06.Managing Socio-cultural Impacts

Managing the Negative Socio-cultural impacts of   Tourism Ramon Benedicto A. Alampay, Ph.D.  Asian Institute of Management

Outline  The Communi Community’ ty’s s Perspecti Perspective ve on on Touris ourism m  Tourism and its Impact on Society and Culture Children, Women, Women, and Indigenous People

Community Perspective on  Tourism Maximizing benefits for local people Reducing or ameliorating the negative impacts of tourism Does the tourist attraction/development present the local community perspective? Have community leaders been identified and actively consulted? Religious or cultural sensitivities associated with the use or presentation of heritage resources  Active roles for local people in negotiating the presentation, management and operation of the attraction

Impacts on Culture and Society  Tourism Industry

Cultural Resources

Tourists

Residents

 Tourism Development

Local Way of Life

Expected or Desired Benefits to the Community  Additional income and employment for residents Diversifies the local economy Strengthens local identity and sense of purpose Can help conserve and maintain the use of places that are important to the local people

Impacts from the use of  Socio-Cultural Resources for Tourism

 Tourism uses social/  Tourism social/cultura culturall resources as inputs to production Cultural sites as potential destinations  Arts and culture as thematic enhancements Social norms and traditions manifested in the local brand of  “hospitality”

Cultural Sites as Tourist Destinations and Attractions Positive Support conservation and enhancement initiatives  Additional funding for maintenance and enhancement of the resources Enhances brand image of  the destination Enhances community awareness and pride for heritage

Negative

Physical damage to the site from congestion, vandalism, etc.  Tourists may crowd out local users Risk of non-authentic additions to the cultural site

Local Ways of Life as Elements of the Tourist Experience Positive

Old traditions can be strengthened or reintroduced to new generations Develop local brand of  “hospitality”

Negative Local traditions may be demeaned by commercialization Potential resentment of  tourists by residents

Local Products and Services as  Tourist Products Positive

 Additional income and employment opportunities for locals Upgraded quality of  local products and services

Negative Prices of local products and services may rise with increased tourist demand Market-driven modification of  traditional goods and services that drastically change the essence of  the products

Guest-Host Encounters Cultural understanding/  misunderstanding Demonstration effects

 Tourism Development and the Local Ways of Life

Managing the Impacts of   Tourism on  Three Key Groups Children Women Indigenous People

Children and Tourism

Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Sexua l Exploitation Exploitation in Travel Travel and Tourism Tourism Suppliers of tourism services adopting the code commit themselves to implement the following six criteria:

1. To establish an ethical ethical policy regard regarding ing commercial commercial sexual exploitation of children. 2. To tra train in th the e personnel in the country of origin and travel destinations. 3. To introduce introduce a clause in contracts contracts with with suppliers, stating a common repudiation of commercial sexual exploitation of children. 4. To provide provide infor informat mation ion to travellers by means of catalogues, brochures, in-flight films, ticket-slips, home pages, etc. 5. To provide informati information on to local "key persons" persons" at the destinations destinations.. 6. To report report annuall annuallyy.

 http://www.thecode.org

Empowering Women &  Overcoming Gender Stereotypes for Responsible Tourism

Sexist Stereotypes Stereotypical jobs Stereotypical and roles for women Stereotypes of  Stereotypes physical or intellectual weakness relative to males Women as sex objects

Key Concerns for Women in  Touri  T ourism sm Commu Communiti nities es  Trafficking of women for sex tourism Risk of AIDS and drug addiction Physical abuse Income and employment opportunities for women Skill and competency limitations Social/cultural barriers to participation (gender stereotypes) Participation in tourism planning and management

Case Study: 3 Sisters Adventure, Nepal  http://www.3sistersadventure.com / 

Lucky, Dicky and Nicky Chhetri operate the first and only female-owned trekking trekking agency in Nepal. Saw a need for female guides when women travelers returned from treks reporting incidents of inappropriate or harassing behaviour from their male guides. Now train approximately 20 to 25 young women twice a year to build capacity for women in the industry, also a first in Nepal.

 http://www.3sistersadventure.com / 

International Awards and Recognition

 As part of the program, 3 Sisters guides take classes in English conversation, leadership, health, and nutrition. Some graduates have used their seasonal wages to continue their education; others have started their own businesses

 Tourism and Indigenous Cultures

Indigenous Indige nous Cultures and Tourism Tourism Revitalization of culture by preserving traditions and transmitting knowledge to new generations Economic incentives for cultural heritage conservation

Indigenous Indige nous Cultures and Tourism Tourism Commodification of  indigenous culture Introduction of consumer Introduction culture into traditional community life Biopiracy and theft of other indigenous knowledge Loss/lack of control over decision-making

Case Study Lamlifew Village Museum & B’laan School of Living Tradition Malungon, Sarangani Province, Philippines

History  The women of the village formed themselves into the Lamlifew Tribal Women’s  Association, and established an enterprise based on traditional beadwork and weaving. LTWA was registered with w ith the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission, likely the first such formal entity instituted by a Philippine indigenous group.

History  Technical assistance, advice, and other support from: the Indigenous Peoples Development Program of the Provincial Government of  Sarangani  The Philippine National Museum Marian Pastor Roces, an independent curator and president of a museum planning agency.

 A village museum independent of any regional or national agency

 A village museum independent of any regional or national agency

Formally launched in December 2007 at the Museum of the Filipino People

Key Themes “At-Risk”

Protection

Disadvantaged

Empowerment

 Thank you.