教师简介：本科毕业于四川大学 ，期间赴英国纽卡斯尔大学公派留学一年学习人类学和英语语言学；欧盟伊拉斯谟高等教育研究两年硕士全额奖学金获得者（人民币60W）；伦敦政治经济学院(LSE) offer holder；雅思总分8分， 雅思写作7.5分。

文/石山川

Some suggest that cultural traditions and conventions can diminish or even vanish when they serve as profit-making attractions targeting at tourists. Personally, I tend to be opposed to their proposal. 

The main logic behind this argument is that the money generated by cultural tourism can indeed preserve the local traditions, which can be illustrated with the case of Yunnan Province located in the Southwestern China. It is not uncommon that many tourists flock to this area simply as they are attracted to and fascinated by indigenous traditions and cultures, including folk dance, traditional ceremonies and unique architecture. With the tax revenue arising out of tourism, the government can support the maintenance of the local museums and galleries and subsidise the local artists, thereby helping local conventions not only survive, but also thrive. 

It is also argued that cultural tourism can also raise the awareness of dedicating themselves to conserving the local traditions among locals. Only when the tourists buy souvenirs from local gift shops or pay for the exotic cuisine from local vendors can those aboriginal people begin to realise the vital importance of their traditional lifestyles, arts and entertainment, and thus pay more attention to the preservation of local culture.

There is, however, some justification for the erosion of local culture due to the development of money-making attractions or scenic spots. To be more specific, since sightseers and local residents may have different understanding and perception of traditions, local people would alter those conventions or even transform altogether to meet tourist demand and expectations, hence reaching a wider range of audience who shows enthusiasm for visiting tourist spots. Over this process, the locals’ cultural identity and values may be eroded or even completely eliminated. However, I would argue that this problem can be largely addressed if the local authorities can inform their citizens that being unique and sticking to one’s cultural roots and origins is of great significance in the context of globalisation where cultures and traditions are becoming increasingly assimilated. 

In conclusion, I restate my position that the boom of cultural tourism, more often than not, can contribute to the prosperity of local cultures and traditions.