Social and cultural impacts of tourism

Today tourism constitutes one of the most important industries worldwide. Many regions, especially small island destinations, are economically dependent on tourism. The negative social and cultural impacts of tourism have long been acknowledged, but in many cases monetary interests have hindered any remedial action. The focus of this work is set on the understanding and assessment of social and cultural aspects of tourism and their integration into a holistic management approach for sustainable development. The overall objective is to mitigate undesirable effects and enhance the social and cultural benefits of tourism. La Gomera is presented as a case study to exemplify key issues and illustrate the application of specific concepts and theories. The work was written in 2005. In 2008 La Gomera was awarded the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas. This publication is directed to practitioners and researchers and provides a contribution for more sustainable thinking and planning in both social and cultural terms.