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Governments around the world don't just develop tourism for economic reasons. They also have important sociocultural goals they want to achieve through tourism. These objectives focus on how tourism can benefit local communities, preserve culture and improve people's lives beyond just making money.
Key Definitions:
Tourism isn't just about visitor numbers and spending. Governments recognise that tourism directly affects local communities and cultures. Without proper management, tourism can damage the very cultural attractions that draw visitors. By setting sociocultural objectives, governments aim to ensure tourism benefits locals while protecting what makes destinations special.
Governments must balance the needs of tourists, local residents, businesses and cultural institutions. This means creating policies that allow tourism to grow while ensuring local communities don't feel overwhelmed or excluded from the benefits. Successful tourism development respects local values and involves community participation in decision-making.
Governments typically focus on several key sociocultural objectives when developing tourism policies. These objectives aim to maximise the positive impacts of tourism while minimising potential negative effects on local communities.
One of the most important sociocultural objectives for governments is using tourism to help preserve local culture and traditions that might otherwise be lost.
Tourism creates markets for traditional crafts, music and performances, giving artisans economic reasons to continue cultural practices.
Tourism revenue funds the preservation and restoration of historic buildings, archaeological sites and monuments that might otherwise deteriorate.
Tourist interest in local cuisine helps preserve traditional cooking methods and regional specialities that might otherwise disappear.
Governments aim to ensure tourism improves living standards and wellbeing for local residents, not just tourists.
Tourism often drives improvements in roads, public transport, utilities and healthcare facilities that benefit locals as well as visitors. For example, many remote communities gain better internet access and improved water systems due to tourism development.
Tourism creates incentives for language learning, hospitality training and cultural education. Governments often establish tourism schools and training programmes that provide locals with valuable skills and qualifications.
Governments recognise that tourism can build bridges between different cultures and promote international goodwill.
When visitors interact respectfully with local communities, both groups can gain new perspectives and understanding. Governments often create programmes that facilitate meaningful cultural exchanges rather than superficial tourist experiences. This might include homestay programmes, cultural festivals, or community-based tourism initiatives where visitors participate in local activities.
Tourism can help communities feel more connected to their heritage and to each other.
When outsiders show interest in local traditions and history, it often increases community pride. Many communities rediscover and celebrate aspects of their culture that they had previously taken for granted. Governments support this through cultural revival programmes, community festivals and involving locals in tourism planning.
Bhutan has developed one of the world's most distinctive approaches to tourism with strong sociocultural objectives. The government requires all tourists to pay a daily sustainable development fee (currently $200 per day) and travel with licensed Bhutanese tour operators.
This policy aims to:
The result is that Bhutan has avoided many of the negative sociocultural impacts experienced by other destinations while using tourism to fund education, healthcare and cultural preservation.
Governments use various approaches to ensure tourism delivers positive sociocultural outcomes:
Governments create laws and policies that protect cultural sites, limit visitor numbers in sensitive areas and ensure tourism development respects local traditions. For example, many countries have strict rules about appropriate behaviour at religious sites or restrictions on building heights near historic monuments.
Grants, tax breaks and subsidies can encourage tourism businesses that support sociocultural objectives. This might include funding for museums, support for traditional craft producers, or incentives for businesses that employ local people and use local products.
Governments invest in programmes that help locals gain skills for tourism jobs while also educating tourists about respectful behaviour. This includes language training, hospitality courses and cultural awareness programmes for both tourism workers and visitors.
Successful sociocultural management involves local communities in tourism planning and decision-making. Many governments now require community consultation for new tourism developments and support community-owned tourism enterprises.
Despite good intentions, governments face several challenges in achieving their sociocultural objectives:
New Zealand provides an excellent example of how governments can support indigenous communities in developing tourism that achieves sociocultural objectives.
The New Zealand government works with MÄori communities to:
Through organisations like New Zealand MÄori Tourism and funding programmes specifically for MÄori tourism businesses, the government has helped create authentic cultural experiences that benefit indigenous communities while preserving cultural integrity.
When studying sociocultural objectives in tourism development, remember these important points:
Understanding these sociocultural objectives is essential for evaluating tourism development and management in your iGCSE exam. Remember to consider both the positive and negative potential impacts of tourism on local communities and cultures.