matched to minimise the inconveniences of local people during the period of tourist rush. Youths of the host area are also to be saved from cultural alienation by blindly imitating the lifestyle of foreigners during days of reckless massive tourism. Planning for adopting a sequence of steps like a survey of the existing position of services, facilities needed by tourists and measures for the development of healthy and sustainable tourism, has become a dire need. At the national level, an apex body has to take stock of the status and trends of tourism in comparison with neighbouring countries. It will help appraise the future needs, the nature of various incentives for alluring tourists and the gaps to be removed for better provision as well as management of the infrastructure.

Also Read: Essay on Population Explosion

In the era of globalization, tourism has started playing a vital role in the development of economies. Nowadays, tourism makes significant contributions to the economy of a nation; however, it has some drawbacks too. The two major advantages of tourism are the augmentation of the national economy and the generation of employment for local people. Firstly, tourists use a wide range of services which includes hotel bookings, tourist guides, food and transportation. This results in additional income which in turn contributes to the nation’s economy. For example, tourism increases the consumption of domestic products which have a significant impact on the overall GDP growth of the country. Secondly, tourism creates a significant number of job opportunities as without people tour operators, restaurants, hotels and transport services cannot operate. Hence, tourism brings significant benefits such as a boost in the national economy and employment for local people. However, there are various disadvantages associated with tourism such as the destruction of popular destinations and the rise in criminal and illegal activities. Firstly, the massive influx of tourists to places like historical monuments and pilgrimage centres causes significant damage to these age-old structures. In addition, to cope with the demand of tourists/tourism national resources are overexploited. Secondly, as tourists carry valuable items with them such as cash, jewellery and other expensive items, they may become the targets of thieves and other anti-social elements. Hence tourism also has many disadvantages which can be eliminated by the government if they ensure proper security measures and timely maintenance of popular tourist spots. To conclude, in spite of the fact that tourism has certain disadvantages such as destructive effects on monuments and an increase in criminal activities it has a very constructive effect on a nation’s economy and gives a plethora of new job opportunities for locals. I personally believe that the advantages of tourism outweigh its disadvantages.

Also Read: Essay on Human Rights

As an industry the impact of tourism is manifold. The tourism industry nourishes a country’s economy, stimulates the development process and restores the cultural heritage. This industry enjoys a major advantage over other industries of having a unique product that might differ from state to state. For example, Goa is renowned for its sunny beaches and colonial charms, palaces that are reminders of the princely era. During the 1960s great emphasis was placed on tourism as a source of foreign exchange-earners. Tourism is the one industry that earns foreign exchange for a country without exhausting natural resources and without actually exporting any material goods. The income from tourism has tended to increase at a higher rate than merchandise export in a number of countries. There is now almost a continuous flow of income from richer countries to the not-so richer and developing ones, raising the latter’s export earnings and rate of economic growth. For example in countries like India and Spain, tourism is the single largest earner of foreign exchange. According to official Spanish sources, in 1981 there were more visitor arrivals in Spain (40 million) than the actual population of the country (36 million). Tourism is thus the most important source of income for many countries. Development and improvement of infrastructure facilities is another important benefit offered by the tourism industry. Infrastructural facilities such as airports, roads, water supply and other public utilities may be widely shared by the other sectors of the economy. Development of new infrastructure and improvement in the existing infrastructure may confer benefits upon the resident population which they may have not enjoyed otherwise. Further­more, the provision of infrastructure may provide the basis or serve as an encouragement for greater economic diversification. A variety of secondary industries may be promoted which may not serve the needs of tourism. Thus, indirectly, tourist expenditure may be responsible for stimulating other economic activities of a country. Tourism development greatly benefits the underdeveloped regions of a country. These economically backward regions mostly have places of high scenic beauty, which if developed for the tourism industry, will help to bring a lot of prosperity to the local people. Money spent by tourists helps to improve the health of every business in that region. For example, roads constructed for use by tourists provide local people access to the market centres as well. Earlier, there were many backward areas but due to tourism development, these places got international recognition. For example, Khajuraho, a few years back was considered a remote and unknown small village, but today, it is an internationally famous tourist place of interest and also generates employment for hundreds of local people in hotels, restaurants, travel agencies, handicraft shops etc. Without tourism development, Khajuraho would have remained a remote and unknown village till today. The tourism industry is a highly labour-intensive service industry that generates employment for highly skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled labourers in sectors like hotels, restaurants, travel agencies, tourism offices, shops etc. One additional room in a hotel helps at least 8 to 9 people in getting jobs. Not only that, tourism creates employment outside the industry as well, for example, the basic infrastructure like roads, airport, water supply etc. The construction industry creates jobs for thousands of both skilled and unskilled workers. Tourism remains basically a cultural phenomenon. Tourism has always stood as a unique vehicle for cultural promotion. In the past, travel was based on cultural interest. Even today a large number of people travel to foreign countries to learn about their culture and tradition. Tourism indirectly preserves the environment by discouraging large scale industrialisation in places where natural beauty has to be kept intact. It thus helps a country to restore its ancient monuments and archaeological treasures. Most of the developing countries which possess an ancient civilization can benefit greatly from tourism. Tourists visiting these countries have a great urge to become acquainted with ancient civilizations. As a result of cultural shopping, which forms an important part of any tourist itinerary, local handicraft is still surviving. Tourism has also given a new lease of life to the traditional customs, costumes, festivals and dances which generates employment for the weaker section in the remote areas of the country. Hence, tourism can contribute unique benefits to a nation by exploring its cultural heritage and can serve indirectly to improve the individual cultural levels of both national and foreign tourists. Tourism plays an important role in promoting international goodwill. It creates awareness and appreciation of other countries cultures and traditions and makes possible cultural exchange and enrichment. Tourism can be a vehicle for international understanding by way of bringing diverse people from different cultures and traditions face to face. The best way of getting to know another country is to go there and when a vast number of people travel, the prejudices, barriers and suspicions that exist between different countries breakdown the narrow, rigid boundaries that keep people away from each other, naturally tend to shrink and a positive move towards better international understanding begins to operate. Tourism can greatly enrich and promote friendship between different countries in the world. Tourism, thus, develops not only the economic condition of a country by earning foreign exchange for it, but also plays a vital role in its social, cultural and regional development and in promoting goodwill and friendship among all nations of the World.

Related Reads:- 

1- What is tourism in 100 words?

Tourism, literally speaking, is the act of travelling to a place for your pleasure or business. The tourism industry is one the biggest industries in the world and is a major source of foreign exchange for any country. Tourism helps to develop a country through the generation of jobs, creation of attractions, restaurants, entertainment, better services in a community, diversification of the economy and cross-cultural diversity. However, recently the tourism industry has been greatly affected due to the pandemic. With the world being shut down, travel was completely restricted and even with everything slowly going back to normal, people are hesitant to travel. Still, the tourism industry remains important for the national economy and would bounce back. 

2- How do you start a tourism essay?

You can use the below mentioned lines for the introduction on Tourism Essay:-

In the era of globalization, tourism has started playing a vital role in the development of economies. Nowadays, tourism makes significant contributions to the economy of a nation; however, it has some drawbacks too. The two major advantages of tourism are the augmentation of the national economy and the generation of employment for local people…..

3- What is a famous quote about tourism?

“Not all those who wander, are lost”.

Hope this blog helped to gain insight about writing an essay on tourism. Book a one on one session with Leverage Edu experts to get a divisive strategy and preparation tips to crack competitive examinations!

Sonal is a creative, enthusiastic writer and editor who has worked extensively for the Study Abroad domain. She splits her time between shooting fun insta reels and learning new tools for content marketing. If she is missing from her desk, you can find her with a group of people cracking silly jokes or petting neighbourhood dogs.

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• Essay Editor

Social Cultural Impacts of Tourism Essay

1. introduction.

The first section of the essay is an introduction to the various topics that will be discussed in the essay, beginning with an explanation of the social cultural impacts of tourism. Overall, the introduction should provide the reader with an idea of the kind of information that will be presented in the essay, and it is important to start with a broad overview of the issues rather than specific details. The introduction should gradually lead to a more focused and specific discussion of the social cultural impacts of tourism. The introduction will begin by providing an explanation of what is meant by the term "social cultural impacts" and why it is important. Social cultural impacts refer to the ways in which tourism impacts society and culture, both positively and negatively. These kinds of impacts involve the effects on local social structures and everyday life, on social values and customs, on indigenous cultures and on the built environment. It is important to study these impacts, as it is only by doing so that we as researchers will be able to find ways to maximize tourism's benefits and minimize any negative effects. Some other general points to consider when discussing social cultural impacts. For example, it is useful to make a distinction between positive and negative impacts, and the rest of these impacts will be discussed in subsequent sections of the essay. Overall, it is important for the type of content in each section to be clearly signposted and for there to be a clear structure that is visible to the reader.

1.1 Overview of social cultural impacts

Tourism affects societies and cultures across the globe, from the people, cultures, and environment visited to the way in which individual people and entire societies behave. The social and cultural impacts of tourism, both at the destination and the tourist's home, can be seen as two sides of the same coin. Tourism's - and in turn tourism's - social and cultural impacts are many, affecting both immediate and wider areas. From cultural and urban restructuring, where tourism contributes to the dynamic of culture and social fabrics of place (i.e. Venice), to more personal impacts such as experiences of social and community changes. These impacts can be, and often are, dispersed across destinations, from local communities to overseas others and vice versa. These impacts can be seen and measured in a multitude of ways, both quantitative and qualitative. For example, researchers tend to look for visible signs such as the building of infrastructure, shops and services, planning and regeneration, while overlooking perhaps just as important changes such as diversity of culture, adaptation, and landmark changes. Social and cultural impacts are often hard to identify and even more difficult to measure. However, this does not make them any less important. Social impacts can be more tangible and often the focus of research because they are easier to identify and measure, such as "changes in behavior or a community's structure" (Lennon & Foley, 2000). In comparison, studying and analyzing cultural impacts requires researchers and planners alike to move into a more intangible and subjective arena. Social and cultural impacts, however, also provide positive opportunities for community life and for cultural and heritage conservation. Tourism can contribute to the regeneration of urban or rural settlements and can help in the preservation and translation of cultures and traditions. The benefits of such positive impacts have been adopted in many peer-reviewed projects, which provide tourists with the opportunity to experience new cultures and environments. Tourism should be developed sustainably and with careful attention to mitigating potential harm to local communities and cultures. The maintenance and conservation of cultural and historic assets and the promotion of local distinctiveness; opportunities for local people to contribute meaningfully in tourism decision-making and local economics, thus reducing social and economic disparities; and the enhancement of local cultures and traditions are just a few ways in which tourism can help to benefit immensely from the rise in global tourism.

1.2 Importance of studying social cultural impacts

The title of this work is "Social Cultural Impacts of Tourism." This work is significant in light of the fact that it raises issues of critical universal esteem, as it endeavors to take a gander at social, monetary, and natural measurements of the impacts of the travel industry. For over 10 years now, there have been rehashed calls by scientists and academicians for thorough interdisciplinary examination systems throughout the social and environment disciplines to apply data, systems, and answers for the idiocies of the travel industry and in this manner manage the direction towards practical the travel industry. The positive effects and negative effects of the travel industry on the travel industry have been inspected and assessed in various fields. For example, the monetary effects and ecological effects of the travel industry; the travel industry's effects on the individuals who work in the division; the social effects of the travel industry in traveler goals; and the effect of the travel industry upon culture. This research work has attempted to investigate the historical backdrop of the travel industry, its impacts and significance, how to achieve manageable the travel industry and proceeded with advancement, and logical hypothetical procedures of tourism, for example, monetary, sociological, ecological, social, and mental perspectives. This work has pursued a precise procedure. In the introductory chapter, the travel industry and its effect on the economy is discussed. It has attempted to portray the idea of the travel industry by accentuating the features of the travel industry in the present cutting-edge society; incorporated the social and condition impacts of tourism; and investigated the idea of supportable the travel industry and proceeded with development. From that point onward, the travel industry's social and social impact on the milieu is examined from different measurements, for example, the meanings of social, the key parts of culture, and the request of the culture; and talked about the travel industry's social and social impacts in tourist goals. Lastly, the part of the travel industry's effect on culture and character is talked about well as the upheld practices by the tourist and the continuation of conventional societies there. In meaningful the travel industry, national and organizations' social and natural settings are currently the primary regions of concern. On the other hand, in the endurable the travel industry and kept up development perspective, researchers focused on the use of data innovation in both the business and the scholarly community as giving apparatuses; in keeping up the travel industry and proceeded with development. Advertisements surrendered that proceeding with interests in IT would be fundamental in supporting manageable the travel industry.

2. Positive Impacts of Tourism on Society

Tourism also has a positive impact on the society as a whole. Because the tourism industry relies on so many different businesses, it has a wide-ranging effect on global socio-economic development. For example, there are direct economic impacts, such as generating jobs and supporting local businesses in tourism destinations. Then there are indirect economic benefits, such as investment and expenditure to improve the infrastructure and services in a destination which can facilitate wider socio-economic improvements. This has been recognized by the United Nations, which highlights in the 'Global Goals for Sustainable Development' that tourism has now become one of the main drivers of socio-economic progress. By 2030, the UN aims to "increase [the] economic benefits to developing countries through sustainable tourism, which creates jobs and promotes local culture and products". However, it is important that tourism does not detriment either the environment or the communities that exist within locations that see a high number of visitors. Mass tourism, where cruise ships, package tours, and long-haul flights demonstrate tourism which is not particularly sustainable, tend to lead to economic leakages where profits made in the destination do not remain there to benefit businesses and local communities. This can have a knock-on effect on the sustainable development of the destination and can result in the local population becoming hostile to visitors. Over tourism can particularly contribute to social degeneration, such as heightened crime levels and unruly behavior. This is what has famously happened in destinations such as Barcelona, with the local population having staged anti-tourism protests due to the disturbances caused by the large numbers of annual visitors. Furthermore, the spirit of mass tourism tends to focus on creating profits. This means that the unique and diverse aspects of a destination, including the local cultural and social fabric, can become eroded or replaced by standardized tourism products. This is known as cultural homogenization or the McDonaldization of society – the concept that everywhere starts to look and feel the same, and originality and cultural identity are lost. Although there are benefits to standardizing particular industries, like fast food, this can lead to a loss of heritage and the commodification of culture and society. It also takes away from the real and meaningful experiences that people seek when they travel to other locations. However, due to the prevalence of these kinds of tourism recently, there have been great strides taken to highlight the need for sustainable and responsible tourism. This has led to much scholarly writing focusing on the importance of creating a tourism industry that not only brings about positive development in a sustainable manner but also works to ensure the preservation and celebration of local cultural heritage. For example, Hall and Lew (1998) discussed the idea that tourism should be "carried out in such a way as to make possible for the people of the host destination area to sustain continuous quality of life". This emphasizes the need for the industry to work with local people and consider the ecological and socio-economic needs of the area before allowing tourism to develop. This idea introduces the notion that 'quality of life' is multi-dimensional and incorporates the preservation of the physical environment, as well as economic well-being and social fabric of the local society.

2.1 Economic benefits

The economic significance of tourism has been widely recognised, especially in terms of impacts on the local community and employment opportunities. Creating jobs is perhaps the first and foremost beneficial aspect of tourism for an area. Most jobs in tourist areas are service and low skilled ones, such as work in restaurants, bars, hotels and other leisure facilities. It is relatively beneficial to the large portion of society, such as students, the elderly and housewives, who are willing to work part time because those types of jobs do not require high skills or knowledge. Therefore, they can generate regular income for these people. Especially for the young generation, getting job opportunity in the tourism industry can prevent them from the possible involvement in criminal activities. As a result, the crime rate in the tourism destination could be reduced. On the other hand, despite increasing income in tourism, leakage happens in tourism as well. Leakage, which refers to the portion of tourism revenue that does not stay in the country, has a negative effect on the economic development of that country. There are different factors lead to leakage, such as the purchase of food and beverage in big hotel chains which are owned by the transnational corporation, the payment of travel package to travel agencies in other countries and the transfer of profit to the home country of the international investors. Leakage caused great consequences for the economic development of some developing countries, especially the undeveloped least developed countries. By reducing the leakage and maximising the keeping of tourist's expenditure in the local area, the government and local community can focus on the positive and potential benefits of tourism to the economic development.

2.2 Cultural exchange and understanding

However, cultural exchange can also have negative impacts. Mehravan and Garrod identified the potential isolation of the local community due to the cultural exchange between tourists and the locals. They conducted research in three villages in Iran and found that the increasing interaction between tourists and the local communities has created a cultural division between those involved in tourism and those who are not. With hindsight, Long and Varisco suggested that the translocation of public culture into the private sphere and the commoditization of customs and traditions have blurred the lines between what is acceptable for public display and what is not. In addition, these researchers also pointed out that cultural exchange is often viewed as equal exchange within a meeting of two different cultures. The host community shares its culture with the tourist and the tourist reciprocates with the transmission of their own customs and practices. However, Entire has emphasized that host-dominated exchange processes have the potential to debase culturally important items, traditions, and customs to little more than profit-making tools on the global market. This is in agreement with the views of Harvey, who analyzed souvenir production in Modica, Sicily. He found that traditional, culturally significant pottery and ceramics are produced to appeal to the notion of the typical souvenirs desired by consumers, to maximize potential profit from tourists. As a result, the original crafts have been lost, replaced by in genuine, falsified versions which are produced simply to satisfy the market and this reduces their importance to the local people. Therefore, tourism programs and other means of promoting cultural exchange need to be critically assessed and monitored to ensure that they are providing the best for low to people and communities in the long run. For example, Cooper and Bonshek advocated the establishment of responsible guidelines for culturally based tourism programs, together with regular assessment and opportunities for the local communities to have input into the decision-making process, in order to maximize the positive influences of cultural exchange and minimize the potential devaluation of local customs and traditions.

2.3 Preservation of local traditions and heritage

The emergence of tourism and the traveling of a large number of people from one place to the other have caused the replacement of local traditional cultures by tourist culture. When the area in which tourism has been introduced provides tourist accommodations, the problem of overcrowding and packing can result due to the high concentration of visitors during peak seasons. On the other side, these identified impacts can be reduced by sharing the profits and benefits of tourism with local people and by using the resources in that area. Considering the above-mentioned idea, it has clearly shown that cultures and traditions do not represent a way of life. All people around the world have the opportunity to learn about the culture, tradition, and way of living of local communities through cultural-based tourism. This ensures that future generations also have access to their cultural identities. What should be done to ensure that local people do not become overwhelmed by the omnipresent visiting masses, leading to social and cultural disruptions, and that locals do not simply become another attraction for the pleasure of visitors? It is believed that the benefits of tourism should spread throughout the community and that local people should be involved in tourism development and activity. Through these activities, financial support can be provided for the protection of these cultural heritages. Additionally, cultural-based tourism is not only about enjoying and learning about local culture and traditions. It also has positive impacts on the local community, such as creating job opportunities and maintaining traditional and local culture. Last but not least, the empowerment of local people is very important. This can be achieved by engaging with the communities in both planning tourism and making decisions about what tourism should look like. When local people feel that they are benefiting from tourism, are valued, and have a role as hosts of their culture, it increases their control over their own lives and also increases their self-respect, dignity, and self-determination. This is because the meaning of ownership in the vision of community-based tourism can range from the full devolution of management to more superficial consultation with few substantive impacts. Indicatively, the knowledge of ways and traditions of indigenous people and their interaction with nature has been.

2.4 Improvement of infrastructure and services

A further positive social and cultural impact of tourism is that improvement in the infrastructure and services is inevitable. With the growing number of tourists, a better infrastructure and services are needed, not only to keep pace with the demands, but to cope with tourism growth and its impacts. When tourists from different cultures come into contact with local residents, it is inevitable that there is a cultural exchange. This can lead to an improvement in the understanding of different lifestyles between residents and tourists and provides the opportunities to develop new services, such as ethnic restaurants and recreational facilities, and new job opportunities for local people, such as tour guides and providers of local entertainment. In the tourist industry, the condition of the local public and business services can have an impact on the development of tourists' destination. In fact, the availability and quality of the infrastructure and services can play a significant role in the decision-making process of potential visitors deciding whether to visit. Visitors will expect a certain level of services, for example clean and safe public washrooms, restaurants and information centres, the ease of access to public transportation and attractions, and local emergency and medical services in case of need. Therefore, many government and non-government organizations are more willing to take in the opinions and feedback from the public when planning and providing new infrastructure and services and investing for improvement in response to the growth of the tourism industry. It is generally the case that providing the infrastructure and services for the development of tourism not only benefits the tourists, but also brings about improvement in the quality of life for the local residents. For example, the local residents can enjoy better medical and recreational facilities. Also, the development of the tourism industry in the area can create job opportunities for the residents and increase their income. However, proper management and control of the tourism-related development is essential so that long-term benefits can be achieved without harming the environment and local lifestyles, for the purposes of sustainable development. Good examples of infrastructure development in Hong Kong are the new Chek Lap Kok Airport and related projects, including a new Disneyland. It provides passengers with a first-class airport railway service and therefore can attract more tourists. Also, the local population can benefit from an advanced transportation and other infrastructure networks.

3. Negative Impacts of Tourism on Society

Overcrowding and congestion in tourist destinations is a common and ongoing problem that many places face. For example, in Venice, a popular tourist attraction in Italy, as many as 50,000 tourists visit daily, outnumbering the local residents. The large numbers of visitors not only lead to long waiting times and crowding at popular sites such as Saint Mark's Basilica, but also bring about noise and air pollution, which affect the quality of life of local residents. In addition, the heavy human flow on the delicate historical pavements of Venice is taking its toll, and irreversible damage to these ancient surfaces is being done. The loss of authenticity and cultural commodification refers to the process where a place or a cultural tradition becomes more aimed at satisfying the perceived taste and aesthetic preferences of tourists and loses its original meaning and cultural value. This is particularly exemplified by so-called "themed environments", such as Chinatowns in Western countries. These places are often developed with the aim to create in tourists a sense of having "discovered" a different culture, and in doing so the cultural practices are selectively shown or even "performed" as to what fits the tourist's expectations. As a result, the perception of the local culture is distorted and simplified, and the cultural and social life of the local people is sidelined and "staged" specifically for tourism. This can lead to tensions and even dispute between different stakeholders, and even conflict between the local people and the tourists. For example, the development of golf resorts in rural areas of Scotland and the indigenous Māori protests against New Zealand's main tourism attraction, the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, serve as evidence of the potential for social and cultural harm in the relationship between different groups in a tourism destination. Such human-induced environmental degradation is visible in areas such as the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. It is a world-renowned marine conservation site, but "bleaching events" have been happening in recent years due to the mass tourism activities such as snorkeling and diving. This led to damages on the corals and also the marine ecosystem as a whole, and in turn the aesthetic value and experience that attract tourists are diminishing in a vicious circle. These negative impacts clearly demonstrate the need for a sustainable and eco-balanced approach in tourism.

3.1 Overcrowding and congestion

As tourist destinations become more popular and attract an increasing number of visitors, the natural and built environment may suffer from the negative impacts of tourism. One of the most frequently cited negative impacts is the problem of overcrowding and congestion. Overcrowding can lead to the excessive use of facilities and services in the tourist destination. For example, restaurants are very busy and hotel accommodation is fully booked. As a result, the quality of the visitor experience may decline and local residents can experience increasing inconvenience. On the other hand, congestion refers to the excessive number of people and vehicles using the available space and infrastructure in the tourist destination. This can lead to traffic congestion and air pollution, and the capacity of transport systems can be over-stretched. From a social perspective, crowded conditions in popular tourist sites can lead to the loss of tranquility and privacy, and the risk of stress and conflict between residents and tourists may increase. At the same time, heritage sites and natural attractions may suffer from the physical impacts of too many visitors and the sensitivity of the environment to visitor pressure can lead to irreversible damage. For example, soil erosion and compaction caused by the trampling of large numbers of visitors can damage the quality of the visitor experience as well as the intrinsic value of the resource. In the worst case scenario, when the fragile environment of the attraction suffers from the negative impacts of overcrowding and insufficient management, irreversible degradation and loss of the site's cultural and natural value may occur. Therefore, effective tourism planning and management strategies are required in order to mitigate these negative impacts. For instance, the use of carrying capacity assessment, zoning of different levels or types of visitor use, and the provision of alternative facilities and attractions in less popular areas of the destination can help to control visitor flows and disperse concentration. In addition, the introduction of traffic management systems and the improvement of public transport services may help to solve the congestion problem. However, it is important to recognize that effective management of visitor numbers and behaviour can only be achieved through strong and integrated cooperation between the local community, the tourism industry and the government. Also, planning alone is not enough to ensure the long-term sustainability of tourism in a destination. Regular monitoring and review of the tourism impacts and the effectiveness of management strategies, combined with continuous education for both tourists and the local community, is crucial in order to respond to the changing conditions and maintain a balance between maximizing the benefits of tourism and minimizing the negative impacts.

3.2 Loss of authenticity and cultural commodification

Whenever tourism develops and expands in a destination, it brings both positive and negative impacts to society. One of the most significant negative impacts is the loss of authenticity and cultural commodification. Authenticity is a critical element of culture, referring to the connection between the past and the present, true identity, originality, and genuineness. The search for and marketing of "authentic" experiences in tourism can lead to cultural commodification, which involves the process through which the difference of otherness is eradicated. Several concepts are used to describe the various forms of tourists' consumption of culture, including planned authenticity, staged authenticity, hyper-reality, and post-modern tourism. Planned authenticity is often fabricated and designed primarily for the consumption by tourists. It refers to a case where an object or a place is managed to cater to the expectations of tourists. A typical example is the Disneyfication process where local culture is turned into a marketable commodity. On the other hand, staged authenticity is to produce something that will appear authentic to outsiders. However, the people or objects being produced are not really authentic, as they are simply being used to give a false impression of the culture. Hyper-reality is a condition where the real and unreal become inseparable, and there is no longer a distinction between simulation and the real. Post-modern tourism is therefore characterized by a rejection of master narratives, an emphasis on style rather than substance, and a related uncertainty about the progress of technologically advanced societies. Critics of cultural commodification argue that the marketing of culture for tourism purposes leads to a situation where local peoples and their cultural products are increasingly being perceived and judged in line with what appeals to tourists, rather than maintaining their integrity and distinctiveness for their own value. For the locals who are being objectified by the tourists, they may experience frustration, a sense of loss of privacy, and erosion of their traditional culture and lifestyle. On a larger scale, cultural commodification in tourism is seen as a form of cultural imperialism. The domination of a weak culture or tradition by a more powerful culture not only reflects an unequal power relationship, but it may also result in the disempowerment and loss of identity of the weaker party in the long run. This is especially true when the local culture relies heavily on the income derived from tourism and gradually evolves into a culture that exists merely for tourism's sake. Cultural commodification can have devastating effects not just for the local society and culture, but also for the tourists. When tourists are exposed to a place where tradition and culture are being lost, and instead they are given only a propped-up, inauthentic experience, their visit may leave them with an unfulfilled sense of the search for real and genuine encounters with other places and other ways of life. As a consequence, cultural commodification in tourism has far-reaching effects on both the local society and the tourists, which undermine the socio-cultural sustainability of tourism development in the long term.

3.3 Social and cultural conflicts

Social activities: Tourism is criticized for being unsustainable, particularly unsympathetic to the social or cultural fabric of the host community. When large scale, tourism and associated land transformations act as a catalyst for social and cultural dislocation and generally discontent. The social problems and lack of strong leadership from the government in Laos are also obstacles to making the best of tourism development. Cultural conflicts in the destination areas frequently happen at organizational or community levels. Cultural problems in tourism are difficult to define; any given person may interpret the factors of that term in their specific way. But culturally conflicted individuals are always due to different opinions for a situation of cultural interactions; any of them might be too implicit to find. There is already a huge literature on how tourism can, at its worst, create deeply exploitative structures and superficial marketing culture that is really a form of neocolonialism. This problem appears to be a special risk to the preservation and management of the cultural and historic resources. As what happened to Guatemala as a picturesque developing nation in Central America could tell, issues of economic exploitation as part of cultural conflicts are they can easily result from unequal wealth. In addition, a consistent increase of the perceived cultural conflicts between the locals and "outsiders" deteriorated the harmony with tourists visiting. Scarry described that residents increasingly believe that their physical resources are being used to service the needs and desires of an ever-growing tourist industry in North America. Residents never like where social and overcrowding outweigh the long run well-being of its residents. Residents are never being displaced from what they perceive as their own social space, while tourists are economically benefiting. Social impacts of tourism: Referring to our initial approach to social impacts, "feelings and organizations" are the opposite view of what occurs in Laos. Also, other cultural conflicts are to demonstrate how Laos is struggling to find a balanced vision and management between tourism and local society nowadays. Villagers have been suffering from the demand of cultural products by the tourists, artifacts are sold in the apparent antique market and social relations are influenced as a result. As a matter of fact, cultural conflicts lead to negative impacts and mutual respect has to play an essential role in preservation management. And neither tourism nor society can function as an isolated system, positive view should be reasonably explained and rational strategies should be developed. All of the cultural conflicts will eventually establish a break up a relationship between society and tourism.

3.4 Environmental degradation

Another major negative impact of tourism on society is the damage to the natural environment. Most of the tourism activities associated with the environment, such as building resorts, golf courses, and airports, have negative impacts on the landscape, air and water pollution, waste generation, and noise. The development of tourism facilities, including resorts, hotels, golf courses, and airports, as well as the supporting infrastructure like roads, marinas, and power and water treatment, all come at the expense of the natural environment. These developments and the business activities associated with the tourism industry generate a substantial amount of waste, leading to land filling, pollution, and habitat destruction. Cruise tourism, mass tourism, and large resorts also have grave environmental impacts. For example, cruise ships have been found to contaminate the ocean with waste disposal and contribute to pollution through sewage, gray water, and solid waste discharge. Studies have shown that cruise ships may carry millions of gallons of human sewage and wastewater generated by between 3000 and 8000 passengers and crew members, which has resulted in negative publicity for the shipping industry. Additionally, larger fishing activities, such as cruise tourism, have caused coral reef damage in the port of Key West, Florida, posing a serious threat to tourism and marine biodiversity. Marine pollution is another significant impact of tourism on the environment, particularly in coastal areas where wet and solid waste from tourists and residents can contaminate water and destroy habitats. Improper disposal of waste, especially wastewater, can lead to water contamination and habitat destruction. Infrastructures related to tourism, such as the construction of large hotels or smaller tourist facilities in remote areas, can result in deforestation and pollution. Furthermore, many tourist facilities involve the extraction of natural resources, such as water or mineral deposits, which can cause irreversible damage to local resources, along with overfishing and overhunting.

4. Mitigation Strategies for Social Cultural Impacts

Sustainable tourism practices are one of the main strategies suggested for reducing the social and cultural impacts of tourism. In the Angkor site, for example, the number of visitors is limited. A portion of the entrance fee is used for research and management of the site. Moreover, a code of conduct has been developed and visitors are required to follow it. This code includes points such as "dress appropriately" and "do not touch the carvings". This could help to reduce the visitor and site-related impacts. In Maldives, a government, local communities, NGOs, and private sector partnership project called the Maldives Heritage Survey has been started. The main objectives of the project are developing and implementing the Heritage and Environment Management and Protection Plan (HEPP) of Maldives, providing a public awareness campaign and heritage interpretation programs, and implementing archaeological rescue and capacity building projects. This will ensure that the adaptation of tourism and our archaeological activities are done with due concern to the preservation of our cultural heritage. To enhance the management of the cultural heritage, one component of the overseas-based research and the public awareness campaign is to develop the archaeological and museum staff through training and scholarship programs. Another component is to coordinate and carry out systematic archaeological investigation and evaluation projects. On the other hand, the strategy of empowering local residents and increasing their participation in tourism development, so-called "pro-poor tourism", has been suggested as a way of maximizing the positive social and cultural impacts of tourism and minimizing the negative effects. This includes involving local people in decision-making processes and giving them a higher level of control over their own lives. For example, in Australia, the Jirrbal Aboriginal people in North Queensland have been working on a new project which is expected to provide economic opportunities that could lead to improved livelihoods. The project will allow the Aboriginal people to have employment creation, small business, and home-based business opportunities through nature-based tourism. This project will also help to generate money for the improvement of the living standards for the local community, the development and maintenance of the local structures, and the natural resources. Also, it provides the conservation of the local traditions and culture where it is now lacking investment. On the other hand, the alternative incomes and employment created for the local community through the implementation of the nature-based tourism project could lead to reduced rural to urban migration. The schemes also envision that the local people are increasingly taking part in the management and decision-making processes in all aspects of their lives. The complexity of the text has increased and sentences tend to be longer. The use of connecting words like "for example" gives the text a more academic style. Also, the use of specific and technical terms, like "so-called", enhances the complexity of the text. Finally, most of the impacts and examples mentioned in the essay are explained in greater depth in this section of mitigation strategies, which also gives a better overview of the tourism cases that are discussed.

4.1 Sustainable tourism practices

When considering the environmental and social cultural impacts of tourism, it is important to look at how we can reduce the negative effects and try and improve the situation. There are opportunities to develop good practice, to use resources more efficiently, and to offer improved experiences for visitors and hosts. This could be through marketing and quality assurance schemes, or by focusing simply on good customer service and quality experience. However, what has become very popular as a solution and mitigation strategy is what is known as sustainable tourism. There are many definitions of sustainable tourism, however, according to the World Tourism Organization, it is "tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social cultural and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities". What this means in more practical terms is that these types of development and strategy do not deplete resources, and help to protect and sustain the cultural and natural environment that sustains the tourism industry. This does not mean that new services and infrastructure cannot be developed, but it is how they are developed and managed that is central to the idea of sustainable tourism. The following are examples of some of the best practices businesses in the tourism industry can adapt and adopt in order to make their operations more sustainable.

4.2 Community involvement and empowerment

Thirdly, providing local communities with the ability to manage and control tourism development is a commonly accepted strategy for minimizing the negative social and cultural impacts of tourism. The concept of community involvement is premised on the belief that if local residents are involved in the planning and managing of tourism and its impacts, they will have a stake in ensuring that tourism works for the community and that negative social and cultural impacts are minimized. However, as Hall (2006) noted, there is a wide gulf between theory and practice, with many tourism development projects claiming to involve local communities because it is a buzzword and funding condition, when in reality, decision making is paternalistic and authoritarian and the development is based upon exploitative power relations. Thus, to be truly effective as a mitigation strategy, community involvement needs to be meaningful and not merely tokenism. It needs to involve the transfer of real political and economic powers away from central government and the private sector-dominated tourism industry to local community institutions such as community-based organizations, non-governmental organizations, and informal community groups (Scheyvens, 2007). Timur and de Noronha (2004) called for a fundamental shift in power relations and recommended the adoption of a more decentralized, devolutionary form of tourism planning that would recognize local communities as the primary stakeholders of development and give them real decision-making powers. Furthermore, the concept of empowerment often goes hand in hand with community involvement and when successful, can act as an effective strategy for mitigating negative social and cultural impacts of tourism. Empowerment refers to the ability of local communities to control and direct their own destinies and the idea is that by empowering local people, the kind of power imbalances and social inequalities that characterize the relations between the local people and the tourism industry can be redressed. Empowerment can take many forms - for example, political, economic, and social - but in the context of tourism development and underpinned by the concept of community involvement, it often means the transferring of real decision-making powers from central government.

4.3 Education and awareness programs

Education and awareness programs are considered as a key strategy for reducing the negative social and cultural impacts of tourism. It is believed that educating the travelers and local residents is essential to make a positive change. These programs can take various forms, such as large-scale national campaigns, targeted local education and training, and interpretative materials for tourists at particular sites. The general focus is on raising awareness, changing behavior and building respect for the local culture amongst both the residents and the tourists. The idea is to bring a positive behavioral change in the tourists so that they show more respect and understanding of the local culture. At the same time, local people are also encouraged to respect the values and beliefs of the tourists in order to create a harmony. Various countries have already implemented different education and awareness programs. For instance in Thailand, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has launched a 'Seven Greens' project to promote green and sustainable tourism in Thailand. This program emphasis on the importance of preserving the local environment and cultural heritage. The TAT has been actively creating campaigns and activities to educate the tourists about the this program, such as exhibitions, ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF), and online media. On the other hand, the local communities have been organized to plan and manage the tourism activities under this program. This represents a successful case of using education and awareness strategy to mitigate the negative impacts of tourism. Such strategy has been proved to be a plausible one based on the concept of sustainable tourism much as in eco-tourism. It helps to seek and maintain the ecological and cultural balance of tourism development. What is more important is that it satisfies the current and future demands while encouraging better environmental practices. Last but not least, sustainable tourism also involves having a low impact on the environment and local culture, and helping to generate employment for local people. This goes in line with one of the sustainable tourism practices suggested by the World Tourist Organization - 'Provide the tourists with clear and precise information about the cultural, environmental and social impact of tourism, and their behavior expectation.' Such provision of information is actually a kind of set up of education and awareness. Given, people are advised to realize the significant impact of their actions while traveling and importance to follow the sustainable tourism practices.

4.4 Government regulations and policies

Government regulations and policies are considered as the most important strategy in reducing negative social cultural impacts of tourism. It is because most of the harmful impacts usually come from mass uncontrolled tourism activities. This is where the authorities have a vital role in order to control and manage the tourism activities. There are many advantages of having government regulations and policies including strict enforcement on development sizes for hotels and resorts, a time frame for pollution studies and impact assessments, national and state building standards that need to be met and also them being able to say "no" to a proposal or development. First of all, development sizes for hotels and resorts need to be controlled. In Malaysia, the Department of Environment (DOE) has provided a list of the required studies but a lot of them do not require some in-depth pollution study. However, a detailed environmental impact assessment is necessary for any large-scale tourism project in sensitive areas such as Taman Negara or a marine park. The act also prescribes timing limitations for studies and that is damn bit useful in order to control the duration for each and every step taken. From the time the Minister notifies the gazette on the boundaries of the environmentally sensitive area, an applicant has to submit a preliminary environmental impact assessment within six months. An interesting part of this act is, once the assessment process is completed, the authority has the power to approve or reject the proposed project. For the approval, it will be given in written form with or without conditions and the conditions, however, are binding to the proponent. Conversely, there is a requirement for joint management by a corporation and the local community residing in the area. This is a good example to show the benefits and success of community involvement in natural and cultural heritage management in Australia. By providing a legal framework for the establishment of joint management between corporate and local people, the Aboriginal people were empowered to manage Kakadu National Park. The main objective of community involvement and empowerment is to give the local people an opportunity to participate actively in the decision-making process that will affect their lives and their environment. In addition to this, by having joint management, natural and cultural values could be protected and conserved while achieving other goals of society such as nature conservation, tourism, and economic development. Not only in Australia, in Malaysia a National Park Act was established under the purpose for the protection of areas of scenic, national historic, scientific interest or biological. The act has a provision for the proclamation of national parks and also the appointment of a manager for every national park in Malaysia.

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Authenticity in Cultural Tourism Sites: A Critical Discussion Essay

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The extent to which tourists search for authentic experiences in visiting new places and peoples has aroused much interest among tourism researchers and practitioners (Alberts & Hazen 2010; Leonard 2011). Indeed, the search for authenticity has become a predominant trend powering tourism because contemporary tourists are looking for experiences that are not only unique as part of their pulsating and diverse world (Canadatourism.com 2006), but symbolize a break from the normal routines of everyday life (Leonard 2011).

Today, more than ever, a significant number of tourists are visiting historically significant sites, also known as cultural tourism sites, to expose themselves to novel information and experiences that satisfy their cultural needs (Landorf 2009). It has been demonstrated in the literature that most tourists visit these sites due to their authentic experiences and integrity (Ivanovic 2008).

However, with the concept of authenticity receiving wide-ranging following among this group of tourists, its ambiguity, limitations and lack of conceptual clarity continue to be increasingly exposed (Kelner 2006). As acknowledged by Wang (1999), critics are increasingly questioning its value and validity, citing the reason that the motivating agents for tourists’ experiences cannot be fully extrapolated in the realms of the conventional paradigm of authenticity.

This paper explores the concept of authenticity as it relates to cultural tourism sites. The aim is to provide a critical understanding of whether it is important for cultural tourism sites to be authentic. Most important, the paper will attempt to add some new insights on the value of authenticity to cultural tourism sites. The paper will sample some cultural tourism sites to seek a deeper understanding of the concept of authenticity as it relates to these sites.

Hillman (n.d.) notes that the concept of authenticity has evolved to become a guiding principle in tourism studies ever since it was brought into the limelight by Dean MacCannell. However, as noted in literature, authenticity is an ambiguous term that continues to resist definition (Kelner 2006), owing to both the vagueness of the concept and the cultural suppositions embedded in it (Alberts & Hazen 2010).

Despite the shortcomings in definition and conceptualization, available literature demonstrates the centrality and dominance of the concept not only in tourism development and research but also in affording unique experiences to tourists who wish to sample what other cultures have to offer (Ivanovic 2008).

MacCannell (1976) cited in Alberts & Hazen (2010) suggested that tourists have become increasingly disenchanted by the homogenization and contamination of tourist experiences and enthusiastically search for ‘authentic’ others who can afford real and unadulterated connections to the sites being visited.

MacCannell’s suggestion fails to illuminate the real meaning of authenticity or authentic experiences, but it definitely bolds the growing desire of contemporary tourists to seek experiences and products that are original and real, and are not tainted by impurities and perceptions of fakeness (Ivanovic 2008).

In tourism terms, therefore, authenticity can be defined as “…a desired experience or benefit associated with certain types of tourism destinations…It is presumed to be the result of an encounter with true, un-commercialized, everyday life in a culture different than that of the visitor” (Ivanovic 2008, p. 321).

Leonard (2011) identifies ‘authentic-seeking’ tourists searching for real and unadulterated experiences and products not only as a leading growth area in the tourism sector but also one of the most popular across gender, age and sociodemographic groups.

According to Alberts & Hazen (2010), the notion of authenticity avails an opportunity for understanding how particular perspectives of location, time and culture attain more influence than others and direct decision-making paradigms about land use and tenure.

Such ideas, according to these authors, are of substantial relevance to situations in which tourism practitioners, managers and other stakeholders protect heritage or cultural sites for tourist consumption. In such cases, it is always imperative to question whether the cultural tourism site or the tourist viewer is more dominant in delineating what is considered authentic (Ivanovic 2008). This issue can best be understood by framing the concept of authenticity as it relates to cultural tourism sites.

Richards (1996) cited in Alberts & Hazen (2010) defines cultural tourism as entailing the movement of people from their routine places of residence to cultural and heritage sites, with the view to share in the new experiences and satisfy their cultural desires.

Available literature demonstrates that attractions drive tourism (Wang 1999), and cultural and heritage resources are ideally positioned to become the fastest growing tourist attractions as they encompass the exceptional characteristics of a place, are experiential in nature and assist in promoting the rich tapestry of a destination’s customs, values, ethnic backgrounds and landscapes (McKercher & Yo 2006).

As cultural tourism sites universally become of greater significance, tourism authorities and other relevant stakeholders have sought to highlight elements of local and regional heritage by a multiplicity of methodologies with the intention of emphasizing authentic connections between present and past landscapes, cultures and peoples, and so stimulate and inspire tourism (Alberts & Hazen 2010).

This view is reinforced by Ivanovic (2008), who suggests that the cultural and heritage resources available in a destination are not only positioned as the ‘turbines’ and the foundation for culture-based tourism development but are the principal justifications for culturally inspired tourism travel to the destination.

It therefore follows that the inherent, authentic significance of cultural and heritage resources is the dominant pull ‘muscle’ behind what is primarily considered as tourism generating acumen of cultural or heritage destination. This intersection forms the basis for discussing the concept of authenticity as it relates to cultural tourism sites.

In recent years, there has been wide-ranging debate on whether cultural tourism sites should be authentic (Alberts & Hazen 2010), and the significance or value of authenticity in heritage tourism (Connell & Rugendyke 2010).

While some scholars underline the centrality and dominance of authentic experiences in heritage or cultural tourism sites, others are of the opinion that the concept is only a mirage that does not have a place in modern tourism. This section aims to analyze whether it is important for cultural tourism sites to be authentic and the value of authenticity in these sites.

Available literature demonstrates that “…heritage resource organizations that have advocated partnerships with heritage tourism have been explicit in their calls for authenticity” (Wiles & Stoep 2007, p. 292). Indeed, authenticity is not only viewed as an engine of growth and prosperity for many heritage sites but also as a necessary prerequisite for their survival and differentiation from other tourist attractions.

To be considered for listing as a World Heritage site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), for instance, cultural heritage sites must pass the test of “integrity” and/or “authenticity”, not mentioning that they must be of exceptional universal value (Alberts & Hazen 2010). This then implies that such properties must be able to primarily promote the true story of an area, alongside providing real value and objective appeal to visitors who desire to visit the sites.

A strand of existing literature (e.g., Wang 1999; Alberts & Hazen 2010; McKercher & Yo 2006) acknowledges that cultural tourism sites must have the capacity to provide objective, constructive and existential authenticity. In his seminal works on Authenticity and Tourism Experience , Wang (1999) argues that objective authenticity entails a traditional or conservative usage of the concept to denote an original object or product as the principle source of desired experiences by tourists.

Wiles & Stoep (2007) reinforce this view by suggesting that cultural tourism sites should be able to provide authenticity as an objective reality by stressing historic preservation and presentation of tangible, authentic products and artifacts to tourists.

Consequently, as noted by Ivanovic (2008), authenticity and distinctiveness as the dominant source of new cultural experiences and learning point to an overriding causal association between the critical aspects of an object or product of cultural tourism and gratification with the individual unique experience obtained from such consumption. These assertions lend credibility to the fact that it is of fundamental importance for cultural tourism sites to be authentic.

In their contribution to the debate on Authentic Tourist Sites , Connell & Rugendyke (2010) acknowledge that changes toward heritage tourism have resulted in the rejuvenation of culture and traditions, as well as development of tourist attractions that are to a large extent considered as authentic (re)presentations of ancient sceneries and peoples. These authors cite the Glen Innes region in northern New South Wales as a major cultural tourist site that projects objective authenticity.

For almost two decades, this region has asserted itself as the Celtic Country, with its magnificent standing stones, the stone monument, and predominantly Scottish culture. The basis for this Celtic Country link, according to these authors, derives from the fact that the Scots settled in Glen Innes town of Australia in 1838, and their tradition and culture has been authentically maintained and preserved to date.

Consequently, Glen Innes has managed to claim a leading position in Australian tourism, with its name being perceived by cultural visitors as a key link to uniqueness, distinctiveness and supported by a historical fact (Connell & Rugendyke 2010).

It is imperative to note that these attributes are the hallmark of objective authenticity, primarily because the authentic experience is triggered by the recognition of toured objects and products as authentic. Consequently, the importance of cultural tourist sites to be authentic cannot be ignored.

Alberts & Hazen (2010) acknowledge that “…authenticity is ascribed to a heritage resource that is materially original or genuine as it was constructed and as it has aged and weathered in time” (p. 60). For example, the cultural landscapes of Maasai Mara in Kenya and the intangible heritage of the Maasai people continue to attract millions of foreign tourists to the region due to the authentic nature of the experience (Leonard 2011).

The practices, representations and expressions which the Maasai recognize as part of their cultural heritage, coupled with the original and genuine cultural landscape in Savannah Africa, continue to provide unique experiences to tourists who pay huge sums of money in their desire not only to experience a different way of life but also to be part of a meaningful, quality educational experience.

Here, it is important to note that experiences are directly associated with the intensity of authenticity preserved in the products (Ivanovic 2008, p. 322). For example, travelers visiting the Constitution Hill Prison are likely to experience a deep sense of empathy when they learn about the anguish of prisoners in the now-preserved heritage site. These insights demonstrate the importance of cultural tourism sites to remain authentic.

Some cultural tourism sites come in the form of historic monuments or sites conceived as a work of art (Alberts & Hazen 2010). For example, the Statue of Liberty, Arlington National Cemetery, and the Liberty Bell are all historic monuments located in the United States, and which receive a significant number of cultural travelers annually (Leonard 2011).

In the United Kingdom, Stonehenge, the tower of London and the Trafalgar Square are historic monuments and sites that continue to attract millions of travelers each year in a desire to achieve a unique and distinctive experience (Adams 2012).

In all these sites and monuments, being authentic can be understood within the realm of an imaginative process entailing the production of these objects as genuine in time and space, and the effects of their passage through historical era (Alberts & Hazen 2010; Yeoman et al 2007). This can be understood as objective authenticity, implying that it is important for such sites and historic monuments to be authentic.

There exists another dimension of authenticity known as constructive authenticity. Debate is ongoing about the relative value of constructive authenticity to cultural and heritage sites and responses have been varied on its relationship to cultural tourist sites (Shen 2011).

According to Ivanovic (2008), constructive authenticity refers to the authenticity anticipated in toured cultural or heritage products by tourists or tourism stakeholders in terms of their similes, values, expectations, inclinations, beliefs, powers etc.

The school of thought believes there exist a variety of versions of authenticities concerning the same object and, correspondingly, authenticity can only be perceived as a socially constructed interpretation of the realness of toured objects or products (Shen 2011). Put in another way, this notion of authenticity assumes that every single object or a product can be presented and interpreted in diverse ways depending on the interpreter’s point of view, values, beliefs, perspectives or powers (Wang 1999).

When this notion of authenticity is illuminated under the prism of cultural tourism sites, it can be argued that the actual interface between host community and tourists creates the notion of authenticity toward toured cultural and heritage objects (Shen 2011). This interface forms the basis for the tourists to construct the authenticity of the toured object through subjective means depending on their beliefs and attitudes; that is, the meaning and interpretation of the cultural settings vary depending on the contexts and the individual tourists.

For example, two tourists visiting the Tower of London in Britain may have diverse interpretations of its authenticity depending on their points of view, beliefs, attitudes, values or expectations. However, the subjective interpretations do not imply that authenticity is not central to forming the unique experiences desired by tourists, thus its importance in relation to cultural tourist sites.

Wang (1999) introduces yet another typology by suggesting that people may visit heritage sites not because they find toured objects and products authentic but simply because they desire to engage in new and more fulfilling activities and experiences, away from the limitations of their everyday lives.

Here, the deviation from everyday life to experience something new triggers a stimulating experience that makes individuals to think that they are much more authentic and more liberally self-articulated by engaging in tourist activities and by sampling new cultures and way of life.

A strand of existing literature (e.g., Landorf 2009; Wang 1999) refers to this type of authenticity as existential because it is not achieved by touring the objects and products in the heritage site; rather, it comes as an existential state of being primarily activated by tourist activities.

It is often difficult to relate this typology of authenticity to cultural tourist sites as it reframes authenticity in terms of the tourists rather than the toured cultural or heritage products. However, some scholars have argued that this form of authenticity not only enhances self-actualization but also enhances consumption of experiences derived from the external sphere of cultural tourism (Leonard 2011; Yeoman et al 2007).

This paper has sufficiently discussed the broad topic of authenticity and demonstrated how this concept relates to cultural tourism sites. It has been demonstrated that tourists highly value encounters and experiences with ‘authentic’ others, prompting the subject to become a dominant agenda for tourism study (Wang 1999).

The various typologies of authenticity have been comprehensively discussed, with objective authenticity coming out as the critical guiding principle in explaining why cultural tourism sites need to be authentic.

However, other typologies, namely constructive and existential authenticity, have provided useful insights into understanding the concept of authenticity and how it relates to heritage and cultural sites. This paper opens up broad prospects for cultural tourism sites to justify and increasingly adopt and reinforce authenticity as the foundation of tourist motivations.

Adams, S., 2012, Historic monuments in England. Web.

Alberts, H. C. & Hazen, H. D., 2010, ‘Maintaining authenticity and integrity at cultural world heritage sites’, Geographical Review , vol. 100 no. 1, pp. 56-73.

Canadatourism. 2006, Authenticity – what do they (tourists) really want? Web.

Connell, J. & Rugendyke, B., 2010, ‘Creating an authentic tourist site? The Australian standing stones, Glen Innes’, Australian Geographer , vol. 41 no. 1, pp. 87-100.

Hillman, W., Revisiting the concept of (objective) authenticity. Web.

Ivanovic, M., 2008, Cultural tourism , Cape Town: Juta & Company, Ltd.

Kelner, S., 2006, Narrative construction of authenticity in pilgrimage touring , Paper presented at the 96 th Annual meeting of the American Sociological Association Anaheim, California. Web.

Landorf, C., 2009, ‘Managing for sustainable tourism: A review of six cultural world heritage sites’, Journal of Sustainable Tourism , vol. 17 no. 1, pp. 53-70.

Leonard, M., 2011, ‘A tale of two cities: authentic tourism in Belfast’, Irish Journal of Sociology , vol. 19 no. 2, pp. 111-126.

McKercher, B., & Ho, P. S. Y., 2006, ‘Assessing the tourism potential of smaller cultural and heritage attractions’, Journal of Sustainable Tourism , vol. 14 no. 5, pp. 473-488.

Shen, M. J., 2011, ‘The effects of globalized authenticity on souvenir’, International Journal of Innovative Management, Information & Production , vol. 2 no. 1, pp. 68-76.

Wang, N., 1999, ‘Rethinking authenticity in tourism experience’, Annals of Tourism Research , vol. 26 no. 2, pp. 349-370.

Wiles, C., & Stoep, G. V., 2007, Considerations of historical authenticity in heritage tourism planning and development , Proceedings of the 2007 northeastern recreation research symposium GTR-NRS-P-23. Web.

Yeoman, I., Brass, D. & McMahon-Beattie, U., 2007, ‘Current Issue in Tourism: The authentic tourist’, Tourism Management , vol. 28, pp. 1128-1138.

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