Tourism

Tourists are people who travel away from their homes for pleasure. The growth of tourism
has had an economic, environmental, and social effect on many countries.

Growth of tourism

Tourism is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world, and it generates many jobs.
The money tourists spend adds to the wealth of countries (economic growth). For many
years Europe and the USA have had the most tourism, but in recent years there has been a
lot of tourism development in Asia and the Middle East.

In 2013, a total of 1.087 billion people travelled to another country as tourists. This has
increased from just 25 million in 1950.

According to the World Tourism Organisation, the top four international destinations in
2010 were:

Rank Country Visitors

1 France 78.95 million

2 United States 60.88 million

3 China 55.98 million

4 Spain 53 million

1990 1995 2000 2005 2008 2009 2010

Europe 261.5 304.1 385.6 439.4 485.2 461.5 476.6

Asia and the Pacific 55.8 82.0 110.1 153.6 184.1 180.9 203.8
 Rank Country Visitors

Americas 92.8 109.0 128.2 133.3 147.8 140.6 149.8

Africa 14.8 18.9 26.5 35.4 44.4 46.0 49.5

Middle east 9.6 13.7 24.1 36.3 55.2 52.9 60.3

% change

Europe 3.3%

Asia and the pacific 12.7%

Americas 6.4%

Africa 7.3%

Middle east 14.1%

Types of tourist attractions

Tourist attractions can be divided into different categories. This can be based on places
visited or the activities tourists are involved in.

Physical resources are the attractions made by nature such as beaches or lakes.

Beach holidays, eg in Spain and the Maldives. People can relax on the beach
or take part in water sports.

Outdoor adventure, eg skiing and walking in the European Alps or the Rocky
Mountains of North America.

The physical landscape - such as beaches, mountains, rivers, lakes, and

glaciers

Ecosystems - such as rainforest or tropical grasslands such as Hwange

National Park

Weather and climate - most tourists seem to like it warm and dry where
outdo activities are the best

Waterfalls, e.g., Victoria Falls attract tourists because of its breathtaking

views and sports in the gorge.
Human attractions are tourist attractions people make, such as the Eiffel Tower in France.

Walking. According to a recent survey of British people travelling within the UK,
walking is the activity people like most while on holiday. Walking allows people to
enjoy the physical resources of the countryside such as hills, rivers, and lakes.

Heritage sites. The second most popular activity was visiting heritage sites. This
includes historical buildings and places of historical significance.

Swimming. Another popular activity was swimming. People like to swim at the
beach or in lakes (physical resources) or swimming pools (human resources).

Arts. Other popular activities were visiting art exhibitions, watching performing
arts and visiting theme parks (all human resources).

Cultural/historical, e.g. people like to visit historical sites, art galleries and
museums in cities such as Rome and Paris. They can go shopping or see shows in
cities like New York and London.

Ecotourism holidaymakers in the natural environment without damaging or disturbing

habitats. It is a form of tourism involving visiting fragile, pristine, and relatively undisturbed
natural areas, intended as a low-impact and often small-scale alternative to standard
commercial mass tourism. eg small numbers of people go trekking in the Amazon rainforest
or on whale and dolphin conservation holidays in Scotland. This type of tourism is designed
to be sustainable. Sustainable tourism provides tourism opportunities for visitors and jobs
for locals while protecting the environment and culture from damaging change. This means
that in the future, people will continue to enjoy and benefit from them.

Examples of World Popular tourist activities

Walking in N Ireland

The Eiffel Tower, Paris

The Eiffel Tower in Paris is an example of a cultural monument and a place of architectural
interest. As well as admiring it from ground level, tourists can go to the top and see a great
view of Paris, including the River Seine (physical resource) and many beautiful buildings
(human resources).
Guard Tower at Robben Island
Robben Island in South Africa is an example of a historical or political site. Many people
who visit South Africa go to Robben Island to see where Nelson Mandela spent most of his
27 years in prison. People are interested because Nelson Mandela's struggle and sacrifice
helped end Apartheid in South Africa.

Beach on Rawa Island, Malaysia

National parks in the UK

Some places are very popular with visitors. They attract so many visitors that they have
become known as honeypot sites.

National parks are areas of outstanding natural beauty that allow recreation. Some parts of
national parks contain many honeypot sites. They must be looked after to prevent large
numbers of visitors from destroying the attraction.
Why has tourism increased?

More affluence - since 1950 people have become wealthier. There is more disposable
income. This is money left over once they have paid for essentials.

People have more paid holidays. People also now have paid time off work for
holidays. In the UK, the number of weeks people have off work has increased
from about two weeks in the 1950s to four to six weeks.

Greater awareness - through advertising or television programmes people are

more aware of how and where to spend their free time. People visit a wider
range of places - partly because they have a better knowledge and
understanding of areas. As well as learning about different places at school, we
watch television programmes and browse the internet. This awareness
increases people's expectations.

More car ownership - more families own a car. This gives greater freedom to
choose when and where to spend time.

Improvements in technology - travelling today is much quicker. Motorways and

aircraft have helped reduce the time it takes to get to different countries. Travelling
by air has become more accessible as you can book online and choose more budget
options.

More leisure time - people have paid holidays from work (on average three weeks
per year are paid). Also, people who are retired remain active for longer. There is
also a trend to take more than one holiday yearly.

More choice - in the past, seaside and package holidays were the most popular. The
industry is seeing more people look at ecotourism and more unusual holiday
destinations.

Many countries have invested money in facilities and infrastructure that make it
easier for tourists, such as roads, airports, and hotels.

Ageing populations - people can travel in their free time when they retire.

Positive and negative impacts of tourism

Tourism can provide jobs and improve the wealth of an area. Many developing countries are
keen to develop tourism to become more prosperous and enhance their people’s quality of
life. However, when many visitors go to one place it is called mass tourism. This can have
both positive and negative impacts on the area.
 Positive Negative

Jobs are often seasonal (based on the time of year) and are poorly
Jobs created
paid

More money for the country Most money goes out of the area to big companies, not locals

Local traditions and customs

are kept alive because
Culture and traditions change as outsiders arrive
tourists enjoy traditional
shows, eg Flamenco dancing

Money from tourists can be Damage to the natural environment, eg footpath erosion (the
used to protect the natural wearing away of footpaths), litter, habitats destroyed to build
landscape hotels

New facilities for the tourists

also benefit locals, eg new Overcrowding and traffic jams
roads

Prices increase in local shops as tourists are often wealthier than

the local population.

Some countries rely heavily on tourism, and this can be a problem

Greater demand for local if tourists stop coming.
food and crafts
Sometimes tourist numbers fall due to natural disasters such as
floods or because of war or unrest. For example, some countries
suffered from a fall in tourism after the 2004 Asian Tsunami and
tourists were encouraged to leave Tunisia and Egypt during
protests and unrest in 2011.
Case Study required for 3.4.

• An area where tourism is important-Learners should know a case study of a place where
tourism is essential.

The scale of this case study should be a resort or region. Please ensure place-specific detail –
such as the number of tourists each year, climate data, or named attractions.

Learners produce a sketch map of the area and describe its location.
Graph the growth of tourism over time and write a description.

THE VICTORIA FALLS!

One of the most spectacular sights in Africa, Victoria Falls is a mile-long marvel of mist and
spray marking the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Known to locals as Mosi-oa-
Tunya, “the smoke that thunders”, the roar from the world’s giant single curtain of falling
water can be heard 40km away.
The falls were named after Britain’s Queen Victoria by David Livingstone, the first European
known to have crossed the Dark Continent. On facing the waterfall in 1855, the explorer and
missionary incredulously recorded, “It has never been seen before by European eyes, but
scenes so wonderful must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight.”

Chief Sekeletu, of the local Makololo tribe, paddled the adventurous Scotsman to Goat
Island, now Livingstone Island, which is as close to the dramatic cataract as possible. Today’s
tourists take the same route until they, too, are surrounded by the tossing, tumbling
Zambezi River. Water levels are at their lowest from late August to early January when
fearless foreigners dive in and swim to Devil’s Pool.

Tourist attractions at Vic Falls

Vic Falls has several activities for all tastes and types - from the mildly adventurous traveller
to the raging adrenalin individual. That is why it is known as the Adventure Capital of Africa!

10 Best Adventure Activities at Victoria Falls

1. Bungee Jumping at Victoria Falls

This is top of the Victoria Falls adventure activity list: bungee from Victoria Falls Bridge. The
freefall is 111m, with Vic Falls nearby in the background. This bungee jump kick-starts
visitors’ adrenalin, one of the highest in the world!
About 50 000 people safely jump off Vic Falls bridge every year. The safety record is 99.9%
with one non-fatal accident in 2012.
 2. White Water Rafting on the Zambezi River

This is one of the best places in the world for white water rafting, a not-to-be-missed
adventure activity at Vic Falls.
The British Canoe Union has ranked the Zambezi at Victoria Falls as Grade 5 river rafting
with: "challenging, long and violent rapids, steep gradients, big drops and pressure areas".
Whitewater rafting down the Zambezi is an adrenaline-inducing experience! It involves
hurtling down the 8m drop at the Stairway to Heaven rapid or down the three waves of
Oblivion... not to mention the most infamous Commercial Suicide rapid rated 5 to 6 in
difficulty.
3. Helicopter Flights over Vic Falls - The Flight of Angels

This is an exhilarating helicopter or microlight flight that offers the best views of the famous
Victoria Falls. The views of the Smoke that Thunders (Mosi-oa-Tunya) and surroundings are
spectacular.
The thrilling flight over the Falls gives the visitors a bird’s eye view of the largest sheet of
falling water in the world. Peering into a 108-meter-deep chasm is sure to give visitors
perspective on this huge natural wonder. You can also take helicopter flights upstream for
game viewing from above.
“The Flight of Angels” comes from David Livingstone's description of the waterfall when he
first saw it. He called it a lovely scene that must have been "gazed upon by angels in their
flight".
4. High Wire Activities - Zipline, Gorge Swing & Flying Fox

Visitors can also take it a notch down with the hire wire activities at Vic Falls. The tamest
option, the Flying Fox zipline ride, is an excellent place to start.
Slide across the 200-metre-wide gorge about 120 metres above the floor or the gorge.
Visitors are attached to a high wire in a face-down position (like you're flying) or sitting in a
harness for this daring cable slide. Although the Flying Fox is less hair-raising than the other
high-wire activities, it still pumps up your adrenaline levels and delivers stunning views.
To take the fear factor up a notch try the longer zipline ride which runs 425m across the
gorge, starting at about 120 metres above the gorge’s floor. They say you reach speeds of
up to 106 km on the Zip Line Ride as it runs downhill at an angle.
5. Devil's Pool - Swim on the Edge of Victoria Falls

Visitors can also splash in a rocky pool on the very edge of Victoria Falls! This exciting and
unique Vic Falls activity is one of the best. They can take a guided trip to Devil's Pool from
the Zambian side of Vic Falls. This is one of the best spots for marvelling at Vic Falls. Plus,
splashing in the pool is an exciting and invigorating way to admire the natural wonder.
The Devil's Pool activity is only done during the dry season (from about September to
December) and when water levels are low enough for swimming.
The guides help keep visitors safe and can hold onto their legs as they lie over the rocky wall
on the edge, peering into the misty gorge below. The drop from Devil's Pool is over 100
metres, so this activity isn't for the faint-hearted!
6. Tandem Skydiving at Victoria Falls

This is the king of adrenalin activities at Vic Falls because it involves skydiving around 10 000
metres!
Tourists take off from the Zambezi National Park in Zimbabwe and fly over Vic Falls in a
small plane. On the way up, they admire the breathtaking views of Devil’s Cataract, the
Main Falls, Rainbow Falls and Horseshoe Falls from above.
Then the plane circles back and the tourist (and the instructor) jump out, some 10 000
metres above ground level. They freefall at around 200kph until their parachute opens and
they drift back down to the drop zone in Zambezi National Park.
 7. Zambezi River Canoeing Trips at Vic Falls

A few good operators offer canoeing or kayaking trips on the Upper Zambezi, above Victoria
Falls. Visitors can also try more challenging river boarding, jet boating and rafting options
below the falls.
The Zambezi River Canoeing and Kayaking Trips are ideal for capturing the wild scenery and
spotting hippos, birds, and other wildlife.
8. Victoria Falls Canopy Tours

This one is perfect for families in search of a milder adventure for kids and seniors. Families
explore a network of nine elevated slides and a bridge walkway suspended between
platforms in the forest canopy. The canopy tour is great for soaking up views of the Zambezi
River, Victoria Falls Bridge & the spray of Vic Falls. Slide distances range from 40 to 85
metres and heights vary. The Vic Falls Canopy Tour takes about two and a half hours.
 9. Abseiling at Vic Falls

One of the softer adventures at Vic Falls also known as rappelling. Tourists abseil 53m down
Batoka Gorge! While on the trip, they enjoy spectacular views of the Eastern Cataract of Vic
Falls, with the Victoria Falls bridge in the distance and boiling pot rapids below.
10. Low-key Adventure: Zambezi River Sunset Boat Cruises above Vic Falls

A Zambezi River Sunset Cruise is one of the best things to do at Vic Falls. From the photos of
the sunset boat cruise, this activity is a real gem. The setting is magnificent, and the sunsets
are spectacular.
The Zambezi boat cruise is a great way to unwind and relax after skyrocketing your
adrenaline on more extreme activities. After an action-packed day, visitors sit back and sip
on sundowners. They keep an eye out for wildlife along the banks and in the shallows of the
Zambezi. There are shorter speedboat trips for a more intimate Zambezi River Sunset
Cruise. Many birds, including hippos, elephants, antelopes, and giraffes, are commonly
spotted. Various lodges and operators run sunset cruises throughout the year.
These Top 10 Adventure Activities at Victoria Falls are by no means the only worthwhile
things to do at Vic Falls; the list goes on...
Other minor activities at Vic Falls
Visit Victoria Falls waterfall:
Visitors can also visit the impressive Victoria Falls waterfall. Visitors must witness
(and feel) the spray up close and hear the thundering waters as they plummet into
the narrow gorge below.
Horse-riding Safaris at Vic Falls:
A horse-riding safari at Vic Falls is another memorable adventure, especially for
nature lovers. Riding a horse through the African bush on a safari at Vic Falls is an
unobtrusive way of game viewing. It also enables visitors to get to know the wild
surroundings better.
Wildlife Safaris at Vic Falls & Chobe Day Trips:
Visitors can embark on game-viewing drives in Zambezi National Park in Zimbabwe
or Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park in Zambia. Some private game reserves near
Victoria Falls also offer night game drives. Heading into the bush at night in an open
4x4 in search of nocturnal animals is a thrilling wildlife experience!
Victoria Falls is, however, not a classical wildlife safari destination. The game parks at
Vic Falls are relatively small and less wild and diverse than the region's famous game-
viewing destinations. Zimbabwe's leading game reserve, Hwange National Park, has
an authentic wildlife experience. Others include the world-renowned Chobe National
Park in neighbouring Botswana. Chobe Day Tours are very popular.
Cultural activities at Vic Falls:
Cultural experiences on the Zambian side include Mukuni’s village and Maramba
market in Livingstone. In Zimbabwe, boma dinners with live dancing, story-telling
and musical performances make for memorable cultural experiences.
Visitors are urged to avoid animal interactions. These unethical activities (walking
with lions and riding elephants) negatively impact conservation.
With so many unique activities at Victoria Falls, it is no wonder that this natural
wonder is considered the adventure capital of Africa!

Benefits of tourism to the surrounding communities.

The interconnectedness between hosts and tourists

Some residents did not have a once-off relationship with tourists just when they
were in the village. Instead, they developed personal connections to the extent of
identifying each other as friends. Some tourists come very regularly and become
almost like community friends. ‘Oh, you are back again!’ And they say, ‘Yes we are
here, and we brought family this time’. Tourists ask questions about everything, and
they get close to some of the villagers. This closeness allows the hosts to interact
with their clients sharing vital information instrumental in the acculturation and
evolvement of the local community. New concepts are borrowed from tourists and
implemented in the village, improving the villagers' quality of life. The feelings of
friendship were also noted among the tourists with most of them saying that they
felt welcomed in the villages and are proud of the positive feelings they got from the
villagers. The villagers’ ability to identify and associate with them made them feel
part and parcel of the community. Positive interaction presents a better platform to
share developmental ideas which can make the village better off in the long run.

Pride in own community identity

Residents perceive that the community’s identity and pride have improved through
tourism. Villagers were surprised at how much their little villages could be so visible
on the international tourism map. One villager indicated that the community is now
on the social interaction network and KoMpisi Village is the name of the Facebook
page. The page currently has 84 likes. Interestingly the people who liked the page
and those commenting on various postings are spread worldwide, covering the USA,
Asia, South America, Europe, and Africa. The residents therefore feel part and parcel
of the global community and are able to influence global trends as much as they
influence them.
Learning of other cultures and languages

Tourism development allows villagers to learn about and experience different

cultures, obtain new skills and knowledge, and reflect on one’s own cultural
circumstances. They believed that tourism exposes the locals to other cultures and
can result in tolerance and understanding of tourists. Through this interaction, there
are high chances for the community to venture into education for them to be able
to communicate well with tourists and learn foreign languages”.

Recreational opportunities

Tourism is a significant reason for the variety of entertainment in the community.

Most tourists are grateful for the broader range of recreational facilities offered in
Victoria Falls. Host communities will also have access to more recreational activities
which if not of tourism would not have been in existence. By participating in
recreational activities, locals can manage ‘’stress”. Stress management is critical for
a healthy society; thus tourism development is critical in making the community
healthier.

Employment and qualification impacts

Tourism development creates employment opportunities for residents. Children not

bright in school but talented in making souvenirs and other crafts can now earn a
living. Tourism development provides jobs especially for the rural communities since
it attracts a remarkable pool of semi-skilled and unskilled labour. Tourism may also
encourage people to study a new profession or language or learn old skills and
traditions. This is essential if the villagers are to be able to wade off competition
from migrants coming to the destination looking for survival than serving the
tourism industry end staging and selling fake items for the sake of money.

Standard of living

The standard of living has improved due to tourists spending in the community. The
community’s quality of life is raised as all those who manufacture artefacts and
souvenirs have had their social standards raised.

Agricultural benefits
There are about 300 smallholders living in the village of Livingstone, Zambia. Close
by, lies the national park of Mosi-oa-Tunya and Victoria Falls, one of the biggest
drivers for tourism in the area. The Royal Livingstone Hotel is launching a biweekly
Smallholder Farmers’ Market at the hotel’s warehouse. Doing so will cut out the
middleman and offer to buy the smallholders’ produce fairly. The hotel has also
 invested in a local farm — the Maramba Women’s Mushroom Farm — which helped
to divert its closure. The farm grows specialist mushrooms that are sold to the hotel
industry.

Social responsibilities

It also enables the community to survive and flourish “by providing education,
medication and support services to residents affected by HIV/AIDS. As a result of this
initiative, 15 women can take care of 160 orphans, widows, and vulnerable adults”.
The Libuyu Women’s Peanut Butter Project is another project empowering HIV-
positive woman in the area. The hotel has also trained farmworkers in sustainable
agriculture techniques at the Nsongwe Women’s Farm, which employs more than
3,000 people.

Challenges faced by tourists in Vic Falls.

empty ATMs is a burden tourist experience when they come to Zimbabwe

long queues for petrol, especially before the introduction of US D sold fuel.

Long queues for food mean panic buying and hoarding are part of everyday life for
Zimbabweans and, despite the introduction of a multiple-currency system,
American dollars still need to be made available. In fact, the strength of the
greenback (if you can get hold of any) has made Zimbabwe the most expensive
country in the region – another reason tourists are basing themselves on the
Zambian side of the falls.

Inflation and a ballooning national debt have also resulted in a chronic shortage of
medicines. Tourists are advised not to fall ill in Zimbabwe.

Failed state as it might be, but Zimbabwe is famous for its incredibly friendly people.
Times are tough, though, and street vendors have had to become persistent to
survive.

Even those employed in an official capacity, such as tour guides and shopkeepers,
occasionally indulge in price gouging scams. Tourist may not realise they are being
fleeced, or, in some cases, robbed. In a four-month period last year, 100 Victoria
Falls hotel guests had money and other items stolen from their rooms.

Safety and security risks are not restricted to light-fingered humans, however. This is
Africa and wild animals present an altogether different kind of threat. In August
2017, a crocodile was captured on Victoria Falls Bridge, not far from where Will
Smith bungee jumped. Then, in September, a German tourist in Victoria Falls, the
 town, was attacked and trampled on by an irate elephant. He survived after
hawkers threw stones at the beast to distract it.

A male elephant near Victoria Falls.

Hippos are responsible for more human fatalities than any other large animal in
Africa and boating out to Livingstone Island is arguably riskier than sitting in the
Devil’s Pool.

Capsizing incidents are not unheard of in these parts. In 1910, a Mr Orchard and a
Mrs Moss were swept into the misty abyss after an inquisitive hippo upended their
canoes at the top of the falls. Their bodies were later found to have been mutilated
by crocodiles.

Baboons in Zimbabwe.

With long, razor-sharp canines, baboons are perhaps the most menacing animals
that tourists are likely to encounter. From pulling power cables loose, which left
 50,000 residents in Livingstone without electricity last year, to ambushing shoppers
as they carry groceries home, the opportunistic primates are at best a nuisance, at
worse unpredictable and aggressive. In April, a baboon mauled a one-year-old baby
in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, causing life-threatening injuries. To add insult to injury,
mother and daughter had to cross into Zambia for emergency treatment due to a
lack of medication on their border.

Problems created by Tourism development to the nearby rural peripheries

Introducing tourism to the local community brought several undesirable activities within the
nearby villages. Community members registered their unhappiness over activities now
occurring within their village whose origin they attribute to tourism development.

Crime against villagers

It was reported that as village tours increased, so did the crime rate. Villagers say it
is risky to walk during late hours due to the thieves looking for money esp during
late hours if you are coming from town to the village. There are random muggings
on other residents of the village who might be coming home after spending the day
working in the city centre or even from visiting other areas. This creates an unsafe
environment for villagers who were used to living in harmony as a community
where members would look out for each other than mug each other.

Crime against tourists

The crimes are also targeted at tourists who are believed to have lots of money to
spend and carry valuables such as cameras and jewellery. Villagers indicate that
“crime against tourists has increased; tourists are losing valuables to local thieves”.
This is not ideal for a developing community that hopes to gain more from tourism
in the future. Tourists may be accidental or specific victims of crime violence
because they are easier victims. The criminals consider tourists easy targets as they
are not familiar with the destination and usually behave more carelessly.

Alcoholism and drug abuse

Alcoholism and drug abuse are on the rise in most villages surrounding the Vic falls
such as Jambezi and Matetsi and 80% of locals have attributed such to tourism
development. The youths are into alcoholism as they abuse the money, they get
from selling crafts”. Though disturbing, this finding is not new in tourist destinations
but rather confirms early findings in tourism research.
 Prostitution
Villages around the town viewed that tourism has paved way for the increase in
prostitution activities. Prostitution is now high in the areas as members of the
community try to look for money from tourists as well as those who get money from
tourism related activities. The need to protect the girl child and develop as a nation
cannot be attained if such behaviours continue spreading in rural peripheries and
around major attractions. Prostitution remains relevant in contemporary societies
as a key economic, socio-cultural and health issue. Orphans are being left in the
village in the custody of old grandparents due to the HIV and Acquired Immune
Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) pandemic. Villagers say “Most women are venturing
into prostitution and they end up being infected by the deadly disease. “I am taking
care of my grand children whose parents died of HIV/AIDS. My Son was very
promiscuous, and he ended up being infected and infected his wife. They died at a
younger age leaving me in disharmony”. These were words of anguish by an old lady
in the community, all the blame pointed at tourism development. So it true that the
tourism process creates locations and environments that attracts prostitutes and
their clients. Given that tourism has become a conduit for fast spread of diseases,
the healthy risk experienced by the people visiting and resident in villages can be
felt throughout the surrounding villages.

Early marriages

Early marriages amongst the youth who see themselves as self-sustainable due to
the tourism income they acquire are increasing. Young people get married at 18
years after getting a job at a Tour operator company. When contracts were
terminated, they cannot sustain marriages and end up divorcing soon after job loss.
This Hollywood lifestyle is not ideal for a poor community that needs more
resources to support the children, hence creating a poverty circle that will take
generations to break. Most working women were divorced in this area. Working
Villagers indicate that at workplaces, most of the women employees were once
married or have divorced their husbands, which points to the fact that men were
not comfortable having their wives working in hotels with the nature of the working
shifts which are not flexible for a women to be working at the same time to be
house wife.

High Cost of living

Tourism significantly increases the price of many goods and services in the
community. One villager said, “Everything is very expensive, and we cannot afford
what we desire in our social life and we are always stressed.” The high costs of living
are not limited to the peripheries. Villagers alluded to fact that “there is crowding in
houses as rentals are very expensive, for example in Chinotimba (a suburb in
Victoria Falls town) people share a small room which they partition using curtains.
Thus, the residents do not have anywhere to turn to for cheaper items as both the
village and town economies are expensive leaving the residents poorer. According
to Neto (2003), tourism development increases pressure on the availability and
prices of the resources consumed by the local community such as food, energy, and
raw materials.

Loss of interest in schooling

Residents indicated that their children have lost interest in education because of
tourism activities in the village. They argue that these children skip school to go
after tourists and expose themselves to tourism related activities. School children no
longer value formal education and there are several school dropouts in the village.
Residents are worried about the level of promiscuity of their children. Denying
children pocket money as a deterrent measure against children promiscuity is no
longer effective as children now earn money from tourism. However as most of
them do not have the necessary skills to make enough money, they end up peddling
drugs and themselves abusing drugs. As a result, they start harassing tourists who
visit the village exposing the tourists to crime risk which if not managed can be fatal.

Growth of foreign vulgar language

The growth of tourism in the Victoria Falls rural peripheries is also associated with
the introduction of what is locally considered an unacceptable vulgar language.
Common words the youths are using include, ‘f*** you, damn you”. In a
conservative society like Victoria Falls rural periphery the use of such language is
totally unacceptable. Linking such to tourism, Mbaiwa (2003) state that the bad
foreign language or words and many other insulting expressions are commonly
derived from the English mostly spoken in United States. The continued interaction
between tourists and the community exposes the children to such language.
Character modelling and imitation results in the children thinking that these
behaviours are normal bringing conflict within the community.
Disruption of traditional cultural behaviour patterns
Traditionally knit villages around major attractions are crumbling under the influence
of tourism development. Fear is now high on where exactly the tourism
development is taking the community. People are no longer mourning at funerals as
they are always busy searching for money, selling craft work. When a person passes
away in the village it is a mandatory requirement and responsibility of locals to
attend funerals especially the men who do the digging of the grave but very few
people are attending the funerals. People are more concerned about searching for
money from tourists. Funerals are community problems and members are socially
expected to participate knowing that on another day, they too will need community
sympathy and empathy. These changes often altar community structure, family
relationships, collective traditional lifestyles, ceremonies, and morality.
Demonstration effects

The demonstration effect is merely shown through local populations mimicking

visible aspects of tourists’ culture such as apparel, haircuts, and dressing. They are
attracted by the tourists’ clothing and eating habits and their spending patterns.
This is called the ‘demonstration effect’. The problem is that the local population
often cannot afford the tourists’ way of life, which may lead to feelings of
frustration. Many villagers highlighted that the local people are copying the way the
foreigners dress. For example, it was observed that many young ladies are wearing
miniskirts and trousers as a way to imitate what the female tourists do wear as well
as the male counterparts wear safari type of dressing the khaki shirts and shorts just
to look like the male tourist. Whilst it gives the locals confidence, it also makes them
lose their identity falling into an identity crisis. It also makes it difficult for tourists to
identify the local people when they need help leaving them susceptible to abuse by
conmen and thieves who pretend to be genuine helpers and yet have bad
intentions. Locals also felt that there is now a new trend in hairstyles sported by
locals, especially males. There are many dreadlocked men in the village because of
the perceived belief that white females think that being dark complexioned,
muscular, and savage looking means one is sexually potent. Their hope is to attract
female white tourists for various favours such as sex, purchases of their artefacts,
long term friendships and even marriages.

Spending patterns

The spending pattern of locals has been greatly influenced by the presents of
tourists. Locals now want to buy expensive cameras and cellular phones like those
they see with tourists. Some are even buying mineral water instead of drinking their
usual well water as they think mineral water is safe to drink because tourists are
always drinking it. Host communities do not realise that each day a new tourist
arrives in their area showcasing the same characteristics consistent with tourists.
Villagers fail to realise that tourists are not as rich and successful as they seem to
portray. Some tourists use their lifelong savings for that dream holiday and locals
simply cannot match that dream and live it daily.

Change in the way of life

In Mpisi, the community structure has changed greatly. More people came from
other towns for employment. Seasonal demand for labour in the tourist town has
attracted people from other areas. However, when the demand goes down, these
seasonal workers become destitute and settle in the nearby villages where they are
not harassed by local council authorities as is the case when they settle in the town
Vic Falls itself. Today, villagers believe their wives no longer want to stay in the
village as they believe that man will take other women in the town center. This is
distorting the community structure of the local village and feelings of resentment
 towards both the settlers and tourists (believed to have brought them) are on the
high in the village.

Distortion of cultural values

Tourists often, out of ignorance or carelessness, fail to respect local customs and
moral values. Residents are more worried about the way tourists behave. More than
90% of the residents hate the way tourists behave. The continued perceived
disrespect for local values will trigger resentment towards tourists. If not managed
well tourism development in the area will not be welcome as it will be detrimental
to societal growth. With tourism taking place throughout the year some residents of
the area are completely ignoring their traditional way of life hoping to solely survive
on earnings from the tourism industry. Such characteristics are not welcome in
conservative communities like most African rural areas where oneness is highly
valued.

Noise pollution.
In 2009 news reports highlighted concerns over noise pollution from helicopter
flights over the Falls, stirred by proposals to issue further licenses to new operators
and to increase the numbers allowed to fly at any one time from five to up to 20.
Several major hotels formerly complained to the World Heritage Commission
regarding the high levels of disturbance already caused by excessive noise pollution
levels over the town.

Management of tourism at Victoria Falls