Changes brought about by Tourism

To end off I will be analyzing the changes brought about by the growth of tourism in New Zealand and comment on whether tourism has been a culprit in commodifying cultures and traditions.

Changes brought about by growth in Tourism
Ironically, I found out (from the Tourism Satellite Account) that visitor arrivals decreased by a small 3.9% in the year 2009. This could be attributed to the recession that took place. However, it is also apparent that New Zealand’s annual visitor arrivals on average are approximately 2.4 million people. This is surprisingly low especially for a country that big.

Some changes that were brought about by Tourism would be foreign talents. The New Zealand government is currently seeking foreign talents to set up businesses in New Zealand. Enticing through tourism has allowed New Zealand to attract more foreign talent.

Apart, from that, I do not think that there are major changes brought about by tourism. However, I do feel that tourism has a positive impact on the maori culture, which I will explain next in the next point.

Has tourism been a culprit in commodifying cultures and traditions?
Personally, I feel that the answer to this question is a yes, and a no. I believe that it is a culprit to a certain extent in the case where the younger generation may not be practicing and learning the maori dance and songs. Yes they might be taking part in Haka competitions but it is only a small part of a bigger picture. Tourism has brought about different culture such as rap music and modern dance. In this, I do agree that tourism has been a culprit.

On the other hand, the trend of cultural tourism is increasing and this has led to the increase practice and showcase of the maori culture. More tourists, such as myself are fondly attracted to the culture and are interested in learning more about it. As it is practiced more, the likelihood that it will be sustained will be higher.
Thus my stand is, I feel that tourism is not to be blamed for commodifying cultures and traditions. The one responsible for sustaining and practicing the culture and traditions are the people, especially the younger generations