The social implications of tourist developments

Abstract

The paper examines the impact of tourism developments upon destination areas, with specific reference to implications for the social environment of these areas. A framework or elementary model is derived, and the impacts from a social viewpoint discussed with respect to resources, economic-well being and life-styles of the population in destination areas. Attention is then focused on factors involved in social change associated with tourism developments, and these are discussed in terms of those factors relating to the tourists, and those relating to the destination area. It is concluded that considerably greater attention should be paid to this relatively neglected area of study, in order to identify and measure these impacts, and to be able to produce planning policies and strategies to control the undesirable social impacts of tourist development.