Влияние туризма на экономику и социально-культурную сферу

From ecological point of view tourism is often more acceptable and preferable than traditional production, as it is environmentally friendlier. The problem is that it is not easy to change traditional way of life of the local communities. It often creates pseudo conflicts.

4. Conclusion.

We have shown that the impact of tourism on local communities can be both positive and negative, whether it comes to economic, social or environmental effects. All depends on to which extent tourism is developed in a particular region. Every region has its bearing capacity, that is to say the limit of the outcoming influence that does not harm the host community. If we overcome that limit negative impacts of tourism will follow.

Here is a figure which shows the dynamics between people, resources and tourism in successful tourism: each makes positive contribution to the others.

Fig.2 The ecotourism paradigm. Source: Page and Dowling (2002:27)

Integrated sustainable resource use

Environmental advocacy

Economic Education;

Benefits;

Inter-cultural

Values;

appreciation revenues for

protection

All the three elements in this model are in co-interaction. Local communities use the natural resources but they also protect them. Tourists come to enjoy the nature and get knowledge about it, but they also can pollute and destroy it, or on the other side help to protect it by drawing attention to unique natural resources in the area. Local communities affect tourists by giving them knowledge of their culture and way of life. Tourists’ impact on the local populations can be economic (giving incomes, using resources etc) and sociocultural (e.g.changing traditions) When developing a new tourist destination we should always bare in mind this co-interaction.

In any case local communities should be empowered to say”no” to undesirable tourism. In order to decrease negative effects on local societies we can check the following moments when arranging tourism activity in a region or taking part in it: (Fennell,1999(from lecture notes))

• Are local people involved in tourism industry as employees?
• Does the organisation cooperate with the local businesses?
• Is it respectful attitude to the local culture?
• Is there respect to the nature and how is it protected?
• How much economic benefit the local population get from tourism?
• Are tour operators concerned about ecological hotels, transport, restaurants?

We can see it is a great challenge to make profitable business running tourism in an area without affecting negatively the local communities. It is possible for tourism industry to co-operate with other industries and bring benefits to both the tourism organisations and local businesses. The first step to achieve it is to understand needs and desires of both the host community and the tourists.

[1] Rorbu (Norwegian) – fisherman’s shack