This is definitely a truly sad story happening almost every day in a corner of the world. As time passes by, environmentalists and cultural anthropologists are becoming more concerned about cultural diversity which is on the verge of extinction. Additionally, responsible tourists and travellers are trying to fight against the current flow. They are indeed trying to preserve cultural diversity by tourism. You may already know how it works. Or you may be curious about how tourism can possibly affect the local community. In this article, we are going to explain both positive and negative impacts of tourism on the local community.

Why Should We Worry about the Local Community at all?

Although tourism can have a prominent role in the economic growth of an area, concerns about the negative impacts of tourism on local community arise in spite of all the social benefits that tourism brings for that community or the fact that it can play a significant role in preserving nature including national parks and protected areas.

Environmentalists who are concerned about the authentic communities which are about to vanish should probably be reminded that expanding tourism in local communities results in various social benefits. This entails improvement of infrastructures, more jobs, and no more leaving villages for occupational opportunities. Tourism can offer job opportunities directly and/or indirectly through the supply of goods and necessary stuff for cities or suburbs.

Tourism impacts the economy, environment, politics, and socio-cultural wellbeing of the host community.

Why Tourism Matters?

In developing countries, the first purpose of promoting tourism is to earn foreign currency. It results in creating more jobs. It can even lead to ending unemployment, eliminating poverty, and promoting dialogues among civilizations. Additionally, it provides an atmosphere in which different cultures can meet and mingle. It’s important to know this and be aware of the importance of tourism on economic and social development.

Categorizing tourism impacts on local communities into different terms might be quite challenging. They may be somehow inseparable sometimes and they may overlap quite a lot. We believe that these interrelated categories can have so much in common and affect each other in so many ways. But for the purpose of clarification and understanding, we have put each subject in the most related category.

Tourism planners must realize that these three concepts, ‘the environment, the economy and the society are inextricably linked… like a spider’s web- touch, one part of it and reverberations will be felt throughout’.

Hall, 2000

Positive Impacts of Tourism on Local Community

Sociocultural Aspect

Maintenance of culture and traditions like the handicraft industry and preservation of ecosystem is a notable point of tourism. Meeting different cultures and getting to know their art and skills is an example of positive impacts of tourism on local communities.

• Better local facilities and infrastructure: This includes better education, health care, and job opportunities.
• More cultural and social events for the local community.
• More leisure facilities.
• Preservation of cultural heritage: It leads to the rebirth of crafts, architectural traditions, and ancestral activities.
• The revival of both urban and rural areas: Since a large number of people are moving to urban areas for more job opportunities, it can be a great factor to pause all the immigration.
• National Integration: Interacting with different people with various cultures and linguistic backgrounds leads to the Expansion of Literacy and Education among people.
• An Increase in the Standards of Living
• Improvements in the areas of health and family welfare.

Economic Aspect

When more money is circulated in the urban or rural areas, it stimulates the creation of new businesses and brings out a more positive image of the area, and reduces poverty. Economic benefits entail income creation, foreign exchange achievement, and more employment. We will face the economic growth of the country through industrialization, technology, education, better advertising, and liberal trade policies.

• Generating jobs includes sectors such as food service, entertainment, accommodation, automobile transportation, public transportation, and tour operators.
• Creation of infrastructure utilities is not only for tourists but also for the local population. Undoubtedly the infrastructure must be developed in a planned manner. There must be awareness about the probable overpopulation, overcrowding, and possible damages to the environment.

Environmental Aspect

• Increased investment in the area and more useful environmental actions and initiatives.
• Educating the local community to raise awareness for environmental concerns.
• Increase income for the preservation of facilities in each area to have minimum pollution consequently.

The more involved a local community gets in tourism development, the fewer damages of tourism will be on the area. Although we must be concerned about the negative effects and costs of tourism on that community as well. That is why we must focus on raising public awareness.

Negative Impacts of Tourism on Local Community

In spite of all its positive benefits, tourism can have some negative impacts on the local community as well.

Sociocultural Aspect

Tourists, out of ignorance or lack of awareness, may fail to respect local values and customs which can cause irritation for the host community. The different cultures of outsiders may disturb the local’s culture and cause social uneasiness. If locals copy the outsiders’ behaviour and attitude, they may change over time and turn into a new community losing their unique identity, culture and traditions.

Economic Aspect

Development of tourism may result in overcrowding. Overcrowding with a poor infrastructure may worsen the life situation for locals. It may, for example, worsen the sanitation status. It is important then to be cautious about the tourism income and allocate a noticeable percentage of its income to the local community to be utilised in such matters.

Environmental Aspect

The more people come to the area, the more natural resources are needed. The pollution may increase and disturb the ecological balance of the area. Soil erosion, natural habitat loss, forest fire, and more vulnerability of endangered species are some of the other negative impacts.

To Where Tourism Income belongs?

Since money spent in tourism, percolate through many levels; so it is important that the tourism industry allocates a noticeable percentage of the tourism income to the local community benefits. As Holloway & Robinson (1995) put it:

One of the important economic features of the tourism industry is that an income earned in places of residence is spent in places “visited”

Tourism and Economic Development Issues, Tanja Mihalic

However in tourism, there is clearly an uneven distribution of benefits; this is threatening the social, economic and environmental sustainability of tourism in some developing countries. Tourism is one of the fundamental pillars of the development process in many developing countries. Although, for some particular places (like in islands and small economies), it is the only source of foreign currency and employment; therefore it constitutes the platform for their economic development[2].

How to Minimize Negative Environmental Impacts?

• Respect the local land and give attention to the signs. Do not contribute to any sort of further degradation.
• Support local businesses and organizations.
• Support the hotels, tours, and services that are eco-friendly and sustainable as well.
• Use sustainable transportation

Surely there are so many individuals and companies involved in the mentioned concerns and tourists may be the end of the supply chain. Governments must provide the required infrastructure for growth. They must ensure that growth is well managed based on the growth of tourism in that area.t area.

Iran Nomad Tours; An Example of Min Negative & Max Positive Impact

IRANomad Tours is an ecotourism startup. A social business working toward a more sustainable tourism. We try to maximize all the positive impacts and minimize the negative impacts of tourism on the local community. We are concerned about the consequences of mass tourism. So we focused on developing Nomadic Tours in Iran. In this local community project, we aim to empower the nomad families. So in the end, we will be only a platform for the local operators.

Moreover, IRANomad Tours has a code of ethics in which we are committed not to change and interfere with the local community’s culture and elements that shape its identity. We try to respect their values and do our best not to hurt them in any way.

The other important concern for us is to allocate a reasonable percentage of our tours’ income to the locals themselves. So that they can develop their facilities and most importantly preserve their lifestyle. We don’t want to be visitors. Accordingly, we try to live with nomads like a family member: eat what they eat and do as they do.

[1]. The Impact of Tourism Industry on Host Community

[2]. https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/serv_e/diaz.doc

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Recently, the wellness industry has expanded into the tourism industry. Wellness Tourism is a new trend in tourism where people can get a chance to reconnect with nature and their inner souls. In this article, we will first define wellness tourism. Then we will be focusing on its features and top destination in this industry. In the end, we talk about wellness tourism in Iran.

What is Wellness Tourism?

Have you ever get tired of travels in which you run around so much to get the best out of your travel? Do you almost need a “vacation from your vacation” after your travel? Have you ever wished for a journey in which you can relax and put some time focusing on your mind and mental health? Well, it sounds quite rejuvenating and energizing.

GWI (Global Wellness Institute) defines wellness tourism as

travel associated with the pursuit of maintaining or enhancing one’s personal wellbeing.

Since there are many reasons people travel for –nature, food, culture, etc.- the recent wellness tours have become pretty popular among tourists. People choose to go to places away from the hustle and bustle of the city lives to find a retreat destination where they can rest their body, soul, and mind for a while.

The experiences include healing practices, plants & forests, spiritual rituals, medicinal mud, and experience local tradition, culture, and history. The beauty of these tours is that each destination provides a specific and unique experience. It can be suitable for various tastes like outdoor activity lovers, tranquil environment seekers, and etc.  

What Things Wellness Destinations Offer You?

Since people are seeking for more organic foods and places far from the madding crowd, the wellness tours including yoga practices, long hikes, or nourishment workshops are becoming quite popular. Here are some activities that different wellness destinations bring out:

• Outdoor activities and nature gateways: Beautiful sceneries, sunshine, fresh air, astonishing trekking trails, and etc. can be unique reasons to attend the wellness tours. 
• Being active, not passive: Since modern lives bring inactivity, wellness tours get back to activities for the human mind and body. Hiking, running, skiing, SoulCycle, and yoga are some examples.
• Nutrition awareness: People being concerned about what they eat and what are the effects of their diet is the main purpose in this field. Sugar detoxes and organic foods are some examples to mention.
• Sleep Enhancement: Many people are having poor sleep quality each day. It definitively effects on their daily performance, focus, and decision making. In such programs, they offer sleep treatments and tips to enhance the poor quality of their sleep.   

Who are Wellness Travellers?

Well, to have a better understanding of these tours, let’s take a look at the GWI description of wellness travellers type:

1. Primary wellness traveller:  Those travellers whose trip/destination choice is primarily motivated by wellness.
2. Secondary wellness traveller: Travellers who participate in wellness experiences on any leisure or business trip.

Accordingly, as time passes, secondary wellness travellers ask for tours offered for primary wellness travellers and the wellness tourism will grow as well. 

Due to the Global Wellness Institute, “wellness travellers are very high-spending, high-yield tourists”. As BusinessInsider puts it:

They’re paying $1,400 per night to stay at resorts with on-site therapists and wellness practitioners and dropping more than $5,000 for weekend wellness summits.

As a result, you may think that only wealthy people attend wellness tours. It may sound a pricey trip. It might be true in some cases, but regarding the fact that budget travellers always find their way through any type of travel; So if you travel on a shoestring, do not worry for this as well. There are so many wellness tours at reasonable prices. You just need to put some time searching.

Where are the Most Popular Wellness Destinations?

Some of the wellness tours offer visiting countries like India, Cambodia, Thailand, Japan, England, U.S and islands like Bali. The programs offer local yoga, meditation, empowerment, and daily activities. Here are some famous countries known as wellness destinations: 

• India: They offer therapeutic and rejuvenating treatment, massages with oil, medicated baths, yoga, meditation, and herbal diets. They offer these lush experiences in different parts of India such as Kerala.
• Thailand: Thai is quite popular for its professional and unique messages. In Thailand, massage is considered as traditional medicine. It helps to regenerate the body’s structure and restore energy. You can find these massages in cities like Bangkok and islands such as Koh Phangan and Kho Samui.
• Bali: The famous “Island of the Gods” is a perfect stop for wellness travellers. Tourists can feel refreshed and inspired in Bali.
•  Japan: Unlike all the modernity in Tokyo, Japan is a traditional retreat destination where you can have peace of mind. There are famous Onsen Town in Japan like Hakone, Beppu, Gero, and Matsuyama.
• United States: West coast of the United States is also a great destination for peace seekers to enjoy green valleys, astonishing deserts, and canyon views. Sedona vortexes are popular for having special energies which are useful for healing, meditation, and self-exploration.   

The Business of Wellness Tourism

The modernity, city lives, less time dedication to health and sports, and increase of stress and anxiety in recent years lead to a massive increase in people attending wellness tours. As GWI reported U.S, Germany, China, France, and Japan had the most income from wellness tourism.

According to a Global Wellness Institute (GWI) report, wellness tourism has turned into a $639 billion industry. GWI has predicted that it will reach $919 billion by 2022. Which means it is a fast-growing tourism industry.

Difference between Medical and Wellness Tourism

Do not conflate wellness tourism with medical tourism. Unlike medical tourism which offers services for people having a diagnosed disease, in wellness tourism people seek for mental and spiritual retreats where they can develop personal growth and flourish in peace. 

In medical tourism, people are motivated by a desire for lower medical costs, higher qualities, and easier access. On the contrary, people seek for wellness tourism to have a healthy living, prevent disease, reduce stress, and enhance lifestyle.

Iran is pretty famous for medical tourism but surely has so much capacity for growing wellness tourism as well. There are so many untouched places where people can go to spend a peaceful time.

Wellness Tourism in Iran

Although there are so many places and capacities as a suitable wellness destination, people are quite unfamiliar with wellness tourism in Iran. Iran has a great untouched nature which makes it also an ideal place for wellness travellers.

We at Iran Nomad Tours, offer you a hiking retreat where you can wander around in the middle of nowhere and get lost in the pure and authentic lives of nomads. In nomad’s epic migration you will accompany a journey with nomads at which you will empower both mental and physical health.

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