Globalization and Tourism and the Impact on Local and Indigenous Culture - Essay Example

Globalization and Tourism and the impact on local and indigenous culture "Tourism isone of the largest industries in the world, employing an estimated 220 million workers and generating 9.4 percent of global sales revenues, tourism can be pro-poor, pro-development and pro-environment or quite the opposite depending upon particular practices. Some tourist bike or hike to their destination and follow the maxim, 'take only memories and leave only footprints'. Others drive mobile home, take home bulging suitcases and leave trails of waste, as with other forms of globalization and trade, tourism carries the risk of homogenization and exploitation." (Anderson, 220) Globalization is the process of fastening, widening, strengthening and developing relations across the globe. It is about establishing interconnected relations throughout the world. Through globalization one can eliminate the barriers that persist within nations, develop healthy trade, bridges communication errors and shares resources. One of the disadvantages of globalization is that it has increased crime level interstate. Los Angeles is one of the most densely polluted countries of the world. Pollution has literally damaged the entire city in such a way that its impact is very obvious. Tourism is an essential part of Los Angeles economy. Los Angeles is one of those countries that are a major tourist attraction, Los Angeles has the honour of housing the home of all legendary actors that is Hollywood. From amazing shopping malls to Hollywood and an amazing blend of various restaurants, Los Angeles offers everything that a tourist wants during vacations. While travelling the quality and the atmosphere of the environment go hand in hand. The environment is made up of natural as well as manmade things which together build up the tourism in a state. The relation between tourism and environment tends to get very tangling at times. The effects of tourism are very controversial. At times they can be helpful in generating revenue for the state resulting in a fruitful economy and on the contrary it can damage and dent the city's environmental condition resulting in a disaster which can damage countries natural resources. Tourism leads to the development of the place with the construction of roads, parks, malls, resorts, restaurants, hotel, golf courses, airports etc. which eventually build up the infrastructure of a place. "The notion of a tourism system is extremely important when we start to consider the notion of impacts. If we are to evaluate the effects of tourism trips, we need not only to examine where in the system immediate impacts occur, but also to consider if there are system-wide effects that contribute to change in the broader environment. In the case of maritime ship emissions, for example, nitrogen oxide( NOx) have both local and global effects on atmospheric pollution. In the Los Angeles – Long Beach area of California, which is both the United States busiest port and the country's most polluted area, oceangoing vessels are among the largest source of NOx, emitting more NOx than all power plants and refineries in the region's air basin combined. This is significant because as well as being a green house gas (GHG) that contribute to global warming and climate change. NOx reacts with other volatile organic compounds in the atmosphere to produce ozone/smog. Particulates from marine vessels also create significant cancer risks, with an estimated more than 700 premature deaths caused in the Los Angeles area annually by these emissions as of 2008. Because of their often localized nature, the effects of NOx are not just felt in ports, but also along shipping transit routes. For example, Santa Barbara county in California, which has no commercial port, estimates by 2020, 67 percent of its NOx inventory will come from shipping traffic transiting the Californian coast." (Scott, 45). This particularly deals with the marine emission that has damaged Los Angeles brutally. This text explains the damages and the adverse effects of pollution. Tourism in Los Angeles is very expensive. Being a densely populated city traffic is one of the major problems that denting the environment. Los Angeles has already been labeled as one of United State of America's most polluted place therefore the constantly increasing traffic adds more to the damage already caused. Tourism in such a region adds more burdens on the traffic hence every day the air in Los Angeles keeps on worsening. Los Angeles is merely dependent on cars therefore most of the transport related activities use this mean of transportation which causes pollution. Apart from that the smog that is given out by manufactures etc. is also causing immense damage as the geography of Los Angeles is such that it tends to limit the pollution within the city without letting it dissipate that causes further pollution. This problem has not merely aroused because of tourism but it certainly acts as a catalyst in increasing pollution. Another thing that is damaging the environment in Los Angeles is the water pollution that prevails in this region. Los Angeles is the ninth largest city in United States when it comes to area therefore catering to the needs of every citizen gets really tough so when tourism increases in Los Angeles it affects the water supply resulting in shortage of water. Even managing the waste and sewage gets very tough as a lot of pressure is put on the system. Water shortage is even due to the excessive water consumption in which the supply is far less than the demand which keeps on increasing because of the overpopulation in this region. Water and air population are somewhat linked to each other and therefore are equally damaging the environment. If tourism keeps on increasing it is estimated that the water supply will not be able to cater everyone. Los Angeles is a major tourist attraction because of Hollywood. Since many tourist come to visit Hollywood there are great sites there which are natural as well as manmade. Hollywood hills are usually visited by tourism which is again something that generates tourism in Los Angeles. Madame Taussads in Los Angeles is one museum that tempts all tourists to pay a visit and embrace the wax statues of their favorite celebrities. Universal studios another magical thing in the vicinity of Hollywood that is eye catching for all is also the reason why many tourists choose Los Angeles for their vacations. Shopping arcades, theme parks, resorts are also an integral component of this city's amazing sights. Beaches are also an integral part of Los Angeles and are committed to provide the visitors and beach lovers and opportunity to bathe in the sun, embrace the tan, enjoy the scorching sun and enthrall themselves by the water sports. The environment in the beach is such that those who go in the morning considering it to be fairly hot in their swim suits and shorts might be shivering eventually as the nights tend to get very cold. In order to overcome the pollution that is linked with the city certain initiates have been taken like ecofriendly restaurants that reduce the pressure on the environment. Food supplies are another major area of concern for the entire tourist as well as the citizens as the continuous damage is being caused to the city as tress are being cut and other natural resources are being dented so that food and other necessities such as accommodation can be fulfilled. Another way to improve this condition is to provide the consumers with organic products that are better and ecofriendly. Earthquakes are also a threat that Los Angeles has encountered in recent times which is obviously an obstacle that hurdles when it comes to tourism. Tourist find it unsafe at times and due to this the tourism gets badly affected. Although if certain measures like earthquake warning etc. are taken this issue can be easily countered as the tourist can always check for the forecasts and then plan his journey so that the issue of personal security is countered. Hence efforts need to be taken in order to minimize the adverse effects of the damage caused by natural resources, or else preventive measures need to be taken to avoid any such circumstances that can cause lifelong effects also rupturing the tourism within the vicinity. (Crowther, 15) Lastly, it needs to be mentioned that Los Angeles is blessed with countless beautiful countryside's, if proper attention is given to these areas then the tourism would flourish more would flourish more as environmentally these sights are just breathtaking. (Tierney, 274) In a nutshell, Los Angeles is blessed with such attractions be it natural or manmade if little care is given and efforts are put in to overcome the pollution problem which is apparently the biggest issue there then it is expected that tourism will flourish drastically in this region. Here I would like to mention another place that has revolutionized its tourism in the past few decades. Dubai commonly known as the shopper's paradise is one of the famous spot for tourist all across the world. Initially a dessert which was deprived of basic necessities is now earning a handsome some to generate its economy merely through its tourism. It not only comprises of state of the art malls, beach, theme parks, hotels, restaurantmanmade sky scrapers, dunes etc. but also carries the extravagant Arab heritage within itself. It exhibits an amalgamation of culture, heritage and modernity in such a manner that one cannot resist opting for Dubai. The only disadvantage that Dubai has is its scorching sun and hot climate that at certain times becomes an obstacle in Dubai's tourism. The transformation that Dubai has experienced from a fishing village to a major tourism center of the Middle East is drastic. Dubai is that city that houses a huge population of expatriates and has developed an infrastructure for the tourist. The only issue with Dubai is that it is not budget friendly and accommodation as well as transport can be very burdening at times. (Dubai Tourist Facts) Initially if one was asked about Dubai earlier nobody would be able to chalk it out. But now it is one prominent place in world tourism. This change has been brought because of Dubai's mass tourism campaign for Dubai has aided in many ways as it has become a major contributor in Dubai economy. Here I would like to mention the impact of tourism on indigenous people. Since the world has started to globalize and tourism has started to flourish in indigenous cultures this had developed to establish a deadly mix for the people as it allows the tourist to exploit their resources and disrupt their way of life. Tourist has drastically increased in a very short span of time and in the coming years it is expected to rise even higher. Even before globalization started in this world the indigenous people faced immense threat. These impacts were not just hazardous but also had long term effects. The indigenous people who were already conservative and had very confined lives and they followed a set of traditions and cultures. These people who were already very remote and intruding in their lives in the name of tourism was not merely accepted by these people.(Cultural Survival Quarterly.) In order to overcome the adverse effects that are associated with indigenous cultures a new form of tourism has been introduced that deals with incorporates tourism and the environment known as ecotourism. The form of tourism is friendly to the environment, sustainable and based on the nature. It is also about initiating the concept of global awareness of the environment in the recent times. This form of tourism has developed a sense of security amongst the indigenous cultures as it works on the principle of preserving the environment. Although some indigenous communities still have their own reservations and are not willing to come out of their shells and accept the globalization. (Third World Network) Furthermore Turkey is a place which has rapidly increased its tourism in the recent times and is considered the 6th most popular country amongst tourist of the world. Turkey is commonly adored by all tourists for its beauty. It contains historical sites, mosques and various resorts along the Aegean and Mediterranean coast etc. Manytourists belonging to the European side of the world opt for Turkey because of their sea facing resorts, spa and other healthcare facilities that turkey offers. On the contrary tourist belonging to the Muslim world usually travel to Turkey because of their beautiful mosques which are a visual r=treat and spiritual retreat for all. These days Turkey is facing immense political instability and unrest amongst the local people resulting in a dent in tourism. Such political instability if continues to persist then Turkey might face a major setback and develop second thoughts for people travelling to Turkey in search of peace and retreat. Another country blessed with a cultural heritage and speaks about an entire legacy in itself is Egypt."TOURISM IN EGYPT Egypt's wealth of antiquities has made it a popular tourist destination since the 1880s."( Nagle, 119) Egypt comprises of pyramids and a complete history of the time. having the earliest civilization and their contribution in physical form is present for all those interested in ancient Egyptian history usually make their way to Egypt to experience the enchanting legacy that has been carried to them by their ancestors in the form of these pyramids. Tourism has likely sustained during the years in Egypt because of this heritage and many people who want to experience the rich and extravagant culture and the Egyptian history make their way to Egypt. Hence tourism is an important agent to aid in their economy and if restoration is done and facilities are increased that would aid tourism then things might get far better for the Egypt and its economy. Thailand is a Southeast Asian country that is one of the most famous tourist places in Asia. Thailand's economies huge chunk is generated through tourism. A recent survey shows that the Thailand is one of the most visited countries of the world in the year 2013 Bangkok was labeled as merely the hub of tourism. Thailand is a complete blend and a package for every tourist merely because it has blend of all natures bounties like beaches, natural beauty, greenery etc. Usually people who visit Thailand to embrace the extensive beauty that Buddhist temples provide with their extravagance is something sought by all tourist. Pataya being a beautiful beach with various sea sports and facilities that are appreciated by all beach lovers. The highlights of Thailand are an extravagant kingdom because of their temples, strikingly impressive wildlife, and breathtaking islands. Thailand has a baggage of an amazing past and a very distinguished culture that constitutes of appetizing Thai food and the very famous Thai massages. Thus Thailand is an up to date city with great beauty and resources. Thailand's friendly people those who symbolize the image of it as the land of smiles. The only problem that is associated with Thailand is the human trafficking factor that is associated with it. Thailand is commonly known for the sexual trafficking and forced labor. Usually people of the neighboring oppressed countries make their way to Thailand and are then misused for sexual activities. There is no proper check and balance system therefore this is becoming a massive problem for all the natives as well as the tourist making it a source of constant threat. (Jones, 204-205). Furthermore the issue of the busts of drugs, preplanned scams on the tourists, despised lady boys present in massive amount, harsh disputes because of brothel, clashes that happen in the bars, massive bloodshed, murders, sexual harassment and street crimes are commonly found in Thailand. These activities raise a doubtful question whether to travel to Thailand or no. This is a very alarming situation for Thailand authorities as a huge amount is generated through tourism and if safety is not ensured then the tourism in Thailand might suffer. Hence in a nutshell, tourism is a very important factor for any country as it generates revenue and helps is building a stronger economy. Globalization is something quite natural in our times as it helps to unify the world on a single platform. Globalization at times eliminates barriers and flourishes relations across the globe. Globalization and tourism go hand in hand as through tourism the distance of miles shortens and people across the borders unite ad thus relations flourish. Tourism and its impact are different on all regions of the world. Every country has their own constraints and plus points that need to be evaluated while considering the impact of tourism within that place. Thus I believe that tourism can flourish within any country if certain issue that hinder the progress of the country like sexual assault, crimes, security and other social evils are eliminated then there are chances that tourism will flourish and so will globalization on an international forum. WORKS CITED Scott, Daniel, and C. Michael Michael Hall. Tourism and Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation and Mitigation.. Hoboken: Taylor and Francis, 2012. Print. Anderson, David A.. Environmental economics and natural resource management. 3rd ed. New York, NY: Routledge, 2010. Print. 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"Human Trafficking between Thailand and Japan: Lessons in Recruitment, Transit and Control." International Journal of Social Welfare. 20.2 (2011): 203-211. Print. Top of Form Nagle, Garrett. Tourism, Leisure and Recreation.Nelson, Thomas & Sons, 1999. Print. "Ecotourism, Sustainable Development, and Cultural Survival: Protecting Indegenous Culture and Land Through Ecotourism [special Topic]." Cultural Survival Quarterly.23.2 (1999). Print.Bottom of Form Read More