Tourism has definitely commodified cultures and traditions. However, it might not necessarily be a culprit. It can only be measured from the extent of how much culture and tradition it has commodified.
When there is a negative impact on the locals of a host destination, people may say that it is due to the cause of tourism.
However, there are many other causes too. One such cause would be the Government. As they would stay at the "side lines" and watch as their culture gets commodified. They would do nothing, as they feel that they are generating revenue as a result of their culture and heritage.
Another cause would be the tourists. As when they visit a cultural site, they must keep in mind that this culture must not be tainted by the acts of globalization. The tourists would offer money, or food to the local people when use their eyes to view them as pitiful.
This would cause the locals to realize that they do not need to work the lands or work hard to get money or food anymore, they can just look towards these strange people who are tourist to get them.
Another cause would be the Locals themselves. They can preserve their own culture and heritage, but they choose to sell them to tourists. An example is the of Moko face painting. As this is a tradition of the Maori, by manufacturing it, and selling it as a commodity, they are allowing their culture to be slowly eradicate from their lives.
In my opinion, there are many factors and causes to the commodifying of culture. However I do feel that not 1 factor or cause can take the complete blame or fault for it. As the saying goes, it takes 2 hands to clap, the other factors or causes are to be blamed too.
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