There are changes made to the country for tourism, such as the building of hotels and other tourism facilities and all these may be made at the expense of the native people. The native Maoris will also be attracted by the tourists dollar and forgo their traditional jobs and start to earn the tourist buck by performing for them or making traditional items for them. In the long run, this might make them see their culture as a money-making job instead of their way of life.
Native homes may be turned into lodging for tourists who want to experience Maori culture. This would be a disruption to the lives of the natives. Just imagine a total stranger from a different country living in your house, how inconvenient would it be! Also, the natives may learn and adopt the cultures that these foreign tourists bring in, diluting their own culture.
But not all changes bring about negative impacts; tourism brings in revenue for the country. For example, tourist revenue accounts for about 9% of New Zealand’s gross domestic product which translates to about US$18.6billion a year. Also, the facilities built for tourists can be utilised by the locals as well, thus enhancing their lives.
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