Cultural Diversity and Tourism (Chapters 1-4)

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering core cultural concepts, diversity, tourism, and multicultural practices from the notes.

Culture

A set of common beliefs and practices shared by a group, including values, beliefs, attitudes, languages, symbols, rituals, behaviors, and customs passed down through generations.

Cultural identity

How people realize where they belong within a culture or group.

Diversity

Differences among people and groups in socioeconomic background, physical abilities, and languages, including people of all ages, genders, races, ethnicities, and sexual orientations.

Human Characteristics

Variations in physical and social attributes among people.

Ideas

Different beliefs, concepts, or theories held by groups.

Worldviews

A group’s overall perspective or philosophy about life and the world.

Age

A dimension of diversity based on chronological age.

Experience

Life events and interactions that shape individuals’ perspectives.

Disability (mental, learning, physical)

Diversity characteristic including mental, learning, or physical disabilities.

Economic background

Socioeconomic status and financial circumstances shaping opportunities.

Education

Level and quality of formal learning.

Ethnicity

A social group defined by shared culture, language, religion, and heritage.

Gender identity

One’s internal sense of their own gender.

Geographic background

Origin or place of residence influencing culture.

Language(s) spoken

Languages used by individuals or groups for communication.

Marital/partnered status

Whether someone is single, married, or partnered.

Physical appearance

Visible attributes such as facial features, body type, or dress.

Political affiliation

A person’s alignment with political beliefs or parties.

Race

A socially constructed categorization based on physical characteristics.

Religious beliefs

Beliefs related to religion held by individuals or groups.

Sexual orientation

Attraction patterns (e.g., heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, etc.).

Art

The expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, often in visual forms like painting or sculpture.

Value(s)

Culture’s standard for discerning what is good and just in society; essential for transmitting beliefs.

Beliefs

Tenets or convictions that people hold to be true.

Geography

The study of places and the relationships between people and their environments.

Language

A system of spoken, sign (manual), or written symbols by which people express themselves.

Top 10 Most Spoken Languages by Native Speaker/Total Speakers

A ranking of languages by the number of native speakers and total speakers.

Mandarin Chinese

A standard form of Chinese widely spoken; listed among the top languages by speaker numbers.

English

A global lingua franca; one of the top languages by number of speakers.

Spanish

A major language with a large number of speakers across many countries.

Hindi

An Indo-Aryan language widely spoken in India and beyond.

Arabic

A Semitic language widely spoken across the Arab world.

Bengali

A language spoken in Bengal and surrounding regions; among the top languages by speakers.

Portuguese

A Romance language spoken in Portugal, Brazil, and parts of Africa and Asia.

Russian

A Slavic language widely spoken in Russia and neighboring countries.

Japanese

An East Asian language spoken in Japan; among the top languages by speakers.

Lahnda

Western Punjabi language; among the top languages by speakers.

Tourism

A social, cultural, and economic phenomenon involving movement of people to places outside their usual environment for personal or business purposes.

UNWTO

United Nations World Tourism Organization; defines tourism as an interdisciplinary, umbrella industry.

Tourism: A Complex Industry

Tourism links multiple sectors and requires interdisciplinary study.

CORE skills

Basic skills that everyone needs, regardless of job.

GENERIC skills

Job-related skills that apply to many roles within the same division.

FUNCTIONAL skills

Specific technical skills needed for a particular job.

Multicultural Diversity in Tourism

Diversity in cultures within tourism workplaces and experiences; influenced by travel improvements and connectivity.

Global Citizen

Individuals who identify as natives of multiple countries due to birth, education, and exposure; wider worldview and international connections.

Multiculturalism

A belief system that recognizes and values cultural differences, promotes inclusion, and empowers everyone through inclusive practices.

Cultural baggage

The beliefs, language, values, and experiences each person carries into relationships and work; varies due to nature vs nurture.

Look and Listen

Look at the total scenario and listen to discussions, recognizing potential language or communication barriers.

Empower

Lifelong and workplace training; developing soft skills to improve service and relationships.

Acknowledge

Recognize that differences exist among people and choose to adopt or adapt to cultural elements.

Adopt

Choose to take on a cultural element into one’s practice.

Adapt

Modify or adjust to fit a cultural element.

Respect

Value that no culture is superior or inferior; treat differences with respect.

Nurture

Continually learn and grow with new knowledge and changing mindsets.

Beliefs and Values (common elements of culture)

Central convictions and morals that guide a culture.

Religion (common element of culture)

Beliefs about the divine or spiritual systems guiding a community.

Language (common element of culture)

Systems of symbols (spoken, signed, written) used to express culture.

Art (common element of culture)

Creative expressions valued by a culture.

Geography (common element of culture)

Study of places and how people interact with their environment.

Social Organization (common element of culture)

How a group’s relationships are structured and interconnected.

Law and Politics (common element of culture)

Legal frameworks and political processes shaping a society.

Technology (common element of culture)

Tools and knowledge that influence daily life and culture.