Intercultural Communication and Tourism

This set of flashcards covers key terms and concepts from the lecture on intercultural communication and various tourism types, as well as aspects relevant to business and education.

Cultural Tourism

Travel to experience another culture’s customs, art, history, and traditions.

Voluntourism

Combining volunteering work with tourism, often to help local communities.

Ecotourism

Responsible travel to natural areas that conserve the environment and support local people.

Medical Tourism

Traveling to receive medical treatments or procedures more affordably or accessibly.

Adventure Tourism

Travel focused on physical activities, exploration, and outdoor adventures.

Gender Dimension (Masculine/Feminine)

How gender roles and expectations influence travel experiences. (e.g., masculine culture emphasizes achievement; feminine cultures prioritize care)

Culture Shock

Emotional disorientation caused by entering a different culture.

Symptoms of Culture Shock

Confusion and anxiety experienced when adjusting to a new culture.

Stages of Culture Shock

Eager Expectation —> Initial Euphoria —> Irritability/Frustration —> Adjustment —> Adaptation/Assimilation.

Benefits of Culture Shock

Personal growth, increased intercultural sensitivity, adaptability.

Pre-Departure Strategies for Reducing Culture Shock

Learn about the host culture, know dos/don’ts, anticipate problems.

During Visit Strategies for Reducing Culture Shock

Stay positive, set realistic goals, participate actively.

Re-Entry Culture Shock

Reverse culture shock when returning home and readjusting to one’s culture.

Improving ICC (Intercultural Communication Competence)

Know your own culture, attitudes, and communication style to better interact across cultures.

Social and Political Contexts of Tourism

How politics, economics, and social systems impact tourism experiences.

Individualism

Valuing personal goals over group goals.

Collectivism

Prioritizing group goals over personal goals.

Power Distance

Degree to which less powerful members expect power to be distributed unequally.

Masculinity-Femininity

Cultural value orientations of competition and success (Male) vs relationships and quality of life (Female).

Language Issues

Guidelines for communication such as using simple language and avoiding assumptions.

Uncertainty Dimension-Accepting

Cultures that tolerate ambiguity.

Uncertainty Dimension-Avoiding

Cultures that prefer rules and structure.

Business Etiquette Negotiations

Ways negotiations differ: face-to-face vs virtual, process focus vs relationship focus, building trust, types of agreements.

Diversity, Racism, Prejudice, and Discrimination

Social issues influencing workplaces (Affirmative Action, Equal Employment Opportunity, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)).

Business Etiquette Introductions

Practices concerning name usage and greetings in business contexts (titles, given names, family names; bow, handshake, kiss; business card rituals).

Business Etiquette Gifts

Culturally appropriate rules for gift-giving, including avoidance of specific numbers (e.g., avoid 4 in East Asia).

Business Ethics

Differences in practices such as bribery and accounting standards.

Superstitions, Taboos & Humor

Cultural differences regarding luck and sensitive topics.

Special Foods

Dishes considered delicacies in different cultures (chicken’s feet, snake, eel, horse meat, dog, etc).

Social and Political Context of Business

Influence of political systems and regulations on business communications.

Educational Goals

Global commonalities (science, math, medicine) but different cultural priorities in geography and history.

Study Abroad

Motivations include colonial ties, gender issues, language learning.

Culturally Specific Education

Schools serving distinct groups (HBCUs, women’s colleges, religious schools, Native American schools, DREAM Act beneficiaries).

Social Issues and Education

Education reflects and reinforces cultural power structures (hegemony).

Hierarchy Dimension (Power Distance)

How student-teacher relationships reflect societal views on hierarchy: high vs low power distance cultures.

Roles for Teachers and Students

Different expectations based on cultural learning styles, teaching styles, grading practices, and communication styles (linear vs circular, detached vs attached).

Communication, Education, and Cultural Identity

How education shapes personal and group identity across cultures.

Popular Culture

Mass-produced culture such as movies and music, distinct from elite traditions.

Popular Cultural Texts and Artifacts

Objects representing pop culture, including icons and celebrities.

Consuming and Resisting Popular Culture

Engagement or rejection of pop culture based on identity (e.g., reader profiles, cultural resistance).

Representing Cultural Groups

Perceptions of mainstream media by migrants regarding accuracy and connection.

Popular Culture and Stereotyping

Media's role in creating or reinforcing stereotypes about different groups.

U.S. Popular Culture and Power

Global influence of U.S. media and cultural imperialism ((dominance of U.S. culture via media, technology, products).

Cultural Appropriation

Taking elements from another culture without understanding or respecting their meaning.

Cultural Homogeneity

Trend where distinct cultures become similar due to mass media and globalization.

People involved in Tourism

Three main groups: tourists (travelers), service providers (businesses), and hosts (local residents)

Characteristics of tourist-host encounters

Features of interactions: short-term, commercialized, predictable, and often power-unbalanced

Attitudes of Hosts toward Tourism

Different host reactions to tourists: Retreatism (avoidance), Boundary Maintenance (separation), Revitalization (embracing change and growth)

Power Issues

Cultural differences in managing power

Work-Related Values

Key business values vary culturally: work/material gain, quality vs efficiency, task vs relationship priority, direct vs indirect communication, honesty vs harmony.