Commodification of Labor in Tourism

Abstract

Tourism activities contribute to the economic development of countries through the transformation of values such as nature, culture, and history into attractive elements for tourists. However, the continuous growth of the tourism industry brings along numerous environmental and social issues, alongside the economic benefits it generates. To the extent that the tourism industry can perceive a country's culture, natural resources, historical sites, people, and even animals as commodities that can be used for capital gain. In this context, the study primarily evaluates the commodification of human and non-human labor in this industry. Subsequently, all tourism activities that exploit migrants, women, children, and animals, subjecting them to poor working conditions or sexual objectification, are examined through a cause-and-effect relationship. Regarding the concept of labor, a critical assessment is conducted based on the social reality where women, children, and animals are potentially seen as commodities in the tourism sector, and the topic is extensively addressed with examples.