Chapter 10 – Intercultural Communication in Tourism Contexts
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CHAPTER TEN
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Tomás, a rural Guatemalan, is tired of seeing missionaries visit his village for three-day
revivals. When a group of eco-tourists stops by his store, he aggressively questions them and
their motives for being there and chooses not to tell them of a more accessible road to their
destination. Tomás’ attitude toward the eco-tourists demonstrates _____, an attitude of
residents toward tourism.
d. revitalization
2. Ahanu, an American Indian, feels harassed by tourists who visit his village. He does not like
that these tourists sometimes barge into his hogan without permission to photograph his
family. When tourists attempt to talk to him, he pretends to not to speak English. He is
planning to lead an organized protest to stop the harassment of locals by tourists. In this
scenario, Ahanu’s attitude toward tourists visiting his village exemplifies _____.
d. retreatism
3. The Hutterites do not really desire a lot of interaction with tourists. They may interact with
tourists on a limited level, but by and large, have learned to endure tourists as they go about
their daily lives. These groups have taken a _____ response to tourism.
a. resistance
4. Costa Ricans have embraced tourism—particularly eco-tourism—as a means of stabilizing
their economy. The benefits have been so substantial that many residents of communities
near tourist attractions have accepted tourism as part of their social and cultural fabric. The
Costa Ricans have taken a _____ attitude toward tourism.
d. resistance
5. Aaron belongs to an Amish community and does not wish to interact with tourists who visit
his village throughout the year. He is usually polite when an occasional tourist asks him for
help, but he prefers maintaining distance from outsiders. He often turns his back toward
tourists who click pictures without his permission. He chooses to ignore their gaze and goes
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on with his life. In this scenario, Aaron’s attitude toward tourists visiting his village
exemplifies _____.
a. revitalization and adoption
6. Regan avoids interacting with tourists who visit his village. He feels they violate his personal
space when they walk into his yard and peer into his house. Although he realizes that many
locals survive because of business from tourism, he does not appreciate that tourists insult
local sensibilities from time to time and put undue pressure on scarce resources like water
and sanitation systems when they visit. Which of the following terms exemplifies Regan’s
attitude toward tourists visiting his village?
a. resistance
7. Socially responsible tourism tries to take into account all of the following BUT_____.
d. environmental concerns
8. Aaron owns a farm and a homestay business in his village. He intends to actively invest
money in an attempt to draw more tourists to his village. His farm hosts more than 500
visitors each year and is a profitable source of revenue for him and his family. He aims to
build facilities through which a visitor can learn more about the local customs of his
community and also gain an insight into their traditional way of life. Which of the following
terms exemplifies Aaron’s attitude toward tourists visiting his village?
a. boundary maintenance
9. Which of the following is NOT true of tourist–host encounters?
a. Most encounters are short term and transitory.
10. When talking about his last tour of Turkey as part of a tour group, Clyde complained, “Sure,
I saw some interesting things, but I did not really get to know anyone. Most of my
conversations were pretty simple. The most I talked to anyone was when I was trying to buy
a carpet.” In this scenario, Clyde’s comments illustrate that _____, a characteristic of tourist–
host encounter.
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a. most encounters are short term and transitory
11. Heba, an Egyptian woman visiting the United States, is surprised to find that she does not
overhear many conversations as she walks along a city street. Heba’s surprise is the result of
a difference in the norm for _____.
a. dressing
12. Derek is visiting his friend Raj in India for the first time. On arriving in India, Derek insisted
on visiting the city of Varanasi and experiencing the “real” India. Derek expresses his desire
to eat traditional Indian food and other delicacies. Which of the following challenges of
intercultural communication is Derek facing in this scenario?
d. following social norms and expectations about shopping
13. Akira, a Japanese teenager, is visiting Egypt for the first time. In contrast to his own country
where people rarely interacted with strangers, he saw that people in Egypt greeted everyone,
even strangers. He was amazed by the great deal of interaction on the streets, especially the
sight of children interacting with tourists. Which of the following challenges of intercultural
communication is Akira facing in this scenario?
a. searching for authenticity
14. Which of the following is NOT a symptom of culture shock?
d. a patronizing attitude toward the local culture
15. Lack of spontaneity in tourist–host encounters is best explained by _____.
a. differing social backgrounds between hosts, tourists, and service providers
16. Which of the following is NOT a nonverbal communication challenge in tourism contexts?
a. expectations for appearance in public
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17. Which of the following is true of bargaining in many cultures?
a. Socioeconomic class issues do not matter.
18. Which of the following would NOT be useful in building the intercultural skills of tourists?
a. learning a few words of the local language
19. Tony has planned his trip to Europe using guidebooks and other people’s experiences. His
schedule includes as many places as he could manage based on the available train schedules.
He is so motivated to have a good trip that he has even learned a few phrases in French and
German. What is one other suggestion for building intercultural skills which might still
benefit Tony?
a. Learn a few words of the local language.
20. When Gillian visited Greece, she saw a sign that said “Typical Greek Taverna.” This is
probably an example of an attempt by the host to _____.
d. be hospitable
21. After the events of 9/11, the tourism industry suffered a significant economic setback. This
illustrates _____.
d. the need to stay at home
True or False
22. There are often power differentials involved in tourist encounters.
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23. Tourism can result in increased crime, traffic problems, disruption of family life, alcohol and
drug problems, and sexual promiscuity, especially in small, less economically developed
communities.
24. Culture shock tends to occur independently of the differences between the host culture and a
tourist’s home culture.
25. Language is not often a problem for tourists because English is pretty much spoken in all
parts of the world.
26. A person with a resistance response to tourism may be overtly hostile or aggressive.
27. In the United States, expectations for appearance in public are very informal.
28. The issue of authenticity is often a challenge in tourist–host encounters, particularly for those
engaged in cultural or heritage tourism.
29. Both hosts and tourists probably experience less shock when they have limited previous
intercultural experiences.
30. Its really impossible to learn anything about a culture in a very short period of time.
31. When tourists take opportunities for more extensive interaction with locals, there is the
possibility of mutual understanding, culture learning, and even lasting friendships.
32. Generally, culture shock is brought on by the culture itself.
Chapter 10 – Intercultural Communication in Tourism Contexts
33. In most countries around the world, it is expected that you will touch and try on merchandise.
Essay Questions
34. Identify and discuss the different groups that come in contact in tourism contexts.
35. Identify and discuss the characteristics of tourist–host encounters.
36. Identify and discuss the suggestions for improving tourists’ intercultural communication
skills.
37. What issues might be involved in culture shock for a tourist?
38. Compare and contrast resistance and revitalization as responses to tourism. What impact
would each of these have on the intercultural encounter?
39. When is contact between locals and tourists most likely to result in positive outcomes?