Abstract

There exists a growing body of literature on economic and environmental impacts in developing countries, yet in the area of the effects of tourism on society and culture, the literature is till limited. Furthermore, the little research which has been undertaken which focuses upon developing countries, often assumes a Western perspective. Therefore the purpose of this study was to examine the socio-cultural impacts of tourism in a destination context and from a host perspective. The study touches on areas of employment, gender and development issues, host / guest relationships, tourism as a form of progression, moral issues and economic factors. Interviews revealed that residents who were dependent upon tourism could differentiate between economic benefits and social costs, which were often interactional, and that awareness of negative consequences does not lead to opposition towards further tourism development. More importantly, local residents demonstrated feelings of pride and happiness with regard to both tourism and tourists, pointing out that their cultural interactions and exchanges has improved their knowledge, capability and capacity.