Inter-cultural communication principles guide meaningful and unambiguous information exchange across cultures respectfully. Culture refers to shared systems of symbols, beliefs, attitudes, values, expectations and behaviors among coherent groups, whether within or across states. These principles apply to tourists seeking help, companies merging operations, and politicians negotiating peace. Improved technology and transportation have increased intercultural contact by opening communication without mediation and transporting people outside familiar environments. While some argue globalization reduced diversity, characterizing people as homogeneous markets is simplistic since culture involves many complex factors beyond material aspirations.