Hosts and Guests: The Anthropology of Tourism

by Valene L. Smith (Editor)

Tourism—one of the world's largest industries—has long been appreciated for its economic benefits, but in this volume tourism receives a unique systematic scrutiny as a medium for cultural exchange. Modern developments in technology and industry, together with masterful advertising, have created temporarily leisured people with the desire and the means to travel. They often in turn effect profound cultural change in the places they visit, and the contributors to this work all attend to the impact these "guests" have on their "hosts."

In contrast to the dramatic economic transformations, the social repercussions of tourism are subtle and often recognized only by the indigenous peoples themselves and by the anthropologists who have studied them before and after the introduction of tourism. The case studies in Hosts and Guests examine the five types of tourism—historical, cultural, ethnic, environmental, and recreational—and their impact on diverse societies over a broad geographical range

Genres: Anthropology, Nonfiction, Travel

352 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1989

Reviews

[Hubert · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great idea, and an important contribution to the anthropological study of tourism. I thought the ways in which the various article writers incorporated the theoretical constructs set out at the beginning (and end) of the volume was of mixed quality and volume and I wish they behaved more consistently on that front. The fact that this 2nd edition contained important updates was important as much had changed in the 10-year period from initial publication.

[Mantis]

DNF for now! Will revisit

[Rob T · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clearly foundational to the sub-field, but I found the chapters to be highly variable in quality. I particularly enjoyed the introductory chapters about why humans tour, but felt like it would have benefited from a counterpoint or alternative perspective. I particularly enjoyed the chapters on Inuit cultural tourism and the inter-Inuit dynamics, and seeing how rapidly tourism harmed Toraja as a model for other places that experience a rapid growth in visitors. But the chapter on the Polynesian Cultural Center felt hagiographic (especially having been referenced elsewhere in the book) and other chapters seemed so specific as to be unhelpful, but I am no anthropologist.