Review article
Sociological Aspects of Tourism
Mirko ŠTIFANIĆ
Abstract
One of the most important objects of research within the
sociology of tourism is the effect tourism has on the life of
individuals and societies involved in and around the process of
tourism. Some changes occur in a short period of time. One
example would be the building of accommodation facilities which
are hoped to be of service to the tourists and to their liking. Even
at the very beginning one is able to notice the immediate effect
or, in other words, consequence(s) in the society's economy when
a newly established construction industry makes its first steps in
the forward direction. Consequently, this causes positive growth
of employment which later affects the economic and material
standard of the population. The situation described here is typical
of less developed and more exotic countries and it is precisely
because of that that they are favourable for influx of tourists and
the development of tourism as a worldwide mega-trend. The
behaviour of the local population gradually changes. On one
hand it has to become adjustable to the homo turisticus' needs
and on the other hand it has to remain natural and interesting.
The tourist destinations become subjects to various demands and
pressures while the habit of returning to the ''good, old and well
known'' destinations is dying out. Therefore tourism leaves behind
lasting positive improvements on the local population, but also
''scars'' on their soul and environment. The development of
tourism is an appealing and desirable subject for sociological
studies and analysis bearing the goal to make its discoveries
available to all of the participants in this complex social process
in order to enable its supportable progress. This paper analyses
the works of the most prominent authors in the second half of the twentieth century. Without their contribution the sociological
aspects of tourism would not even be taken into consideration
when it comes to analysing the state, growth and the projection
of tourism development in Croatia on the local, regional and
national levels.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
17978
URI
Publication date:
31.10.2005.
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