IMPACT OF TOURISM ON THE GRASSROOT LEVEL

Tourism impact on the grass root evolves as a result of numerous tourist attractions that are being found in the grass root. Tourism could be seen as the temporary short-term movement of people to destinations outside the places where they normally live and work, and activities during their stay at these destinations. It could also be seen as the movement of people from one geographical location to another for the purpose of business, meeting, health, leisure, religion etc and these visits will not require a paid work. At the same token, grass root are the ordinary people in the society or in a community that lives in rural areas.

  However, impact of tourism on the grass root means the effect tourism will have on the people when it is being developed. Theses impacts may be negative or positive. The negative impacts of tourism is as a result of over crowding of tourist to a particular destination, it will bring about prostitution, increasing transportation both air and land transport, accelerates the destruction of the ozone layer and also global warning. It also causes defacing of historic monuments and buildings and trampling upon archaeological sites and features. Despite the flows that tourism will cause on the grass root, they are also the positive impact that tourism can bring to the environment. It also brings about conservation (preservation and proper use of the environment) that is taking care of the attraction that are being found in this destinations. It also bring about rehabilitation and renovation of buildings or redevelopment of dilapidates infrastructures and also acquiring features different from the original ones. It also creates employment opportunities for the youths of the community where these attractions are situated. In addition, tourism brings about economic generation; the exchange of values which is encouraged by tourism is generally seen as a positive trend. Tourist money is used to sustain the indigenous culture, language and religion of the people at the grass root. These influences also make them to be more exposed to tourist without prior consent and at a little economic benefit to them. The economic benefits of tourism are the foreign exchange receipts that accrue from tourist ventures. These earnings will stimulate the overall development of the host community by improving the levels of national income.
     Conclusively, tourism which is a workable and effective tool of public policy for creating social and cultural understanding at the international and domestic levels, a tool for the development of other industries and cultivation of good will and better understanding with neighboring countries and the world at large. Tourism experts should be employed in local communities where these attractions are, so that there will be proper protection of tourist sites and also education of the local people about the importance of preserving the cultural and natural attractions that are being found their community. The most responsible forms of tourism contribute to the environmental and cultural habits which are seen as the only solution of people staying at home as the basic right rather than a privilege.