As the UNEP (2014) describes:
“Tourism can turn local cultures into commodities…Once a destination is sold as a tourism product, and the tourism demand for souvenirs, arts, entertainment and other commodities begins to exert influence, basic changes in human values may occur. Sacred sites and objects may not be respected when they are perceived as goods to trade” (Unep.org, 2014, pg.1)” This quote illustrates not only how commodification of pacific cultures can not only affect the way tourists view traditions and natural resources, but also how tourism can negatively alter how the locals view and interact with their own culture. In regards specifically to Pacific dance and art, the webs of meaning and significance behind both the creation and showcasing involved in such cultural expressions are lost, and the art is reduced to an income-generating