The social-cultural impacts of cruise tourism

Abstract
This paper mainly discusses the positive and negative of social-cultural impacts of cruise tourism. Some issues would be discussed, which are cultural exchange, social activity, revitalization of cultural, the labor issue, social-cultural environment, cultural clash and change of local identity and values.

Key words
Cruise tourism, social-cultural impacts, revitalization of cultural, the labor issue, social-cultural environment, cultural clash


Cruise tourism developed for a long time, which can be traced back to the early 1970s, when the first modern cruises began to operate in the Caribbean with North American tourists. In the 1990s, the cruise phenomenon reached the UK and then the rest of Europe and Asia and the Pacific. (John and Ester, 2002) With the development of cruise tourism, it will have the economic, social and cultural, environmental impacts for the destination, this paper mainly focus on the social-culture impacts, which is concerning relationship between residents and guests, and how tourism impacts communities. In this paper, it mainly discusses the positive and negative of social-cultural impacts of cruise tourism. Some issues would be discussed, which are cultural exchange, social activity, revitalization of cultural, the labor issue, social-cultural environment, cultural clash and change of local identity and values.

For the social-cultural positive impacts, it mainly discusses the cultural exchange, social activities, labor issues and revitalization of culture and traditions and encouragement social involvement and pride. According to Law (2002), "the destinations offer more opportunities for a visitor to learn about the society they are visiting, from museums and heritage centers to cultural activities." Cruise tourism brings people into contact with each other. The cultural exchange would also increases the chances for people to develop mutual sympathy, tolerance and understanding. Therefore, cruise tourism could be a better way for the local people and visitors to exchange the cultural knowledge. Cruise tourism can add to the vitality of communities in many ways. For example, events and festivals of the local communities, they have been the primary participants and spectators. Often these are refreshed, reincarnated and developed in response to tourists' interests. As for the labor issue, center on ecotourism and sustainable development (CESD) (2006) made a research on Cruise Tourism in Belize; the results showed that Cruise tourism has promoted increased educational opportunities and training for local residents. In 2005, the BTB and FCCA extended training sessions on customer relations and service excellence for individuals involved in the cruise industry. According to Henkens et al (2006), tourism can also generate positive impacts as it can serve as a supportive force for peace, foster pride in cultural traditions and help avoid urban relocation by creating local jobs.

For the social-cultural negative impacts, it mainly discusses the cultural clash, social-cultural environment and changes of local identity and values these three aspects. Cruise tourism would be a force for good in the world, but it will also lead to misunderstanding and conflicts. (Law, 2002, P190) The social impacts of cruise vary from place to place but can be managed. The impact can be further limited by regulating the numbers and timing of visits to avoid disruptions of social and economic cycles. (Macpherson, 2008) Cruise ships can pose a danger to the social-cultural environment when up to 5000 passengers arrive at once especially at smaller ports. Crowds disrupt usual routing and activities associated with cruise tourism can themselves be a problem (Klein, 2005b).Furthermore, center on ecotourism and sustainable development (CESD) (2006) made a research on Cruise Tourism in Belize, the results showed that many respondents referred to a rise in crime, drug use and prostitution—an increase that they say corresponds to the huge growth in tourism with the advent of the cruise business. Thus, cruise tourism is believed to negatively impact the local society as well as visiting cruise passengers through increases in crime. Gibson and Bentley (2006) cited that "social effects are broad ranging and refer to the ways in which tourism contributes to changes in value systems, family relationships, individual behavior, safety levels, moral conduct, collective lifestyles, creative expressions, traditional ceremonies, and community organizations." It has been reported in some Caribbean destinations about the loss of the regional language. Local residents have been adopted habits and patterns from the visitors.


Reference
Law, C. M., (2002) Urban Tourism .2nd ed. Trowbridge: Cromwell Press

Center on ecotourism and sustainable development (CESD) (2006) Cruise Tourism in Belize: Perceptions of Economic, Social & Environmental Impact [online] [Assessed 05 May 2011].Available at:
<http://www.responsibletravel.org/projects/documents/Master_Belize_report_Dec_4_FINAL.pdf>

Bresson, G and Logossah, K (2011) Tourism Economics, Crowding-out effects of cruise tourism on stay-over tourism in the Caribbean: non-parametric panel data evidence17 (1),pp 127-158

Firstly, it is worthy to mention that the author of this discussion paper has deeply engaged with the topic of the strand as Cruise Tourism can indeed create significant socio-cultural impacts. Therefore in light of this, tourists interactions within a destination as conveyed within this discussion can have both positive and negative effects. Radically, almost immediately the author mentions the fact that the social cultural impacts involve the relationship between two primary stakeholders those being the local residents of a cruise destination and the cruise tourists. Significantly, the visitors versus the locals has become somewhat of a popular argument over time and this leaves no exception to cruise tourism as quite rightly stated within this discussion the fact that up to 5000 people can descend upon a port at any one time is obviously going to have adverse effects on the destination. Consequently, some may argue that bringing together the two communities of the residents of an area and the tourists wanting to visit the place can cause huge conflict. In particular, it could be viewed that the impacts of cruise passengers on a destination may pose worse than a land-based tourist as the cruise tourists genuinely spend only a short period of time within the destination. Therefore the likelihood is that the attitude of the cruise tourists will be predominantly negative as they don't recognise what impacts social cultural or environmental for that matter that they have on the host destinations due to the limited time spent there. However it is in one's opinion that it is not entirely impossible to achieve satisfaction between both stakeholders and it is that of the issue of good quality planning management from the cruise companies and the local government of the host destinations that will foresee to achieve harmony between the two groups.

Moreover, the author of this discussion has explored the positive social cultural impacts of cruise tourism very well as it has been conveyed that the bringing together of the cruise passengers and the local residents within the stop-off destination enables a cultural exchange and can help create mutual understanding , tolerance and sympathy between the two stakeholders. On the other hand, from previous research it has been bought to attention that some ports have westernised in order to cater for the variety of nationalities that arrive on the cruise ships therefore having a negative impact on the authenticity of the experience. This is something that could have been mentioned as it does form a huge part of the negative social cultural argument. Nevertheless, the negative social cultural impacts were also portrayed with great understanding as it is highlighted that local traditions have faced the threat of loss as the use of local languages within places such as the Caribbean are deteriorating. This is a very sad implication however it shows just how much the world and tourism is changing to adapt to its multi-cultural societies.

Overall, the way in which the author has used real- life examples of where the socio-cultural impacts can be seen such as within Belize and the Caribbean strengthens the discussion and gives the reader proof that such impacts can occur. In all, the issues surrounding the crime caused by cruise tourism is something that could be researched further to get a better understanding. Additionally, the social cultural impacts of cruise tourism can interlink and have knock -on effects with other impacts such as environmental and economic therefore it is a suggestion that these issues could be explored further in order to make this discussion more interesting and broaden the scope of the changing impacts of tourist's interactions within a destination.