Has tourism been a culprit in commodifying cultures and traditions?

Yes 


Even though it is said that cultural and heritage tourism is regarded as a more acceptable form of tourism, there is also an issue of commodification of the culture into a more saleable product for the tourists. Commodification is inevitable in cultural tourism. As much as a cultural tourist will want to seek an authentic experience, a majority of them will still prefer a moderated experience.


Take the Paradise Valley Ventures as an example located just 10 kilometres away from Rotorua City. They provide a thorough riding lesson before each trek, and their staff share stories about local history and geological information about land formations on the property as they move along the tracks. However, customised treks are available upon request. A courtesy vehicle pick up is also available for customers without a vehicle from central Rotorua or Ngongotaha locations. As such, the commodification process will result in the loss of meaning of the culture products. This also leads to the loss in the authenticity of the products and experience. As a result, cultures may be transformed as a result of tourism.