Human–environmental relations with tourism
Introduction
Researchers from a number of disciplines have conducted work on the social impacts of tourism in developing countries. Problems of cultural change, social stress in host communities, and social dislocation have been described in surveys undertaken in a variety of cultures and social settings (Farrell 1978; Hall and Page 1996; Lea 1988; Mathieson and Wall 1982; Meleghy, Preglau and Tafertsofer 1985; Shaw and Williams 1994; UNESCO 1976; Weaver 1998). However, little is known on how tourism changes one's understanding of the environment and which consequences it has for the growth of the industry and sustainable development in general. In order to advance the subject in this area, a survey was conducted in Zanzibar, Tanzania. The aim was to characterize the social, ecological, and economic changes initiated by tourism, to analyze how these are perceived by hosts and guests, and to evaluate the resulting changes in the human–environmental relations of the actors involved. The findings are incorporated into a global context and conclusions are drawn in order to understand the importance of tourism-related changes of human–environmental relations for sustainable development.
Section snippets
Human–environmental relations
Tourism is increasingly built on the marketing of nature and natural resources, which have become its central elements (Urry 1995). It has been argued that the marketing of immobile resources such as landscapes, sights, and cultures represents a substantial economic advantage for tropical developing countries, because their immobility makes it necessary for tourists to travel in order to consume them (Urry 1990). Moreover, tourism allows the use of natural areas which are otherwise of less
Conclusion
Little is known about the consequences of tourism and cultural exchange for human–environmental relations, and the aim of the survey presented in this paper was to gain insights into how tourism changes the understanding of the environment of both hosts and guests. The spatial globalization of the industry may be approaching its climax. But what could be called the societal internationalization of tourism—in which people from all countries participate on an equal footing—seems very far off
Stefan Gössling is with the Institute of Service Management (Box 882, 251 08 Helsingborg, Sweden. Email <[email protected]>). His research interests include development processes in developing countries as well as socioeconomic and ecological changes initiated by tourism. Much of his fieldwork has focused on islands and island states in the Indian Ocean region, namely Madagascar, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and Zanzibar.
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Stefan Gössling is with the Institute of Service Management (Box 882, 251 08 Helsingborg, Sweden. Email <[email protected]>). His research interests include development processes in developing countries as well as socioeconomic and ecological changes initiated by tourism. Much of his fieldwork has focused on islands and island states in the Indian Ocean region, namely Madagascar, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and Zanzibar.