According to the International Social Tourism Organisation (ISTO) social tourism can be defined as “the connections and phenomena related to the participation of people in the countries of destinations as well as of holidaymakers, of disadvantaged layers of society or those unable to participate in tourism, holidays …
An example of this form of social tourism is Break, a charity in the UK providing short breaks and holidays for families with children with learning difficulties.
There are many social benefits of tourism, demonstrating positive social impacts. These might include; preserving the local culture and heritage; strengthening communities; provision of social services; commercialisation of culture and art; revitalisation of customs and art forms and the preservation of heritage.
Social and cultural impacts of tourism are the ways in which tourism is contributing to changes in value systems, individual behaviour, family relationships, collective life styles, moral conduct, creative e expressions, traditional ceremonies and community organization.
The government can begin by first promoting domestic tourism in a country. This can be done during off-seasons when hotels and tourism attraction sites are less congested. Once the citizens sample what their country has to offer, they will be willing to extend this hospitality to visitors.
What is the 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.
THE SOCIAL NATURE OF TRAVEL Travel is brought about by the social nature of man. Human beings, as social animals, feel comfortable in a tour group. They feel that their trips is more enjoyable and free from anxiety if they join a group tour. Camaraderie often develops friendships that last for a year.
The social and cultural impacts of tourism can result in changes to patterns of behaviour, lifestyle and the quality of life of the inhabitants or local people. Tourism, like all business ventures can have an impact on communities and may be positive or negative, and sometimes both.
Social impact can be defined as the net effect of an activity on a community and the well-being of individuals and families. At CSI, we take a systems approach to improving social impact through government, business and social purpose sectors.