You are here: / Why / Socio-cultural impacts   The socio-
cultural impacts of conventional tourism described here, are the
effects on host communities of direct and indirect relations
with tourists and of interaction with the tourism industry. For
a variety of reasons, host communities often are the weaker
party in interactions with their guests and service providers.
The impacts arise when tourism brings about changes in value
systems and behaviour, thereby threatening indigenous identity.
Furthermore, changes often occur in community structure, family
relationships, collective traditional life styles, ceremonies
and morality.    Change of local identity and values
Conventional tourism can cause change or loss of local identity
and values and brings about by several closely related
influences as explained below:    • Commercialization of local
culture     Tourism can turn local culture into commodities when
religious traditions, local customs and festivals are reduced to
conform to tourist expectations and r