Today, there is a trend of visiting different places all over the world. It is a highly debated issue whether tourist should adopt the culture of their new residential nation or whether the locals /citizens should accept foreigner’s lifestyle. I intend to delve into both perspectives in this essay. I personally side with the latter view.
The former view about the necessity of adapting culture and behavioural manners has several justifications. Firstly, it decreases the chances of misunderstanding and embarrassment. Additionally, different nations have specific etiquette around the way of communication, so tourists should allow some time to learn these idioms and slangs, also attend cross cultural training. To exemplify, in Japan, “San” is an honorific title which is equivalent to “Mr” and “Mrs” in English, and it is offensive to ask about pay to anyone in the U.K., but its common in India. Secondly, adopting to local norms can enhance their travel experience as well as show respect toward specific culture. Furthermore, non-native individuals could participate in traditional ceremonies or trying local cuisines by immersing themselves in authentic cultural practices, leading to an enriching journey. For instance, everyone dresses modestly in Saudi Arabia, especially inside mosque which is a holy for Muslims. Visitors also visit to mosque and follow instructions practised for decades out of respect for the Saudi community.
Conversely, proponents of host countries welcoming cultural differences also present compelling arguments. They contend that embracing diversity can lead to cultural exchange and mutual understanding. In addition to it, when tourists share their customs with locals, it can broaden perspectives and promote global awareness. For example, multicultural cities like New York or London thrive on their diversities, offering a rich tapestry of cultural experiences that benefit both residents and tourists. Moreover, cultural exchange leads to boost countries economy, as well as great job opportunity for thousands of locals. To explain, “La Tomatina” is a famous festival of Spain and mass population visit to celebrate it. Thus, foreigners spend abundance of money in hotels to stay, food restaurants and transportation to travel which opens path for jobs.
In my opinion, citizens should welcome cross-culture because it maintains harmony between locals and visitors, hence this is a prominent way to broaden horizon of knowledge and cultural values. This approach promotes cultural preservation while fostering global understanding and economic growth through tourism.
To summarize, there are tremendous things to discover, learn and to grow by observing customs and traditions of the host country. However, we can establish a more inclusive and diverse world by respecting local customs and adopting cross culture.