Cultural sensitivity: Engaging difference in tourism

Cultural sensitivity is highly relevant but inadequately conceptualized in tourism contexts. This article explores and advances understanding of cultural sensitivity in relation to Arctic tourism where local and Indigenous livelihoods and environments are tethered to dynamics of recent tourism growth and decline, climate change, and colonial power relations. Framing cultural sensitivity as a subjective orientation towards otherness, the article illuminates differences between ethnocentric and ethnorelative orientations and discusses the importance of relational tourism processes. By advancing the conceptualization of cultural sensitivity, the article offers a framework for developing tourism services and products, and approaching tourism encounters, in ways that can enhance recognition, respect and reciprocity towards otherness in Arctic tourism and beyond. (C) 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Automated summary

This article explores cultural sensitivity in tourism contexts, particularly focusing on Arctic tourism, and emphasizes the importance of respect and recognition towards others in tourism encounters. It provides a framework for developing tourism services and products that enhance relational processes with otherness.