Destination Development and
Institutionalization Strategies
In the OIC Member Countries
13
of “enclave tourism” that benefits only the establishments that created the packages rather than benefiting
the local businesses. 13
Figure 4: Impact of Tourism
Source: DinarStandard
To sustain the natural resources of the destination, the negative environmental impact of tourism needs
to be mitigated carefully. Because of tourism activities, a certain amount of waste is generated which
necessitates also the development of infrastructure, both leading to degradation of the environment which
is primarily paid for by the local community. This degradation happens gradually starting with low level
of impact with the initial development of tourism to a higher level of destruction because of mass tourism,
which may give rise to “green” tourism initiatives and finally lead to a stage where solutions are developed
to “balance the needs” of tourists, locals and the environment. Furthermore, tourism puts pressure on the
carrying capacity of the destination due to the development of tourist facilities. It is important to note that
some argue that the negative impact of tourism on the environment cannot be measured precisely as it is
difficult to separate the effect of tourism activities versus all other activities on the environment, while
others believe that tourism actually benefited the environment as it has led to more conservation efforts
andmeasures and it is a more environmentally “friendly” activity as opposed to other industries that locals
could engage in to benefit economically.14 This highlights the importance of managing the destination at
the macro level by DMOs.
Tourism also plays an important role in boosting host communities, provided cultural clashes can be
managed. Tourism encourages civic involvement and pride as local communities start appreciating the
value of their natural and cultural resources and start to become increasingly interested in conserving
these resources and to have a sense of pride in their heritage. Interaction with tourists exposes local
communities to different lifestyles and customs while tourist get to experience a different culture with all
its aspects including lifestyle, food, and customs. This form of intercultural exchange can promote “respect
for the other”. However, many studies have indicated that this cultural exchange may not materialize as
tourists may be motivated more to “consolidate” their own image of the destination rather than “exchange
experiences” with the host communities of their chosen destinations. On the other hand, tourist and host
communities’ interaction can result in “cultural clashes” because of the pressure exerted on the social and
cultural “carrying capacity” of the destination, resulting from exceeding the limits of acceptable change to
the social system and the culture of host communities. These culture clashes can be caused by the failure
of tourist to respect local culture and values, the consumption patterns of affluent tourists in low income
destinations and the lack of access of local communities to natural resources earmarked for tourism.
13 Impacts of Tourism. (n.d.). Retrieved fro
14 Bâc, D. P. (2012). The Impacts of Tourism on Society. Annals of the University of Oradea, Economic Science Series , 21 (1): 500-6.
Economic
Employment
Socio-Cultural Environmental
Loss of Indigenous
Identity &Values
Cultural Exchange
Civic Pride
Environmental Degradation
Green Tourism
Conservation Initiatives
GDP
Tourism Impact
Cultural Clashes
Leakages
Tourism Enclave
Types
Resources
Tourism Impact
Lifecycle
Positive
Negative