Cultural Pluralism Meets Social Science

Cultural tourism is rapidly expanding as a multinational activity. Although it has been championed as promoting world peace, it contains great potential for cultural and social conflict. Economic, political, and cultural differences between tourists and indigenous peoples may be the source of curiosity and provide the impetus for cultural tourism, but also are potential sources of social conflict around the issues of ecological degradation, social justice, and resource equity. In order to minimize conflict and maximize the positive potential cultural tourism, international agencies, governments, NGOs, the tourism industry, and indigenous peoples must work together in a process of education, training, research, and planning. Cultural Pluralism Meets Social Science: Consequences and Contradictions