The Social Cost of Tourism

Abstract

The experience of the Greek island of los presents a cautionary tale for those who would establish a sustainable-tourism industry that does not overwhelm or unduly alter the local culture. A before-and-after field study of los found that tourism caused the local culture and economy to change from its traditional agricultural orientation to one of catering to visitors. The result was that most traditional occupations, such as growing olives and raising cattle, were abandoned, with a concomitant deterioration of cultural institutions. The residents who were first to realize the new opportunities with tourists prospered, and soon others abandoned their traditional labor for the wealth brought by visitors. When the islanders shifted to the tourist trade, traditional enterprise began to fade. For example, when the textile factory closed and the demand for cotton dropped, farmers abandoned their cotton fields. Instead of cotton and grapes, the fields sprouted hotels and restaurants. As the farm-based economy deteriorated, the ironmonger found less work and even the coopers were eventually out of business. The collapse of agriculture eventually closed the olive presses and the mills. Even the kiln that produced whitewash for the houses closed.