“McDonaldization” (GeorgRitzer), “Cocacolization” (Zdravko Mlinar) and “Mc-World” (Benjamin Barber) are just a few key words of a topic that has gained worldwide interest today. The Globalization is on the roll and seems to be unstoppable. [1] One by one, the world has become a ‘global village’ with multicultural societies, where it is unavoidable for us to get in greater contact with the rest of the world and other cultures. Our daily lives develop an increasingly international orientation. Globalization produced a demand for intercultural communication and awareness for both the tourism industry and many different commercial sectors. The travel and tourism industry has experienced a growing internationalization during the past decades. Especially here people are exposed to cultural different societies. In the tourism industry it is substantial to know cultures in its various forms and dimensions since it has a significant impact on tourism planning and development, management and marketing. Companies in the tourism industry have to understand the influence of national cultures on their consumers to be able to compete for market share successfully. Intercultural communication helps tourists to keep the quality of the interaction with different nationalities high and therefore contribute to their holiday experiences and perceptions of the visited destination. Many intercultural problems within the tourism industry arose during the past years and are becoming more and more threatening for both the host destinations and the tourist himself. This paper describes, analyzes and also discusses some of those problems in the tourism industry and try to find a possible solution for them in order to eventually smoothing the way from a global village to a global community.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Defining words and phrases
2.1 Culture
2.2 Communication
2.3 Inter- and cross-cultural
3 Intercultural Adaption in Tourism
3.1 Culture Confusion
3.2 Discussion of its application today
4 Conclusion
Research Objective and Core Topics
The main objective of this paper is to analyze the intercultural problems faced by tourists and host destinations within the modern tourism industry, seeking to propose solutions that facilitate a shift from a global village to a global community.
- The impact of globalization on international tourism
- Definitions of key intercultural concepts
- The process of cultural adaptation and the phenomenon of "culture confusion"
- Challenges in modern mass tourism and potential strategies for host nations
Excerpt from the Book
3 Intercultural Adaption in Tourism
The crux of intercultural communication, especially within the tourism industry, lies in how tourists adapt to different cultures that they experience throughout their holiday. The aim of this adaption to a new culture is to become a multicultural person, but not to abandon ones original socialization. In this case a distinction needs to be made between assimilation and adaption. [7] Most tourists that arrive at their holiday destination are full of hopes and expectations, that have developed over the past weeks or month waiting for this special moment. The euphoria has been diminished from the mental and physical stress during the flight and the jet lag may even be unbearable. The tourist is confronted with different ecological conditions and a different language that he might not be able to understand. Their old knowledge which is helpful at home is useless and even misleading. At some places words, gestures, facial expressions, customs and norms that they are familiar with are not there anymore or their meaning has changed.
“The first days were actually really heavy. It was not parts which are difficult. Just it’s so different. Like the culture you see. The things you see. You have to absorb everything.” (Belgian male) [8]
At this point it is the first experience of cultural difference a tourist makes that decides which attitude he or she will have during the rest of the visit. Especially nowadays in times of package tour- ism and short trips there might not be enough time for tourists to gather enough contradictory experience to develop a realistic stance to the hosts and to be able to adapt to the new environment. When tourists feel overloaded with new impressions and things to learn that are so different to the ones they are used to, then culture confusion can occur. [9]
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter highlights the impact of globalization on the travel industry and establishes the need for intercultural awareness to manage interactions between tourists and host destinations.
2 Defining words and phrases: This section provides essential definitions for key terms such as culture, communication, and the distinction between inter- and cross-cultural contacts.
3 Intercultural Adaption in Tourism: This chapter examines the psychological process of how tourists adapt to new environments and introduces the concept of culture confusion as a reaction to new, unfamiliar impressions.
4 Conclusion: The final chapter summarizes the necessity of respecting local cultures and provides guidelines for stakeholders to mitigate the negative impacts of mass tourism.
Keywords
Globalization, Intercultural Communication, Tourism Industry, Culture, Culture Confusion, Adaptation, Assimilation, Mass Tourism, Host Destinations, Cultural Awareness, Travel Management, Global Community, Socialization, Interaction, Cultural Differences
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work?
The paper explores the complexities of intercultural communication and the various problems tourists face when engaging with different cultures within the tourism industry.
What are the central thematic fields?
The work focuses on the intersection of globalization, cultural adaptation, the psychology of travel, and the strategic management of intercultural encounters.
What is the core research objective?
The objective is to identify and analyze intercultural challenges in tourism to propose sustainable solutions that improve the interaction between tourists and hosts.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The paper utilizes a literature-based analysis, drawing on existing anthropological and tourism studies to describe and discuss the phenomenon of culture confusion.
What is covered in the main body?
The main body covers the theoretical definitions of culture, the psychological adaptation process of travelers, and a critical discussion of the role of globalization in modern tourism.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Globalization, Intercultural Communication, Culture Confusion, Tourism Industry, and Cultural Adaptation.
How does the author define "culture confusion"?
It is defined as a learning process encompassing a wide range of emotions, from mixed feelings during an intercultural experience to more serious confusion and depression often referred to as culture shock.
Why does the author argue that "culture confusion" is occurring less in modern tourism?
The author suggests that the globalization of the tourism sector, where host countries adopt western characteristics, often limits the depth of cultural immersion for the average traveler.
What role does the government play in the proposed solutions?
The government is identified as having a leading role, as it must coordinate various stakeholders like hotels, tour operators, and non-government organizations to ensure shared goals are met.
- Citation du texte
- Anne Timm (Auteur), 2011, Intercultural problems in the tourism industry, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/178258
