1.-CULTURE-ITS-DEFINITION

Page 1: Culture & Its Definition

Page 2: Understanding Culture

• Definition: Culture refers to the socially constructed and learned behaviors and beliefs that characterize distinct social groups.

• Characteristics:

  • Shared practices among groups

  • Includes beliefs, values, knowledge, customs, and social norms

  • Encompasses various aspects such as

    • social activities

    • economics

    • politics

    • agriculture

    • laws and justice

    • health, environment, education, and religion

Page 3: Transmission of Culture

• Culture is transmitted to future generations through:

  • Communication (oral and written)

  • Art (music, storytelling, dance, painting)

• Culture can change over generations, which often leads to gaps in understanding between different age groups.

Page 4: Elements of Culture

• Different authors identify varying elements of culture; common counts include 3, 5, 8, or more, depending on the focus of their study.

Page 5: Selected Elements of Culture Impacting Tourism

1. Art

2. Beliefs and Values

3. Geography

4. Language

5. Law and Politics

6. Religion

7. Technology

8. Social Organization

Page 6: Art in Culture

• Definition: Art reflects the creative ideas and imagination of individuals through various mediums.

• Significance:

  • Tangible expressions of creativity that convey societal meanings

  • Includes paintings, artifacts, music, literature, architecture, and performance arts

• Art reflects historical developments and emotional expressions of a society.

Page 7: The Role of Art

• Artworks hold cultural significance and reflect the values of a group.

• Different forms of art can include visual (paintings, sculptures) and performing (dance, music) expressions.

Page 8: Influence of Shared Beliefs and Values

• Beliefs and Values:

  • Shape artistic inspiration and creativity

  • Passed on through generations, evolving over time

Page 9: Understanding Values

• Definition: Values encompass ethics, principles, and standards significant to individuals or groups.

• Influence:

  • Established during early life by key individuals

  • Guide decision-making and relationship building

  • Conflicts may lead to inconsistency in value adherence.

Page 10: Cultural Geography

• Examines differentiation and material culture that unify regional ideas.

• Explores spatial perceptions and cultural distributions across landscapes.

Page 11: Geography and Its Impact on Culture

• Definition: Geography studies physical landscapes shaped by human activities.

• Influences relationships and service delivery in tourism based on geographical differences of clients and colleagues.

Page 12: Importance of Language

• Role in Culture: Primary method for communicating cultural values and beliefs.

• Language transmission occurs through written and spoken forms.

• Preserves and adapts cultural elements across generations.

Page 13: Unique Aspects of Language

• Each culture's language reflects its heritage and can denote geographical origins.

• Effective communication requires a shared language, critical in tourism environments.

Page 14: Language Proficiency for Tourism Professionals

• Advantages: Speaking English is beneficial as it is widely used worldwide.

• Opportunity to learn additional languages based on tourism trends to enhance job prospects and customer relations.

• Miscommunication can often stem from language barriers.

Page 15: Law & Politics in Cultural Influence

• Various approaches link culture to law, including:

  • Historical: Law as a cultural product

  • Constitutive: Law as part of cultural identity and practices

Page 16: Religion's Role in Culture

• Significant influence in many societies including the Philippines.

• Impacts daily activities, values, and societal norms.

• Religious demographics (CIA Factbook 2019):

  • Roman Catholic: 80.6%

  • Protestant: 8.2%

  • Other Christian: 3.4%

  • Muslim: 5.6%

  • Tribal and other religions: 0.2-1.9%

Page 17: Competency in Religious Awareness

• Important for tourism professionals to understand varied religious practices and their impacts on social interactions and service provision.

• Religious festivals and practices are significant attractions in the Philippines.

Page 18: Social Organization Changes Due to Tourism

• Tourism can alter social structures and organizations, influencing family and community roles.

• Employment shifts from traditional roles (farming) to tourism jobs can affect local culture and authenticity.

Page 19: The Impact of Technology on Tourism

• Technology as a facilitator—can enrich tourist experiences through various means, but can also detract from the authentic cultural experience.

Page 20: Customer Relations in a Tech-Driven Environment

• Priority should remain on maintaining hospitality and personal connections despite technological advancements in service.

Page 21: Any Questions?

• Thank you!