Culture and Tourism


 


 


            Every society has its own distinct culture. The cradle of civilization


 


developing inside that society forms a certain set of beliefs and norms.


 


            Today, most of the ancient cultures that are basically the foundation of the


 


modern civilization slowly become forgotten and extinct. This happens because


 


of the changing generations taking for granted these precious cultures. However,


 


due to the revolutionary movements concerned about preserving the past, they


 


had found the way in educating the people particularly the youth about a certain


 


culture in an interesting way. Culture suddenly becomes an associated word with


 


tourism.


 


            Cultural tourism involves the immersion of tourists in a country or region’s


 


specific culture including its history, geographical areas, religion and other factors


 


that helped shaping the way of life of people. Cultural tourism usually showcases


 


the traditions and culture of indigenous communities particularly their lifestyle and


 


values. This form of tourism started to be popular in the recent years because


 


tourists spend substantially than the usual visits to other places. They do not only


 


enjoy seeing a different view of the world but they are also educated in another


 


way. Moreover, cultural tourism paves way for regional development throughout


 


the world.


 


            However, one of the major advantages in developing cultural tourism in a


 


certain region is its economical impact. In Zimbabwe, community-based tourism


 


has the potential in filling the gap of the economic downturn the country has been


 


experiencing. Numerous rural tourist projects contribute to the economic


 


development improving the standards of living through employment creation and


 


building of infrastructures. Zimbabwe adopted the concept of Communal Areas


 


Management Program for Indigenous Resources (CAMPFIRE) as a part of


 


efforts in encouraging rural communities in participating in managing and


 


conserving natural resources through utilization.  Private interests operating


 


CAMPFIRE provide a diverse offering of cultural tourism varying to wilderness


 


experience, sport fishing, bird watching, hiking, cultural centers, cave paintings


 


and camp sites. Local inhabitants are assisted in managing their natural and


 


cultural resources in a sustainable manner deriving resources from the income in


 


cultural tourism packages. Local people should take the effort in preserving the


 


cultural resources not just to continue attracting tourists but also because it is


 


their own culture.


 


            Moreover, the appeal of cultural tourism has a different impact on the


 


younger generations. While the relationship between culture, heritage, natural


 


environment and tourism has received a great amount of attention in various


 


parts of the world, people has yet to understand in defining common interests


 


and discovering ways in developing strong beneficial mutual relationship that


 


conserves natural, cultural and human resources. With the advancements of


 


technology in terms of communication, it is not the distance that separates the


 


world but the variation of cultural heritage. People participating in cultural tourism


 


are usually with a higher degree of knowledge. Most of them are interested in


 


seeing and understanding the natural environment and its wildlife in the context


 


of life of indigenous people. The approach in integrating cultural tourism with its


 


local people should be directed towards the respect of travelers into the host


 


community and its surrounding environment. Cultural heritage sums up the


 


community’s beliefs and values acquiring a shared behavior due to living in a


 


defined group and environment.


 


            On the other hand, environmentalists and conservationists should


 


collaborate with officials developing cultural tourism to have mutual working


 


relationships that would benefit all parties. Environmentalists and


 


conservationists know more in preserving such resources, thus, they are the one


 


knowledgeable enough on which aspects travelers could interfere. People should


 


know that not only wildlife and natural environment are in the risk of irreversible


 


damage – human beings particularly indigenous people are under threat as well


 


dangerously in the verge of possible extinction. What the experts and


 


communities should do is to collaborate in utilizing cultural heritage while not


 


destroying it.


 


            Cultural tourism undeniably brings a major impact in economic


 


development. But, without proper guidelines in utilizing cultural heritage


 


resources and communities of indigenous people, they will be largely affected


 


threatening their life and their habitat. Developing cultural tourism practices are


 


necessary in experiencing a different kind of immersion without damaging the


 


resources who give knowledge to the tourists in the first place.


 


 


 


 


References:


 


Community-based tourism growing in Zimbabwe, September 2006, http://english.peopledaily.com.cn


 


Tourism Vital for Economic Development, July 2009, http://allafrica.com


 


Zimbabwe go for cultural tourism, June 2009, http://www.afrol.com


 


 


 

 


 



Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com


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