Question

In many Muslim countries, strict standards exist regarding the appearance and behavior of Muslim women, who must carefully cover themselves in public. Tourists in these countries often disregard or are unaware of these standards, ignoring the prevalent dress code, appearing half-dressed (by local standards) in revealing shorts, skirts or even bikinis, sunbathing topless at the beach or consuming large quantities of alcohol openly. Besides creating ill-will, this kind of behavior can be an incentive for locals not to respect their own traditions and religion anymore, leading to tensions within the local community. The same types of culture clashes happen in conservative Christian communities in Polynesia, the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. Question: Using the contact hypothesis, describe the potential outcomes of the tourist-host contact indicated above. Be sure to discuss the outcomes in terms of tourist-host attitudes, interactions, perceptions, values, and communication.

Answer 1

With regard to the culture clashes in different nations and communities, use of the contact hypothesis theory could help to ease tensions.

In the contact hypothesis theory, which is credited to Gordon Allport, is the ability for two or more cultures to coexist peacefully through meaningful and thoughtful interaction in order to reduce prejudice. To ensure successful contact, it is recommended that: both groups receive equal status of importance with minimal differences in characteristics, backgrounds, and qualities; groups work towards achieving a common goal which is equally beneficial to both groups; there is cooperation from all subjects in each group; support from local authorities of laws/government and customs; personal interaction between members of opposing groups.

Potential outcomes for successful tourist-host contact include: relaxed attitudes, understanding, a mutual appreciation for the opposing culture's values, positive interactions wherein cultures are respected mutually, increased active communication to ensure both parties are satisfied and can co-exist peacefully, and perceiving the opposing culture as equally important.