Social and cultural dimensions of tourism

Tourism is a viable path to economic development; but many developing countries, by failing to plan lose control over the development of tourism. Failure to plan reduces the economic gains to the host country, results in loss of local ownership and control of tourist facilities, and may lead to additional adverse consequences (e.g., weakening of family ties, loss of land by the local population). The World Bank has been slow to take into account the social consequences of tourism; studies of tourism by sociologists themselves are relatively new, and many are unpublished. This paper, therefore, recommends areas for further research by sociologists, recommends steps the Bank can take to utilize the sociologists' perspective in tourism projects, and offers insight into the social consequences of tourism and how to mitigate the negative effects.