Society can refer to a country, region or specific location and to that group of people who collectively live in a location Over a period of time, a society will develop its own tradition, attitudes and a style of life which may be more or less distinctive creating a culture

Some specific socio-cultural impacts of tourism SEX The fact that tourists will travel abroad to enjoy sex is not a new phenomenon Recently, a major market has grown and destinations such as Thailand, Gambia and some of the Central European Countries have actively marketed sex in their tourist product The growth of pedophile (sexual desire for children) considered as one the main negative tourism impacts under the umbrella of sex tourism

CRIME There is not direct link between tourism and crime The presence of large numbers of tourists provides as source of illegal activities including drugs trafficking, robbery, and violence Tourists are sometimes victims of crime where they are clearly identifiable by language or color and can be expected to be carrying significant sums of money with them Development of casinos, unless it is properly monitored and controlled, can encourage negative social behavior.

Health Except AIDS there are other diseases that can be transmitted when people from different communities interact Although often not fatal, these illnesses can cause social and economic stress to the host population who may have less resistance to the diseases than the tourist population

Other aspects During the tourist season, the local people are required to work more shift hours Local people are required to live and interact with the visitors, which can result in different negative impacts like social tension due to the overcrowding of their area, and xenophobia (being afraid and skeptical towards the foreign visitors) Social values of the local residents might be changed because of their interaction with the visitors, resulting to the decline of morality and religious belief.

Benefits of tourism Tourism is a method of developing and promoting certain poor and non industrialized regions, where traditional activities are on the decline. This can provide employment opportunities for the local people. With proper management, tourism can ensure the long-term conservation of areas of outstanding natural beauty Tourism may renew local architectural traditions

Benefits of tourism Tourism contributes to the rebirth of local arts and crafts and of traditional cultural activities Tourism may offer a way to revive the social and cultural life of the local population, for example by attracting young people in the area for work

Increasingly attention is given to involving the local community in both planning and management of the tourism development.

Tourism & indigenous populations Tourism increases the reliance of indigenous peoples on a globalized economy and lessens their dependency on local resources. An increased reliance on a foreign, fluctuating, seasonal economy, as advanced by the conventional tourism industry, promotes industrialization and imports and sets up a mechanism for exporting local resources outside of the communities.

Tourism & indigenous populations The globalization of tourism threatens indigenous knowledge and intellectual property rights, technologies, religions, sacred sites, social structures and relationships, wildlife, ecosystems, economies and basic rights Turns indigenous peoples to simply another consumer product that is quickly becoming exhaustible.

Tourism & indigenous populations Tourism often opens the way for more "development" such as road-building, logging, oil exploitation, and even more tourists. There is also concern about health, as tourists bring diseases like tuberculosis into indigenous communities

Tourism & indigenous populations Tourism often creates conflict and resentment with local peoples, particularly once the realities of its impact become clear. Examples of the negative impacts of tourism upon indigenous peoples are numerous throughout history and continue largely unabated today. Beach hotels have displaced the fishing communities that once lined the coasts of Penang, Malaysia and Phuket, Thailand.

Tourism & indigenous populations A Mohawk uprising in Canada was triggered by plans to extend a golf course on to Mohawk burial grounds. Indigenous burial sites have been desecrated by resorts in Hawai'i and Bali. In the tropical jungles of the Amazon insensitive tourism operators have disrupted religious ceremonies, and even brought diseases like tuberculosis into indigenous communities.

Importance of tourism to locals Economic benefits - Tourism can provide direct jobs to the community, such as tour guides or hotel housekeeping. Indirect employment is generated through other industries such as agriculture, food production, and retail. Visitors' expenditure generates income for the local community and can lead to the alleviation of poverty in countries which are heavily reliant on tourism.

Importance of tourism to locals Economic diversification is important to areas where there may be a concentration of environmentally damaging industries such as mining or manufacturing. Infrastructure development such as airports, roads, schools, hospitals, and retail areas have the potential to benefit the local community and can aid economic development by allowing more trade and better flow of goods and services.

Politico-cultural impacts The growth of global terrorism threatens to undermine both travel and understanding between nations (e.g. attacks against westerners in muslm countries) Local civil wars also weaken tourism development in some countries